Papaya

Papaya is a power fruit, which is not only a delicious fruit to eat, it also contains abundant health benefits and medicinal value. Papaya is a tropical fruit that is enjoyed around the world. Characterised by a long, slender body and orange flesh, papaya is consumed for its sweet flavour as well as health benefits.

It is worth mentioning that yellow-orange fruits and vegetables contain a good amount of antioxidants including Vitamin C, carotenoids, and bioflavonoids. Papaya also belongs to yellow-orange fruits and offers numerous health benefits. Papaya is a fruit with yellow-orange pulp having many small black seeds, and is rich in anti-oxidants, Vitamin B, folate, fibre, potassium pantothenic acid, and magnesium. All of these nutrients are believed to impart several health benefits to cardiovascular system and protect the body against colon cancer. Papaya also contains an important digestive enzyme, papain, which helps in treating sports injuries and allergies. Other than this, Vitamin C and Vitamin A both are required to boost the immunity system of a person. By eating papaya, you can prevent the onset of various diseases including persistent ear infections, colds, and influenza.

Anti-oxidants in Papaya

Papaya is a fruit high in fibre, which lowers cholesterol levels. Papaya contains antioxidants which prevent the cholesterol from oxidizing. When cholesterol in the body gets oxidized, it can lead to heart-attacks. The anti-oxidants in papaya also help in controlling premature ageing, which helps give a young look.

Papaya for the Skin

A papaya face pack can be made using the fruit. Papaya is a product from nature which is used in many skin lightening creams. Many of the lotions or creams which are used to make the face lighter or fairer contain papaya as an ingredient. Papaya also helps in getting rid of acne because when papaya is applied as a face pack it helps open the pores. Papaya makes the skin glow. Papaya contains the enzyme papain, which helps dissolve dead skin, thus imparting a fresh and clean glow to the face.

Benefits of Papaya

■      Papaya contains the digestive enzyme papain and therefore is valuable for aiding digestion.

■      The unique protein-digesting enzymes, papain and chymopapain have been shown to help lower inflammation and to improve healing from burns in addition to helping in digestion of proteins. The antioxidant nutrients found in papaya, including Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and beta-carotene, are also very good at reducing inflammation.

■      The ripe fruit is easily digestible and prevents constipation.

■      Case studies indicate that this food taken alone for two or three days has a highly beneficial tonic effect upon the stomach and intestines.

■      It may help prevent cancer in organs and glands with epithelial tissue (ripe papaya). Papaya’s fibre is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and keep them away from the healthy colon cells. In addition, papaya’s folate, Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and Vitamin E have each been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer.

■         It prevents nausea (including morning sickness and motion sickness).

■      The seeds are anti-helmintic, for expelling worms and they are given with honey.

■              Papayas are also a good source of fibre, which has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels.

 By Sudhanshu Jain