Health Benefits Of Papaya are really impressive! Fruits like papaya greatly benefit your body.
Papaya (Carica Papaya) is famous for its high medicinal and nutritive value. It is a natural source of essential vitamins and minerals that are critical for the normal functioning of our body. This fruit is popular for the sunlit color and luscious taste of the tropics and has numerous health benefits.
The famous Italian Voyager, Christopher Columbus, once referred to papaya as “the fruit of the angels” 1 . Papaya health benefits are so incredible – they make this fruit a great nutrient that everyone should include in their diet.
Health Benefits Of Papaya
Consuming vegetables and fruits of all kinds has long been related to a reduced risk of various lifestyle-related health conditions. Many studies have found that increasing intake of plant foods like papayas reduces the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and overall mortality, and promotes a healthy hair and skin, lower weight, and increased energy 2 . Possible health benefits of eating papaya include:
- Helps Reduce Stress
Eating papaya can be a perfect idea after working hard for the entire day because this excellent fruit is rich in many nutrients that can reduce stress. A study from the University of Alabama, have shown that 200 mg of Vitamin C can regulate the flow of stress in rats 3 .
- Lowers Cholesterol
Papaya health benefits are so incredible, due to its high content of fiber, powerful antioxidants, and Vitamin C that prevents cholesterol build up in the arteries. Excessively cholesterol build-up could lead to some heart disease, like hypertension and heart attack.
- Boosts the Immune System
Our immunity system acts as a powerful shield against different infections that could make you ill. Just one papaya contains up to 200% of our daily requirements of Vitamin C, making it really good for the immune system.
- Good for the Eyes
This fruit is rich in Vitamin A that helps protect the vision from degenerating. Age-related macular degeneration is one of the main reasons for vision loss, and consuming papaya will ensure that you don’t see a day where you can’t see.
- Prevents Signs of Ageing
Healthy habits like consuming a papaya regularly can prolong the process and can make you look about five years younger than you actually are. As we mentioned before, papaya is rich in antioxidants (as beta-carotene), Vitamin C, and Vitamin E that helps prevent our skin from free radical damages keeping wrinkles and some other signs of ageing at bay.
- Helps in Weight Loss
People who want to lose weight MUST include this fruit in their diet as it’s really low in calories. The fiber content in papaya clears your bowel movement and leaves you feeling full – making your weight loss process faster and easier.
Facts About Papaya
- The papaya plant is a giant herb.
- A papaya could be anywhere from 1- 20 pounds.
- The papaya plant can grow more than 20 foot and bear fruit in about 18 months.
- The stem and bark of the papaya plant are used in the production of ropes.
- In Mexico and Costa Rica, the populaces refer to the papaya plant as “the tree of good health.”
- Papaya is known as “pawpaw” in Australia and Europe, “fruitabomba” in Cuba, and “mamao” in Brazil.
History of Papaya:
Papaya is native to Central America; the Latin American Indians have greatly valued it. The explorers from Portugal and Spain brought papayas to other subtropical places in the world where they voyaged; this includes the Philippines, parts of Africa, and India.
It was not until the 20th century that papaya plant arrived in the U.S. and cultivated in Hawaii. Today, the largest producer of papayas is the U.S. (since the 1920s, Hawaii is the major U.S. producer), Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
- Protects Against Arthritis
Papaya health benefits are also great in preventing and treating arthritis. This disease can be a truly debilitating ailment and people who suffer from it may find their quality of life decreased significantly. Papayas are good for the bones as they are rich in Vitamin C and have huge anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in keeping many forms of arthritis at bay. A research published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that individuals who ate foods low in Vitamin C were 3 times more likely to have arthritis than those who did not 4 .
- Great for Diabetics
Papaya is an ideal food option for diabetics due to its low content of sugar even though it is pretty sweet to taste. Moreover, individuals who don’t suffer from diabetes can consume papaya in order to prevent it from happening.
- Improves Digestion
Nowadays, it’s near impossible to avoid consuming foods that are bad for the digestive system. Frequently we find ourselves consuming restaurant food or junk food prepared in excessive quantities of oil. Consuming a papaya regularly can make up for such occasional mistakes, as it contains papain (a potent digestive enzyme) along with fiber that helps improve your digestive health.
- Prevents Cancer
As a rich source of antioxidants, flavonoids, and phytonutrients, eating papaya can prevent our cells from undergoing free radical damage. Many studies have also connected the consumption papaya to decreased risk of prostate and colon cancer 5 .
- Helps Ease Menstrual Pain
Many women who are having menstrual pain can help themselves with a few servings of papaya, as papain helps in easing and regulating flow during menstrual periods.
Papaya Nutrition:
- The Very high content of vitamin A, vitamin C, and essential minerals. Just 1/2 of a small papaya can provide about 150% of the recommended dietary consumption of vitamin C 6 .
- Low content of starch, sodium, and calories.
How to Consume Papaya?
- Papaya can be consumed raw – just slice it into small cubes. It’s recommended to eat papaya along with other food as it works best when taken with saturated fat.
- Add papaya in your diet and make your breakfast delicious and nutritious by preparing a papaya smoothie. Preparing papaya smoothie is really easy! Simply mix some mashed papaya with juice, yogurt, or milk. You can also add some other fruit to it. If you want to thicken your smoothie – add a banana to it.
- You can also try out something new and tasty by making a fruit salad with ripe papaya. Just cut some cubes of papaya and other fruits by your choice along with powdered spices.
Conclusion:
Papaya health benefits are extraordinary. Eating papaya regularly can help you lose weight, protect your heart, and even prevent cancer. Aside from these magnificent health benefits, papayas can also keep your skin looking fresh, glowing, and young all year round!
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