Benefits Of Papaya

Nutritional Value of Papaya

• Papaya contains ‘papain’, a digestive enzyme known for aiding digestion and treating injuries and allergies.
• Papaya has abundant Vitamin A and Vitamin C which provides a boost to the immune system of the person. Papaya also prevents diseases such as ear infections, colds, and influenza.
• Abundant in Vitamin A, eating papaya helps you to prevent lung cancer and other lung conditions.
• When consumed ripe, this fruit being easily digestible assists in preventing constipation.
• A study reveals that when this fruit is consumed alone for three days, it has a useful tonic effect in the stomach and intestines.
• The seeds of papaya are anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and analgesic and are used in treating stomach ache and ringworm infections.
• The juice of papaya assists in mitigating infections of the colon. It also helps in breaking down pus and mucus.
• The consumption of ripe papaya is said to help in the prevention of cancer in organs and glands with epithelial tissue.
• Papaya helps tremendously in preventing nausea, including morning sickness and motion sickness.
• When had with honey, the papaya seeds are known to be antihelminthic for expelling worms. So chew and swallow two teaspoonful of papaya seeds after the main meals during a day.
• Papaya has rejuvenating properties that especially assists in controlling early aging.
• Eating papaya on a regular basis is known to restore strength and health to the body.
• Papaya is a rich source of antioxidant nutrients like carotenes, vitamin C, vitamin B, minerals, fiber, etc. All these nutrients boost the health of the cardiovascular system, apart from providing protection against colon cancer.
• Being a rich source of fiber, papaya consumption helps in lowering high cholesterol levels. 
• This fruit can be directly applied to skin sores also.
• Papaya helps guard inflammatory polyarthritis which is a kind of rheumatoid arthritis that involves two or more joints.
• Eating raw papaya helps women to reduce menstrual irregularities; the fruit promotes natural flow of menstruation.
• Having papaya frequently helps control dandruff.
• The seeds of papaya help in protecting kidneys from toxin-induced kidney failure. They are also good in reducing intestinal parasites and detoxifying liver.

• While buying papaya, chose those that are yellowish in colour with a bit of green. Fully ripe papayas have a bright yellow skin
• Ripe papayas will yield pressure and the skin will be devoid of any bruises or cuts. However, a few moldy or black spots will not affect the flavor of the fruit.
• As in the case of other fruits, use your nose as ripe papayas will have a sweet aroma. Ensure not to buy those fruits that are overly soft unless you use them immediately or puree them.
• Papayas will ripen in a few days in room temperature and can accelerate the process if they are put in a paper bag. Once ripe, it will turn mush if it not properly stored.
• If you need to slow down the ripening process, papayas must be stored in refrigerators
• Keeping the fruit in a plastic bag in refrigerator make it last for a week.
• To freeze the papaya, slice them lengthwise and scoop the seeds, cut them into pieces and keep them in tight containers or plastic freezer bags. Cover the fruit in a sugar solution with 4 cups of water to 2 cups of sugar. This can be freeze up to almost 10 months.

• Papayas are eaten as a fruit or are added to salads and other gravies.
• To add them into salads, peel the skin using a peeling knife and cut the fruit into desired shapes. Make sure it is done just before it is added to the salad as it tends to make other fruits soft.
• Combine red papaya, red onion, fresh coriander, lime juice and fresh red chili serves as a salsa with fish. 
• Slice and top the papaya with ice cream, passion fruit, toasted shredded coconut and macadamias to form a tropical sundae.
• Though the black seeds of papaya are discarded, they are edible and possess a peppery flavour. Either chew them as a whole or add them into creamy salad dressing.
• Diced papaya mixed with cilantro, peppers and ginger make a salsa which goes well with shrimp, scallops and halibut.
• Blending papaya, strawberries and yogurt makes an excellent cold soup treat.