Papaya is a favourite fruit for many because of its juicy texture and delicious taste. Other than these features, there are numerous benefits of papaya that you must not be aware of. Papaya pulp or Papaya seeds have health benefits of their own. Papayas are rich in antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, And vitamin E. Diets high in antioxidants such as papaya may reduce the risk of heart disease.
This is because antioxidants prevent cholesterol oxidation. When cholesterol oxidises, it is more likely to create blockages that lead to heart disease. Inclusion of papaya in the regular diet can help improve digestion, lose weight, and boost your immune system.
There are dozens of papaya eating benefits that you should be aware of. Below, we have split up the health benefits of papaya fruit into categories for easy understanding:
Papaya, being rich in Vitamin K, helps in the improved absorption of calcium in the body. Papaya fruit benefits are therefore great for bone health as increased calcium absorption improves bone health.
Raw papaya benefits the digestive system as it contains enzymes like papain that helps in the secretion of gastric acids. The proteins in papaya also help in improving digestion.
The potassium and vitamins that are present in papaya help fight heart disease and maintain a healthy heart in the long run.
Papaya seeds are highly rich in vitamin C and other compounds like flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols. All of these compounds have anti-inflammatory properties and help with arthritis, gout, etc.
Papaya leaf extract can help with gas and bloating. You could drink papaya leaf juice to reduce bloating and relieve gas.
Certain nutrients can lessen the risk of developing asthma. Papaya contains an important nutrient named beta-carotene which helps lessen the risk of developing asthma.
One of the main advantages of papaya is its high fibre quantity which helps reduce blood sugar levels. This thereby helps improve insulin levels and decrease the risk of diabetes.
Zeaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant present in papayas, helps in maintaining eye health and prevents macular degeneration.
Papayas are rich in Vitamin C thereby improving the overall immune health of the body. Vitamin C helps fight infections and illnesses.
Papaya seeds have plenty of antibacterial properties thereby improving the overall health of the individual. Consuming papaya seeds regularly can offer protection to your body against bacteria like Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and more.
Papaya seeds contain a powerful antioxidant named polyphenol. Polyphenol protects the body by preventing different types of cancers. In addition to polyphenol. Papaya seeds also have this extremely healthy compound called isothiocyanate. This compound inhibits both the formation and development of cancer cells.
Several symptoms of dengue such as fatigue, fever, headaches, nausea, skin rashes, and vomiting can be treated by the consumption of papaya.
The papaya vitamins and nutrition in papaya can help improve the health of your scalp.
The benefits of papaya for the skin are tremendous as the fruit promotes healing of the skin. Papaya benefits for the face are great and it can also be used as a face mask to achieve healthy skin.
Papaya benefits for hair are evident upon consistent use. Papaya contains Vitamin A and helps in absorbing sebum and maintaining moisture in the hair thereby preventing hair fall and breakage of hair.
Now that you are aware of the health advantages of papaya, it is also important to know the side effects of eating papaya to avoid the fruit’s negative impact on health.
Many health experts advise pregnant women to avoid eating papaya as papaya seeds and roots may be detrimental to the development of the foetus. The concentration of latex in papaya may cause uterine contractions and the papain present in it can damage certain membranes that are important for the development of the foetus.
A medical study has suggested that too many papayas can cause problems such as upset stomach, diarrhoea, etc. Moreover, the latex in papaya can cause irritation to the lining of the stomach, thus exacerbating digestive issues.
As per a medical website, the pollen papain present in papaya can trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals. These allergic reactions may present themselves with symptoms like swelling, dizziness, headache, rashes, etc.
As per the US National Library of Medicine, some substances in papaya may interact negatively with blood-thinning medications and may cause heavy bleeding or trouble forming clots.
There are many ways you can use papaya in natural homemade remedies for various health benefits:
Mash a cup full of papayas with a couple of tablespoons of honey and apply it to your face. Leave the mixture on for 20 minutes and then rinse it off with water. This will help in moisturising your skin as well as improving its texture.
Mix a small cup of mashed papayas and cucumbers into a thin paste. Apply this paste to your dark circles and leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with water to wash it off. It will help in reducing the dark circles under your eyes.
Extract the juice of raw papaya and apply it to your skin for 10-15 minutes. Wash it off with warm water. This papaya juice will help you reduce any pimples, breakouts or blemishes on your face.
Papaya is an excellent fruit that you can use to improve your health in various ways. On the other hand, it is also important to have a diet full of vegetables, fruits and proteins to make sure you are getting all the nutrients a body needs. However, if you truly wish to take care of your health to the highest extent, you should look into getting a health insurance plan for you and your family. Even if you lead the healthiest lifestyle, communicable diseases and accidents can happen to anyone. In these situations, having a good health insurance plan can save you a lot of money on medical treatments so that you can focus on recovering without any stress. If you do not have health cover, you should check out these health insurance plans available at Bajaj Markets.
Excessive consumption of papayas can increase body heat beyond normal.
Yes, papayas are one of the foods rich in Vitamin A.
Yes, papaya leaves have several properties that improve the overall health of the body.
It is best to eat papaya on an empty stomach as it clears out toxins from the digestive tract.
One slice of papaya has about 11 grams of sugar.