Christopher Columbus called papaya the "fruit of the angels".
He noticed that the Caribbean natives ate the fruit after huge meals and never encountered any digestive distress. And they were 'strong'.
The nutritional highlight of papaya is a proteolytic enzyme called papain which is an excellent aid to digestion. This enzyme is so powerful that it is said to digest an amazing 200 times its own weight in protein. It assists our body's own enzymes in assimilating the maximum nutritional value from the food we eat.
The papaya is so rich in vitamins and minerals that in 1992 the Center for Science in Public Interest, a group that does nutritional studies, studied over 40 fruits. They used a point system for not just the vitamins in the fruit but also the fiber and potassium. They ranked the papaya as the highest. Cantaloupe, strawberries, oranges and tangerines followed it.
He noticed that the Caribbean natives ate the fruit after huge meals and never encountered any digestive distress. And they were 'strong'.
The nutritional highlight of papaya is a proteolytic enzyme called papain which is an excellent aid to digestion. This enzyme is so powerful that it is said to digest an amazing 200 times its own weight in protein. It assists our body's own enzymes in assimilating the maximum nutritional value from the food we eat.
The papaya is so rich in vitamins and minerals that in 1992 the Center for Science in Public Interest, a group that does nutritional studies, studied over 40 fruits. They used a point system for not just the vitamins in the fruit but also the fiber and potassium. They ranked the papaya as the highest. Cantaloupe, strawberries, oranges and tangerines followed it.
Papaya has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-cancerous properties. The anti-inflammatory properties in papaya will help reduce pain for those suffering from arthritis, edema and osteoporosis. It is also reported that papaya prevents premature aging. It may be that it works because a poor digestion does not provide enough nutrients to our body.
Papaya contains arginine which is known to be essential for male fertility and also carpain, an enzyme thought to be good for the heart. Fibrin also occurs and this substance is not commonly found in the plant kingdom; in people it forms part of the blood clotting process.
Papaya is good for many digestive disorders and is excellent for improving poor digestion. It has also been recommended as part of the treatment of cancer.
Papaya is a rich source of antioxidant nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin A and C and flavonoids, B vitamins, folate and pantothenic acid. It also contains small amounts of of the minerals calcium, chlorine, iron, phosphorus, potassium, silicon and sodium.
The papaya has remarkable medicinal virtues recognized from ancient times. It is not a commonly allergenic food. Being one of the most easily digested fruits, it is an excellent wholesome food for young to old, a rejuvenating choice.
The health benefits of papayas are too many to mention, but here is a list of cures for some of the more common ailments:
The anti-inflammatory virtue from the papain in papaya greatly reduce inflammation in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout and asthma.
Studies found that its consumption reduced the potential of rheumatoid arthritis by as much as 41 per cent. The beta-cryptoxanthin also shows that it may prove to reduce the incidence of lung cancer. The anti-oxidant effects are part of it but also it encourages a gene that protects the body from cancer cells.
COLON & PROSTATE CANCER
The rich fiber in papaya bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and is eliminated from the body during bowel movements.
Like tomato, papaya is also rich in lycopene, a compound that protects the body against prostate cancer, the second most common cancer in men. It has been found in cancer studies that men who frequently consume fruits and vegetables rich in lycopene are 82% less likely to develop prostate cancer compared to those consuming the least lycopene-rich foods.
DIGESTIVE AID
Papaya is commonly known for its fine and natural laxative virtue which aids digestion. Taken regularly, it can help habitual constipation, bleeding piles and chronic diarrhea.
EMPHYSEMA
Papaya can also prevent emphysema in smokers. Smoking reduces Vitamin A in the body as this vitamin is involved in the detoxification of toxins found in cigarette smoke like benzo(a)pyrene. When the body of smokers is deficient with Vitamin A, they tend to develop lung inflammation or emphysema. Smokers should increase their consumption of Vitamin A rich foods like papaya to prevent emphysema and other lung diseases.
HEART DISEASE
The three very powerful antioxidants in papayas help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. Oxidized cholesterol forms dangerous plagues that can eventually cause heart attacks or strokes.
INTESTINAL DISORDERS
The papain in unripe papaya is extremely beneficial for those who are deficient in gastric juice, have excess of unhealthy mucus in the stomach, dyspepsia and intestinal irritation.
MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES
Consumption of papaya help to contract the muscle fibers of the womb, resulting in proper and regular menstrual flow. It is especially helpful in cases of menstruation cessation in young ladies due to cold or trauma.
SKIN DISEASES
The juice from unripe papaya is highly beneficial in treating skin disorders like acne and psoriasis. When applied to wounds, it prevents pus formation and swelling. Paste made from unripe papaya when applied to the face, may remove pigmentation or brown spots, and making the skin smooth and delicate.
SPLEEN ENLARGEMENT
Immerse cut ripe papaya in vinegar for a week, then consume twice a day with meals until spleen is normalized.
Drink honey mixed in fresh juice from unripe papaya regularly over inflamed tonsils for diphtheria and other throat disorders. It dissolves the membrane and prevents infection from spreading.
EYE HEALTH
The carotenoids in papaya including lutein and beta-carotene are helpful in maintaining the health of the eyes. These carotenoids act as antioxidants to prevent eye disease like macular degeneration, the primary cause of vision loss in older adults.
SKIN HEALTH/ WRINKLES
You can use ripe papaya as a facial. People of Java Island have attributed their clear complexion to regular use of the papaya fruit. Papayas give skin a healthy glow. Its vitamin E content minimizes the formation of wrinkles and delays the aging process. The result is a healthy glowing skin. The papain enzyme works as a great skin renewal agent by removing the dead skin. In Asian countries, there are various Ayurvedic soaps that are made from the papaya fruit to improve skin health. Rubbing the white pulp of raw papaya on you skin improves pimples as well as wrinkles.
Those are just a few of the health benefits of papaya fruit.
Talking about papaya seeds health benefits, they include protection against E. coli, Salmonella and Staph infections and certain kidney diseases. Papaya seeds extract are also known to get rid of intestinal parasites and they also help in detoxifying the liver.
All the parts of the papaya fruit are useful and beneficial. Right from the seeds to the papaya leaves and the flesh of the fruit, all of it has some value. Both the inside and the outside of the fruit can be utilized .Thus no part of the fruit is useless or goes as a waste
Thus, if you love to eat to papaya, it is great because along with savoring the taste you are also ingesting all the benefits associated with eating the fruit, which will result in good health for you.
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