Watermelon has become the latest everyday food to be credited with possessing significant health benefits, particularly in relation to heart disease.

According to a new report from a team of food scientists based at Florida State University, the amino acids found in the fruit were seen to enhance the flow of blood through the arteries of each of the hypertension sufferers involved in their research.

Furthermore, by giving the participants regular doses of watermelon, the experts noted a drop in their blood pressure levels, suggesting that the fruit can have benefits far beyond merely being low in calories and high in fibre.

Lead researcher Dr Arturo Figueroa explained: "These findings suggest that this functional food may prevent prehypertension from progressing to full-blown hypertension, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes."