Papaya is a natural source of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for proper body functioning.
It is one of the common fruits that can be found mostly in the tropics and is enjoyed by all because of its sweet and savory taste and the wonderful health benefits it provides.
14 Amazing Health Benefits of Papaya (Pawpaw)
1. Improves Digestion
Papaya contains an enzyme called papain enzyme that helps break amino acids present in the body into strings of protein and support gastrointestinal health. That is, it improves digestion.
Eating papaya after each meal is beneficial to our health because papain, when taken orally, can treat fewer digestive disorders than when you take papaya.
2. Reduces Menstrual pain
This enzyme called papain that is present in pawpaw fruit also helps reduce menstrual pains and contributes to the regulation and ease of flow during the menstrual period; consuming unripe papaya helps in menstrual regulation.
Therefore it is advisable for women who experience menstrual pain to take papaya, as it will help to reduce the pain.
3. It Lowers Cholesterol
Some vitamins are contained in pawpaw fruits, such as vitamin C, vitamin B-6 thiamin, riboflavin, folate, and niacin, which help prevent cholesterol and keep the immune system and the cells healthy.
Eating papaya regularly helps a lot in preventing cholesterol from building up in your arteries.
4. Helps in Body Development
It has some essential minerals that contribute to proper health, such as magnesium, potassium, iron, and phosphorus needed in the body for proper functioning and development.
Eating pawpaw regularly will help greatly in your body development and functioning.
5. It Boosts Immune System
Papaya contains several antioxidants that play important roles in improving the immune systems. Regular intake of papaya helps in the improvement of the immune system of the body.
Papaya contains a large amount of vitamin C, serving as a great agent for a strong immune system.
6. Good For Diabetic Patients
It also improves blood glucose control in diabetic people and helps in prevention because of its low sugar content; the intake of pawpaw helps to stabilize the glucose level naturally.
Papaya is a good food option for people with diabetes because of its low sugar content—regular eating of papaya aids in curing and preventing diabetes for those who don’t have it.
7. Helps in Weight Loss
Pawpaw helps people who are overweight to lose weight and those that wish to maintain their normal weight because the fiber content in it will always help to make the stomach full and at the same time clear the bowel movement, thereby making the body lose some weight.
Therefore don’t forget to add this fruit papaya to your daily meal if you want to lose weight.
8. Has Powerful Antioxidant Effects
The papaya seeds contain three major antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, that help prevent health diseases and maintain good heart health.
Antioxidants contained in papayas helps a lot in neutralizing free radicals in your body so that they won’t have any harmful effect.
9. Helps in Wound Healing
Papaya helps in wound healing due to proteolytic enzymes; chymopapain and papain enzyme has their highest concentration of papain on the papaya skin, so either the papaya skin or everything is mashed together improves wound healing.
10. Promotes Hair Growth
Papaya contains vitamin A utilized in a compound known as sebum, which helps keep the hair smooth.
Papayas are good effective fruit that helps in hair growth and maintenance. It helps keep your hair shiny, smooth, and moisturized—regular intake of papaya aids in maintaining healthy hair.
11. Helps in Skincare
Papayas are used in many cosmetics; it is known to be a refreshing agent. The paper contained in papaya aids in killing cells and cleanse your skin
The useful content and healing enzymes contained in papaya aids in treating irritated skin and sunburn. Papayas aids in fighting free radical that affects your skin. You can try this; by rubbing the peels of papaya on your face and hands,
Papayas help greatly in skin disorders treatment such as psoriasis, eczema, and other skin diseases.
- Helps in Eye Care
Papayas are rich in vitamin A and flavonoids such as beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein that aids in keeping the mucous membranes in the eyes healthy and preventing damage from them.
Vitamin A contained in papaya helps greatly prevent the growth of age-related macular degeneration, thereby reducing the effects of macular degeneration. Regular intake helps in clear vision.
- Prevents Cancer
Antioxidants, phytonutrients, and flavonoids in papaya help prevent body cells from experiencing free radical damage. Eating papaya constantly helps prevent the risk of cancer due to its richness in beta-carotene that protects against prostate cancer and colon cancer growth.
Nutritional Values of Papaya
| Nutrients | Amount |
| Energy | 39 Kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 9.81 g |
| Protein | 0.16g |
| Total fat | 0.14g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.80g |
| Folates | 38mcg |
| Niacin | 0.338mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.218mg |
| pyridoxine | 0.019mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.032mg |
| Thiamin | 0.027 |
| Vitamin A | 1094 IU |
| Vitamin C | 61.8mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.73mg |
| Vitamin K | 2.6mcg |
| Sodium | 3mg |
| Potassium | 257mg |
| Calcium | 24mg |
| Iron | 0.10mg |
| Magnesium | 10mg |
| Phosphorus | 5mg |
| Zinc | 0.07mg |
| Carotene-ß | 276 mcg |
| Crypto-xanthin-ß | 761 mcg |
| Lutein-zeaxanthin | 75 mcg |
Papaya seeds
As we have known, the great benefit of pawpaw fruit to our health. Its seed has its own benefits to our health also. Papaya seeds contain a lot of nutrients that aids in improving kidney health and also heals cirrhosis of the liver.
An alkaloid called campaign that is found in pawpaw seed kills the amoeba parasites and intestine worms. Papin found in the seed also helps in the digestion of protein.
Pawpaw seeds can stop and treat many sicknesses related to the intestine worms and liver guts and can treat diseases like dengue fever. Pawpaw seeds help in fighting infections and treat food poisoning. It aids indigestion.
Pawpaw seeds can be taken raw, ground, or crushed in honey or milk. Eating the seed raw can be more effective but not to be taken very frequently.
Papaya leaves
Papaya leaves are also beneficial to our health, just like the fruit and the seeds. The leaves are rich in nutrients and phytochemicals that aids in disease treatment. Papaya leaves are known to be one of the effective treatments for dengue fever and high fever.
The leaves contain enzymes that prevent different kinds of cancer and tumors.
The papaya leave juice is so effective in treating cancers of the breasts, liver, lungs, cervix, and pancreas.
It helps in digestion due to the enzymes papain and chymopapain contained in the leave that prevents indigestion, stomach ulcers, and constipation. It helps in treating menstrual disorders.
The phytochemicals present in the leaves aid in promoting hair growth and prevents hair problems like baldness, thinning of hair, itchy scalp, and others. It also helps in promoting healthy skin because its rich in vitamin A and C.
You can prepare the papaya leaves by cutting a fresh papaya leave, wash and allow it to dry; then cut them and put it in a pot of water and allow it to boil gently until the water is reduced to small, then separate the liquid and serve in a glass container.
You can also take the papaya leaves with tea, which you can take for a long time.
Conclusion
Conclusively, papaya is a nutritious fruit with many nutrients such as grams of protein, vitamins, folate, calories, and carbohydrates that contribute to the proper functioning of the body. Still, too much of it can damage the esophagus, reduce fertility in men and increase the rate of menstrual flow in women.
Papaya is best to be eaten in the morning as it contains vitamins A and C, though it can be at any time because it is good for the digestive system.