Papaya, a popular tropical fruit, is considered amongst the healthiest and most nutritive fruit that can be consumed. Whether you eat it raw, process it as a smoothie or blend into delicious milkshake, papayas are soft, creamy and succulent. Time of Christopher Columbus was on his discovery journey, he nicknamed papaya as ‘the fruit of the angels’ due to its pear-shape, rich colour, heavenly taste and availability. Nowadays, papaya is known to be extremely beneficial to health.
Helps with digestion
- Papayas contain papain, a digestive enzyme, which helps in the breakdown of food. Hence, it is essential for breaking meat (larger proteins) into tiny pieces called peptides and amino acids.
- Rich in dietary fibers, papayas are important in the regulation of bowel movements and thus, prevents constipation.
Against aging and deseases
- The dietary fibers absorb toxins in the digestive tract and hence, prevent colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases.
- Vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A are attached to papayas. These three essential powerful antioxidants are significant in getting rid of free radicals in the body, which otherwise, damage cells and cause cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, premature ageing and other diseases.
- Folic acid is required for the breakdown of homocysteine, a harmful amino acid that can damage blood vessels. Papaya is enriched with folate, which helps in reducing the levels of this protein in the blood and lowering the risk of cardiac arrests.
- Lycopene found in Papaya, is a compound that provides protection against prostate cancer. Studies reveal that men, who consume fruits and vegetables rich in lycopene, are less likely to develop prostate cancer as compared to those who don’t.
Eye-friendly food
- Papaya contains carotenoids, such as lutein and beta-carotene, which are essential in maintaining the health of our eyes. They also macular degeneration, an eye disease which that causes loss of vision in elders.
Promote health and immune system
- Due to the presence of digesting enzymes such as papain and chymopapain, papayas help in lowering inflammatory responses and speed up the healing process of burns. They even reduce common symptoms of acute inflammation like arthritis and asthma.
- Rich in antioxidants like B vitamins, folate and pantothenic acid, minerals such as potassium and magnesium and fibers, the delicious papaya promotes the health of the cardiovascular system and provides protection against colon cancer.
- Papaya is used in prevention of illnesses such as recurrent ear infections, colds and flu.
- Boosting the immune system, encouraging the renewal of muscle tissue, preventing cataract formation, curing nausea and constipation and alleviating pain and edema caused due to sport injuries are some of the other health benefits related to consumption of papayas.