Papaya is among those fruits which are not only fragrant and delicious but also is very good for your health. Papaya is been a favorite fruit of people who take very good care of their health and think twice before eating something. It has been in use for a long time and has become famous in the past few centuries. Papaya was term as the ‘fruit of the angels’ by Christopher Columbus, owing to the rich nutrients and vitamins that are present in the fruit. The most important feature of papaya is that it can be eaten as a fruit and also can be used as a vegetable in various recipes.
Papaya which is famous for its sunlit color of the tropics and the luscious taste is also a natural source of vitamins and minerals that are most essential for the basic functioning of the human body. Raw papaya is used in the manufacturing of certain chewing gums, cosmetics, skin and beauty products and is also used as a meat tenderizer. Papaya is a favorite fruit of the health experts as it is very rich in vitamin C and has a wide range of health benefits. Here we have listed a few health benefits of the fruit:
- Helps in losing weight
One of the issues concerning people today is the issue of being overweight or the issue of reducing their weights. Papaya acts as a natural remedy for reducing the weight as the fiber content present in papaya makes you feel full for much longer and it also clears your bowel movement. Have a bowl full of papaya as a mid-morning or mid-evening snack. - Increases Immunity
Did you know? Papaya contains more than 200% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C, well that’s more than enough for you decide why you should include papaya in your daily diet. Research conducts at various institutes in Japan have also proven that papaya anti-oxidants present in the fruit play an important role in improving the immunity of the people. - Great for digestion
Papaya contains an important digestive enzyme known as papain along with fiber, which has the power to improve the digestion process by breaking down proteins and cleansing the digestive tract. It also has the power to digest the junk food which is prepared using excessive quantities of oil. - Prevents Infection
The rise of intestinal worms can lead to great health issues if it is not dealt with at the right time. As papaya is very effective in killing intestinal worms, it is helpful in avoiding infections and problems associated with intestinal worms. - Helps in lowering Menstruation Pain
Papaya not only has the power to lower menstruation pain by easing the flow during menstrual periods but also has the power to regulate menstruation among women due to the presence of papain. Papayas are termed as ‘hot food’ as they are helpful in producing heat in the body. This excessive heat induces periods in females as they stimulate the estrogen hormone. - Prevents Arthritis
People have expressed their sorrowful experience that having arthritis reduces the quality of life significantly. One of the enzymes present in papayas, ‘chymopapain’, has the power to control arthritis. As the fruit is also rich in vitamin C and has anti-inflammatory properties, they are very good for your bone which helps to prevent you from being affected by arthritis. A study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases has revealed that people who consume food which has the very low amount of vitamin C are three times more likely to have arthritis than those who didn’t.
- Helps in keeping the heart healthy
As papaya has three powerful antioxidant vitamins, vitamin A, C, and E, it helps in preventing oxidization of cholesterol in the body. The fiber, antioxidant and vitamin C in papaya also helps in preventing cholesterol buildup in arteries which indirectly help in smooth functioning of the heart. - Helpful for Diabetic Patients
Papaya is one of the few fruits that people who are suffering from diabetes can eat as the fruit has low-sugar content even though it has a sweet taste. Those of you not suffering from diabetes can also eat it to prevent yourself from being affected by diabetes. - Helps you avoid constipation
As papaya aids in digestion and improves bowel movement due to the presence of folate, vitamin C, and vitamin E, it helps in reducing the motion sickness by producing a tonic effect in the stomach and intestines. - Prevents Cancer
Many medical practitioners recommend papaya as it has anticancer properties. Researchers have found out through various studies that papaya can be effective against breast, pancreatic and other forms of cancer as the antioxidants, phytonutrients, and flavonoids present in the fruit helps in preventing your cells from undergoing free radical damage. - Improves Eyesight
The age-related muscular degeneration is a great cause of concern which has a direct impact on the vision of your eyes. Muscular degeneration can lead to blurred vision or even blindness. To protect yourself from falling prey to muscular degeneration keep eating papaya regularly. - Skin Care
Papain present in papaya has the power to kill the dead cells and purify the skin, hence papaya is used as an important ingredient in many cosmetic products. As it is a revitalizing agent, it is an excellent remedy to remove dead cells. Papaya also helps in reducing acne and in reducing the marks caused by burning.
As we all know too much of anything is too bad for a human being, hence be careful when it comes to quantity of papaya that you consume as eating too much of papaya can lead to gastrointestinal problems and can be harmful to pregnant women. Be cautious about how much papaya you eat regularly but do remember to include a healthy portion of papaya in your daily diet.
