15 benefits of eating papaya
Papaya has many health benefits. Papaya is low in calories and nutritionally rich; therefore, it is one of the best foods for those on a diet. Due to its many health and medicinal benefits, it is used widely all over the world. The fruit was named “The Fruit of the Angels” by Christopher Columbus.
1. Papaya is good for digestion
Papaya contains papain and chymopapain, which helps to aid in natural digestion.
These proteolytic enzymes break the protein into simpler forms, i.e., amino acids, thus allowing better digestion.
Papaya is also effective for people suffering from constipation and indigestion due to its high dietary fibre content.
In the older stage, the digestive enzyme secretion is reduced; therefore, eating papaya stimulates the secretion of these enzymes.
2. Papaya for heart disease treatment
Papaya seeds contain antioxidants that prevent cardiac diseases like myocardial infarction, diabetes, and stroke.
The presence of pro-carotenoid phytonutrients is also good for the heart.
The presence of Potassium in papaya helps in maintaining heart rate and blood pressure.
The antioxidants prevent the accumulation of cholesterol, thus plaques in the blood arteries.
The antioxidants like vitamins C, A, and E, along with beta-carotene and lycopene, prevent cholesterol, discourage plaque formation, and prevent heart attacks and strokes.
3. Papaya for cancer prevention
Papaya is rich in antioxidants, which help the body fight against cancer-causing cells.
Papaya’s dietary fibre binds the cancer-causing cells in the colon and flushes out carcinogenic cells from it.
Antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and beta-carotene prevent cancer and mainly facilitate a healthy colon.
It is a natural and herbal cleanser when its juice is taken with beans.
Papaya contains anti-inflammatory enzymes beneficial for arthritis, oedema, and osteoporosis.
The proteolytic enzyme in papaya has anti-cancer benefits and helps digest the fibrin protein layer of cancer cells.
4. Papaya for nausea treatment
Papaya is beneficial in treating nausea, morning sickness, and motion sickness.
It is also beneficial for pregnant ladies when taken in small quantities. It is suggested that during pregnancy, one should consult the doctor before taking papaya for morning sickness.
Papaya prevents nausea and shows promising results with pineapple juice.
The presence of vitamin C, vitamin E, and folate in papaya also relieves motion sickness.
5. Papaya removes worms
Papaya helps to expel worms.
It removes worms from the stomach; one should take two spoons of papaya seeds and honey twice daily.
The seeds, leaves, and milk of papaya can also be used to kill intestinal worms.
6. Papaya is good for sex
Papaya enhances male virility.
Papaya has an enzyme called arginine which helps flow blood movement around the penis.
Arginine acts on nitric acid, which works on smoothing of penis muscles.
Regular use of papaya helps to treat erectile dysfunction.
7. Papaya prevents aging
Papaya is beneficial in preventing premature ageing.
Due to the presence of different essential phytonutrients, it helps to digest food smoothly.
When the peel is rubbed on the face and left for 5 minutes, it gives a glow to the skin due to the presence of alpha-hydroxy acids.
However, one should wait to apply the papaya as long as it may irritate.
When the mix of papaya and milk is used over the face, it helps to remove acne, blackheads, blemishes, and pimples.
The antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, and carotenoids also help remove wrinkles.
Papaya prevents anti-ageing because of its detoxification properties, making the skin soft and glowing.
8. Papaya for inflammation treatment
Papaya has protein digestive enzymes like papain and chymopapain, which help to lessen inflammation.
Papain can break down protein in the skin, thus helping to remove dead cells from the skin.
The antioxidants of papaya also help at reducing inflammation.
9. Papaya for dandruff treatment
Papaya is good for hair. Shampoos that contain the ingredients of papaya help prevent dandruff.
In making a papaya hair mask, one should require 100 grams of peeled papaya, 100 grams of banana, 100 grams of curd, 1 tsp of molasses, and 1 tsp of coconut oil.
Grind all these components and apply them to hair. Covered your head to maintain heat, left for 40-50 minutes, and washed your hair.
This combination is good for softening hair.
10. Papaya for arthritis treatment
Papaya is known for essential enzymes like papain and chymopapain. These enzymes help reduce inflammation related to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Papaya also contains antioxidants- vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotene, which show anti-inflammatory properties against arthritis, thus helping to heal up burning.
So, someone with osteoporosis, arthritis, and oedema should take papaya regularly.
11. Papaya for fair skin
Papaya is one of the few fruits used for skin glowing and face packs.
Its benefits are great; it helps to get rid of acne, blemishes, wrinkles, and pimples, as papaya helps to open clogged pores.
Papaya’s papain destroys dead cells from the skin and breaks down the inactive proteins, thus giving it a smooth touch.
The papaya face pack helps make skin fairer and lighter.
The presence of antioxidants –vitamin C, vitamin E, lycopene, and beta-carotene helps in skin protection by defeating free radicals.
Papaya’s facial applications help to enhance the elasticity of the skin. All these nutrients are good for skin acre.
12. Papaya for weight loss
Papaya is suitable for those who want to lose weight naturally.
Papaya is low in calories, and nutritionally, it is adequate in nutrients.
On the other hand, it also helps to fill your stomach, reducing the desire to eat more.
Due to enough fibre content, it smoothes the digestive system directly or indirectly impacts other body systems.
13. Papaya prevents cold
Papaya is rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, which helps to enhance the body’s immunity, thus preventing the person from cold, cough, flu, and fever.
Regular eating of papaya prevents these diseases.
Papaya is rich in antioxidants that help strengthen the body’s immune system and facilitate healthy health.
14. Papaya is good for the eyes
The eating of papaya is good for the look.
Papaya contains beta-carotene, carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
These phytonutrients are suitable for the eyes and eye muscles.
It is also reported that taking lutein and zeaxanthin reduces the risk of age-related muscular degeneration.
Both lutein and zeaxanthin also prevent different eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts.
15. Nutritional facts about papaya
Papaya has lots of nutrients and is of high nutritional benefits. 100 gram of papaya is having the following nutrients:
Calories (39 k cal)
Sugars (5.90 gram)
Carbohydrate (9.81 gram)
Dietary Fibre (1.8 gram)
Fat (0.14 gram)
Protein (0.61 gram)
Vitamin A (328 microgram)
Vitamin (0.04 mg)
Vitamin B2 (0.05 mg)
Vitamin B3 (0.338 mg)
Vitamin B6 (0.1 mg)
Vitamin B9 (38 mg)
Vitamin C (61.8mg)
Calcium (24 mg)
Iron (0.10 mg)
Magnesium (10mg)
Phosphorous (5 mg)
Potassium (257 mg)
Sodium (3mg)
Side effects of papaya
Papaya may cause nausea and vomiting.
Unripe papaya contains papain, which may damage the oesophagus.
Applying unripe papaya on the skin can cause irritation and other allergic reactions.
Pregnant mothers shouldn’t eat it as it leads to miscarriage and contraction of the uterus.
Excess eating may also cause stomach upset.
Besides this, it also contains fat, carbohydrate, protein, water, and ash. In fats, it contains saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, Omega-3 fatty acid, and omega-6 fatty acids. It also contains zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium.
