The
Intriguing Health Benefits of Eating Papaya
Fruits are a powerful combination of
phytonutrients and fibre, important dietary
components that help to increase resistance
to disease. The best way to maximize the
health benefits of fruit is to eat a
diversity of fruits in a variety of colors
since each has its own unique nutritional
advantages.
When it comes to selecting a different fruit
to excite your taste buds, the exotic flavor
of the sweet papaya is one to consider.
Although not as common as the apple or
orange, it offers a pleasing taste and
texture all its own. What are the health
benefits of eating papaya?
Papaya is good for digestive health
Papayas is a good source of an enzyme called
papain that helps to aid protein digestion.
For this reason, it's often an ingredient
added to digestive enzyme supplements
marketed in health food stores. Because of
its ability to break down protein, it's also
found in most meat tenderizers sold in the
grocery store. Papaya juice is often used by
sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome after
a meal to promote better digestion and
reduce bloating and flatulence.
Papaya is a rich source of vitamins and
minerals
A single serving of papaya provides a
full day's supply of vitamin C. It's a good
source of vitamin A and E, all of which are
good anti-oxidants. The papaya fruit also
has respectable amounts of the B vitamins,
potassium, and magnesium. It shouldn't
surprise you when you look at its rich,
golden color that it's a good source of
carotenes, an important part of any healthy
diet.
Papaya is a good source of fibre
If you're still not getting enough fibre in
your diet, adding slices of papaya to your
salad or simply enjoying one as a snack can
help. A serving of papaya provides almost a
quarter of your recommended daily fibre
intake. It's satisfying to know that
something so naturally sweet is also high in
fibre. Sure beats the high fibre breakfast
cereals that taste like cardboard!
Papaya has an anti-inflammatory and good
for immune function
With the high anti-oxidant content of
papaya, it's not surprising this tasty fruit
helps to reduce inflammation and strengthen
the immune system. Although most fruits have
these properties, papaya stands out because
of its high papain content. Papain has been
shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
One caveat.
The papain found in papaya has been used in
the past to treat skin ulcers and infection.
There appears to be a high rate of
hypersensitivity to papain when applied
topically to the skin. This is particularly
true of people who have latex allergies. For
this reason, ointments and creams containing
papain have been removed from the market by
the FDA, although papain is still used as a
digestive aid.
The best way to get your papain? By biting
into a sweet, fresh papaya slice of papaya.
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How to Eat Papaya
What's the easiest way to eat a fresh, ripe papaya?
First, cut it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds (or leave them in - they are safe to eat).
Now simply eat the fruit out of the peel with a spoon or a melon baller.
Or you can peel the skin away from each half and then cut the fruit into slices or cubes to add to a smoothie or a salad. |
