Papayas grow in tropical climates from Mexico through Central America to southern Brazil and Paraguay. Mature fruit has a greenish-yellow skin and a thick, leathery, pinkish-brown shell with a raised center. Inside, the fruit is full of sweet, sour and salty flesh, which hardens to the point of peeling when it’s cut open.
They are a soft, fleshy fruit that are most often eaten raw. Ripe, papaya is a very sweet and sour fruit that grows in tropical climates around the world. Most popular in Asia, papaya comes in a range of colors from yellow, pink, and white, which vary according to the ripeness. The size of the fruit varies from golf-ball sized to fruit the size of a grapefruit.
Here are 8 benefits of papaya you should know
Papaya is a refreshing fruit loaded with vitamin C, E and B1. It is high in fibre and is an excellent source of potassium, which is known for flushing out excess glucose in the blood and keeping your sugar levels in check. It also contains a high amount of enzymes that aids digestion. So if you are looking to incorporate papaya into your diet, here are eight health benefits you should know about it.
Good for digestion
Papaya is rich in the enzymes amylase and protease, which break down starch in the stomach into simple sugars. Thus, it is beneficial for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome or GERD. You can eat papaya with your breakfast. However, the extra seeds of the fruit should be used only in moderation as they can contain toxins and parasites.
Good for joint pain
Papaya is loaded with calcium. You can sprinkle papaya powder on your meals or take a spoonful in the morning to treat pain in joints. The antioxidants present in papaya improve your immune system, which helps the body to eliminate any harmful organisms in the body. You can either eat it with yogurt or sprinkle it on your salads.
Good for cholesterol
Papaya has a good amount of vitamin C. So, if you are looking to lower your cholesterol level, try adding papaya to your diet.
Good for ageing skin
Papaya is rich in Vitamin A, which is known to be the main ingredient for repairing and maintaining your skin. So, when you consume it, it will help you to look younger. You can eat papaya with yogurt to treat an array of skin-related issues.
Helps you stay active
Papaya is packed with fiber that keeps your stomach full for a longer duration. You will be able to stay active throughout the day.
Better for your heart
Papaya contains potassium and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that are great for your heart health. Consuming papaya will improve the blood flow to the heart and help you to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol.
Good for your skin
Papaya is a great source of antioxidants that help your body to neutralise free radicals and prevent the damage to your skin. You can eat it in the morning or take it with vitamin E oil.
Here is the List of Papaya Health Benefits.
Improved Blood Circulation
Papaya is one of the main foods to prevent obesity because it helps in the production of serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline, which helps the body to maintain the balance of hormones such as Adenosine, Epinephrine and Dopamine, and helps in overall blood circulation.
Heart and Brain Health
Papaya has good amounts of antioxidants and also have different nutrients that helps in heart and brain health, specifically the good type of Chlorogenic acids, which is good for the heart and brain.
Boosts Your Immune System
It is high in vitamins C, E and beta carotene, and also contains high amounts of Vitamin A and Vitamin B6. It is also an excellent source of lycopene, a type of carotenoid which help in boosting your immunity.
Weight Loss
Eating Papaya helps in losing weight because of its high glycemic index which helps the body to use up the fat in the digestive tract, which helps the body to reduce fat levels. It also contains high amount of fiber which also help the body to increase the rate of metabolism and control your appetite.
Nourishes Hair & Scalp
Papaya is a very good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, which is a necessary nutrient to nourish hair and scalp. Papaya is also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, copper, zinc, chromium and iron which helps in moisturizing the scalp and maintaining hair health.
Treats Dry Eyes
Papaya is a very good source of vitamin A, which helps to reduce the inflammation of the eyes and also the dryness of the eyes, thereby helps in getting relief from dry eyes.
Prevention of Cancer
Papaya is also a very good source of beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E. Beta Carotene is excellent for preventing cancer and Vitamin C is effective in preventing the cancer from spreading.
Prevent Stomach Ulcer
Papaya is high in soluble fiber which helps to stop the symptoms of stomach ulcers. It also contains other nutrients like potassium and magnesium which help in getting relief from the stomach ulcers.
Good For Arthritis
Papaya has high amounts of fiber and contains other nutrients like vitamin C and vitamin B6. It also contains some anti-inflammatory properties that helps in maintaining joint health.
Improve Your Digestive Health
Papaya is a very good source of fiber and also has anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in improving the digestive health of the digestive system, thereby preventing constipation and inflammation.
Promotes Heart Health
Papaya is also a very good source of vitamin E and antioxidants. It is also a good source of calcium, magnesium and potassium. Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps in fighting against respiratory, kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
Improves Skin Health
Papaya is a very good source of vitamin A and it is effective in treating dry and acne prone skin. It also contains high amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A. Vitamin C helps in healing wounds, and also improves skin elasticity and is an effective at protecting skin from the sun rays.
Sirisha B