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A new study finds that watermelon juice can help relieve post-exercise muscle soreness. The report in ACS� Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry attributes watermelon�s effects to the amino acid L-citrulline. Encarna Aguayo and colleagues cite past research on watermelon juice�s antioxidant properties and its potential to increase muscle protein and enhance athletic performance. But scientists had yet to explore the effectiveness of watermelon juice drinks enriched in L-citrulline. Aguayo�s team set out to fill that gap in knowledge. They tested natural watermelon juice, watermelon juice enriched in L-citrulline and a control drink containing no L-citrulline on volunteers an hour before exercise. Both the natural juice and the enriched juice relieved muscle soreness in the volunteers. L-citrulline in the natural juice (unpasteurized), however, seemed to be more bioavailable � in a form the body could better use, the study found.