13 Surprising Benefits of Papaya (Pawpaw)
What is Papaya?
Papaya is a cerise-orange colored juicy fruit, which is not only
fragrant and delicious but also very healthy. It has been famous for
hundreds of years and was once called the “fruit of the angels” by
Christopher Columbus. Papaya is a natural source of vitamins and minerals
that are essential for the normal functioning of the body. It is famous
for its luscious taste and sunlit color of the tropics and can be eaten
as a fruit in the raw form, a smoothie, a milkshake, or as a vegetable in various recipes.
Latex derived from the raw papaya fruit is used as a meat
tenderizer and is also used in the manufacturing of several cosmetic,
skin, and beauty products, as well as certain chewing gums. They are
available for consumption throughout the year.
The whole fruit, including other parts of the tree, are beneficial to
health in several ways. Papaya in raw form contains enzymes, which are
used in the preparation of dietary supplements and chewing
gums. Papaya is rich in antioxidant nutrients such as carotenes,
flavonoids, and vitamin C, as well as vitamin B (folate and pantothenic acid). It is also a good source of fiber and minerals such as magnesium. Together, these nutrients help improve cardiovascular health and protect against colon cancer.
Health Benefits of Papaya
The health benefits of papaya include:
Papaya helps in digestion
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It regulates menstruation
It prevents infections
It provides relief from a toothache
It has anticancer properties
It helps in skin care
It improves heart health
Papaya reduces the symptoms of acne and burns
It has anti-inflammatory effects
Papaya is good for macular degeneration
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It improves immunity
Let us look into these benefits in detail.
Aids in Digestion
Papayas are commonly consumed for proper digestion. The presence of
papain, a digestive super enzyme, improves digestion by breaking down proteins
and also cleanses the digestive tract. This ensures a reduced
conversion of protein into body fat. If the protein in our diet is not
digested properly, it may cause arthritis, constipation, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other related health conditions.
Weight Loss
Papayas are also good for people who are trying to lose weight
naturally. Having a bowl full of papaya as a mid-evening or mid-morning
snack is good for health.
Prevents Infections
Papayas are effective for killing intestinal worms, thereby avoiding infections and complications associated with them.
Relieves Toothache
A paste of fresh papaya roots can be rubbed onto the teeth and gums
to get relief from toothaches. The bark of the tree, primarily the inner
bark, is also an excellent remedy for tooth problems. (Somonsohn,
2002).
Anticancer Properties
Researchers have discovered that papayas are effective against
breast, pancreatic, and other cancers. A papaya leaf extract obtained
from dried leaves produced anti-carcinogenic effects against tumor cells
that were grown in the laboratory. It was observed in a study conducted
by Dr. Nam Dang and his colleagues in Japan, that the effects were
stronger when the cells were given larger doses of papaya leaf tea.
The scientists exposed different types of cancer-affected cells to
different papaya leaf extracts and found that the growth of tumors
slowed down. The fruit has gained credibility and has been used in many medicines for its anticancer powers.
Skin Care
Papayas can be great revitalizing agents, which is why they are used
in many cosmetics. Also, papayas are used in homemade face masks by many
women. The papain in them kills dead cells and purifies the skin. The
beneficial properties and the healing enzymes present in papaya help treat sunburn and irritated skin. A good facial massage
using papaya is a fabulous remedy to remove dead cells. If you are a
person who spends most of the time outdoors, then papayas can be a great
help, as papayas fight free radicals that age your skin. The peels of
papayas are also used to rub on the face and hands for healthy skin.
Papayas are also used to treat skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, etc.
Improves Heart Health
The seeds of papayas are good for a healthy heart. Having three powerful antioxidant vitamins, namely vitamin A, C, and E, means papayas are helpful in preventing problems such as atherosclerosis
and diabetic heart diseases. The presence of pro-carotenoid
phytonutrients helps prevent oxidization of cholesterol in the body.
When oxidation of cholesterol takes place, it sticks to the walls of the
blood vessels and forms plaque that can lead to heart attacks and
strokes. Vitamin E
and vitamin C obtained from papayas help in preventing the cholesterol
from sticking to the walls, thereby keeping your heart healthy. As a
good source of fiber, papayas also help reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in the body. Include papayas in your daily diet as a mid-evening snack to keep your heart young. It also helps in treating sores, wounds, and ulcers.
Reduces Acne & Burns
The latex obtained
from papayas is used to treat the areas on the skin affected by acne.
The fleshy side of the papaya skin can be used as a mask to cure acne. A
diet which includes papayas will help cure the condition internally,
making the skin clear. Got a burn? Use papaya. When the latex from the
fruit is applied on burnt area, it helps in reducing the marks caused
due to the burn.
Anti-inflammatory Effects
The enzymes present in papayas, especially the papain and chymopapain, reduce the inflammation in different parts of the body.
Treats Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a disease of the eye. In this condition, the
ocular cells degenerate, which results in blurred vision and can cause
blindness as well. This is an age-related illness and adding papayas to
the diet is beneficial for reducing the risk of developing macular
degeneration. An antioxidant named beta-carotene gives papaya its orange
color. Just as carrots
help improve the eyesight due to the presence of beta-carotene, papayas
are also known to be effective in reducing the effect of macular
degeneration. According to a study published in the Archives of
Ophthalmology, a consumption of 3 or more servings of this fruit on a
daily basis day may lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration
(ARMD).
Treats Constipation
The presence of folate, vitamin C, and vitamin E in papayas reduces
motion sickness by producing a tonic effect in the stomach and in the
intestines. Papaya juice and the ripened form of papaya also aid in
digestion. The fiber obtained from the fruit helps increase bowel
movements. Improved bowel movements help ease the passage of stool,
thereby reducing the effects of constipation (Pinoy B. 2010).
Regulates Menstruation
Papaya juice can be of great help for women with irregular menses.
Consumption of green, unripe papayas can normalize the irregularity in
one’s periodic cycle. Papayas are considered as a ‘hot food’,
meaning that they produce heat in the body. This excessive production
of heat in the body stimulates the estrogen hormone. This induces
periods in the females. Hence, papayas can be beneficial in handling
difficult menses.
Prevents Arthritis
Papayas have been known to be effective against rheumatoid arthritis
and osteoarthritis. One of the enzymes found in papayas, called
chymopapain, has a significant effect on controlling rheumatoid
arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Improves Immunity
Papaya consumption has also been linked an improvement in the immune
system of the body. Research conducted by Hiramoto, Imao, Sato, Inoue,
and Mori from Japan is a proof that the antioxidants present in papaya
play an important role in improving the immunity of people.
Flowers and roots of the plant have been proven to be beneficial against jaundice, bronchitis, kidney colic, and other illnesses.
Side Effects of Papaya
Consumption of papaya in normal amounts is recognized safe by FDA. However, there are certain side effects of consuming papaya.
Pregnant Women: Papaya is classified as being harmful during pregnancy. It is considered as a ‘hot’ fruit. Latex, present in high concentrations
in raw and semi-ripe papayas, causes uterine contractions which might
lead to abortions. Avoid eating raw papaya if you are pregnant.
Gastrointestinal Irritation: Consuming too many
papayas can cause a powerful laxative effect in the intestines. Avoid
eating large quantities of papaya, especially if it is in its raw form.
Unripe or raw papaya can cause pain in the intestines or stomach and can
sometimes cause esophageal perforations.
Seeds: The black seeds of the papaya contain traces
of an enzyme called carpine, which is a potentially toxic substance.
According to the International BioPark Foundation’s information about
medicinal plants of the Peruvian Amazon, this enzyme can make the nerve
centers numb, which could lead to paralysis or cardiac depression. In some cases, the narrowing of blood vessels is also seen, which is the caused due to carpine.
Quick Tips to Enjoy Papayas:
Pieces of papaya, when soaked with a bit of lemon juice and honey, are an absolute treat for the taste buds.
Blend papayas, strawberries, and yogurt for a cold soup treat.
Add a slice of papaya to a fresh fruit salad and have it as a snack.
Have a bowl of fresh, ripe papaya along with your breakfast to add calories that you require for the day.
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