20 Amazing Health Benefits of Papaya (Pawpaw)

  

Papaya is known to be natural sources of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for proper body functioning.

It is one of the common fruits which can be found mostly in the tropics and is enjoyed by all not only because of its sweet and savory taste but also because of the wonderful health benefits it provides.

The papaya, or pawpaw, botanically known as Carica papaya, called Gwanda in Hausa, Ibepe in Yoruba, is a common and delicious tropical fruit, and is of economic significance in many parts of the world. It grows on a perennial tree, which grows to about 2-10 m with large palmate leaves growing out as a crown from the top, while older leaves fade and drop off from the bottom. The trunk is hollow and comparatively soft. Its origin has been traced to Central America, but it is now indigenous to most tropical regions.

The plant is notable for the high content of latex, secreted by lactiferous cells found in most of the plant’s tissues. It is a white milky substance and can be quite caustic. The latex contains several endopeptidase enzymes, namely, papain, chymopapain, glycyl endopeptidase and caricain. The fruit has been used as medicine in various forms, both ripe and unripe forms.

Nutritional Content

One papaya of medium size is a storehouse of various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other healthy nutrients. It yields about 120 calories, from about 30g of carbohydrates. Of this, 5g is comprised of fiber and 18g sugar. There are only 2g of protein, but many vitamins, such as folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, copper, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin and pantothenic acid, as well as the B complex, including the carotenes (alpha and beta), lutein and zeaxanthin pigments, tocoferols, lycopene and vitamin K. It is also rich in calcium, sodium, iron, phosphorus, zinc and potassium.

 20 Amazing Health Benefits of Papaya (Pawpaw)

Christopher Columbus, an Italian voyager once referred to papayas as the fruit of the angels. The fruit which is extremely rich in Vitamin C has a wide range of health benefits making it a great fruit option to include in your diet. Here are some of the top health benefits of papaya.

1.  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 big amount of vitamin C, making it serve as a great agent for a strong immune system.

2.  Helps reduce stress

After working hard for the whole day, it is a good idea to come home to a plate a papayas. The wonder fruit is rich in several nutrients like Vitamin C which can keep you free from stress. According to a study conducted in University of Alabama, found that 200 mg of Vitamin C can help regulate the flow of stress hormones in rats.

3.  It Improves Digestion

Papaya contains an enzyme called papain enzyme that helps in breaking 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 so beneficial to our health because papain, when taken orally, can treat less digestive disorders than when you take papaya.

4.   Helps in Skincare

Papayas are used in many cosmetics; it is known to be a refreshing agent. The papin contained in papaya aids in killing dead 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. 

5. Prevents Cancer

Antioxidants, phytonutrients, and flavonoids contained in papaya help in preventing body cells from experiencing free radical damage. Eating of papaya constantly helps in preventing the risk of cancer due to its richness in beta-carotene that protects against prostate cancer and colon cancer growth.

6.  Anti-inflammatory Properties 

The antioxidants and vitamins in papaya also prevent chronic inflammation. The choline content, for instance, helps to strengthen memory pathways, and muscle development. It is also important for cell membrane integrity, nerve impulse transmission, fat absorption (and therefore fat-soluble vitamins absorption as well), and for good sleep.

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 always add this fruit papaya to your daily meal if you want to lose weight.

8.  Prevents Signs of Ageing

All of us would love to stay young forever, but no one in this world has managed to do it. Still, healthy habits like eating a papaya daily will prolong the process and may make you look 5 years younger than you are. Papaya is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E and antioxidants like beta-carotene which helps prevent your skin from free radical damage keeping wrinkles and other signs of ageing at bay.

9. Reduces Menstrual Pain

This enzyme called papain that is present in pawpaw fruit also helps to 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.

10.  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 in preventing the growth of age-related macular degeneration, thereby reducing the effects of macular degeneration. Regular intake helps in clear vision.

11.  Promotes Hair Growth

Papaya contains vitamin A that is utilized in a compound known as sebum, which helps in keeping the hair smooth

Papayas are good effective fruit that helps in hair growth and maintenance. It helps in keeping your hair shiny, smooth and moisturized. Regular intake of papaya aids in maintaining healthy hair.

12.  Helps in Body Development

It has some essential minerals that contribute to proper health such as magnesium, potassium, irons, and phosphorus needed in the body for proper functioning and development.

Eating pawpaw regularly will help greatly in your body development and functioning.

13.  Helps in Wound Healing

Papaya helps in wound healing due to the presence of proteolytic enzymes; chymopapain and papain enzyme which has its highest concentration of papain on the papaya skin so either the papaya skin or everything mashed together improves wound healing.

14.  Has A Powerful Antioxidant Effects

The seeds of papaya contain three major antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E that help in the prevention of 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.

15.  Protects Against Arthritis

Arthritis can be a really debilitating disease and people who have it may find their quality of life reduced significantly. Eating papayas are good for your bones as they have anti-inflammatory properties along with Vitamin C which helps in keeping various forms of arthritis at bay. A study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed that people who consumed foods low in Vitamin C were three times more likely to have arthritis than those who didn’t.

16.  Antibacterial Properties 

Mashed papaya is even good for healing skin wounds and has antibacterial action, because of papain and chymopapain. It can be used as a skin dressing for burns under clean conditions, and papain-containing ointments are useful in treating decubitus ulcers.

17. Good For Diabetic Patients

It also improves blood glucose control in diabetic people and helps in prevention as well because of its low sugar content; the intake of pawpaw helps to stabilize the glucose level naturally.

Papaya is a good food option for diabetics because of its low sugar content. Regular eating of papaya aids in the cure and preventing of diabetes for those who don’t have it.

18.  Good for Pregnant Women

Papaya aids in the development of the fetus in the womb. Papaya contains a lot of nutrients and one of the nutrients that are needed is folate.

Folate is known to be one of the nutrients found in pawpaw fruit that helps the growth of neural networks in the fetus.

Pawpaw fruit is made up of minerals that are very essential for pregnant women and fetuses.

Iron being one of the minerals helps in the formation of blood cells in the fetus and also aids pregnant women not to experience the shortage of blood during pregnancy.

Regular eating of papaya during pregnancy also gives energy due to sugar content found in papayas.

Papaya is an excellent fruit for pregnant women, because of its rich in vitamin C, papaya prevents the body from contracting infections, flu and cold during pregnancy

19. Relieve Constipation and Reduces Motion Sickness 

The presence of folate, vitamin C, and vitamin E in papayas may reduce motion sickness by producing a tonic effect in the stomach and in the intestines.  The fiber obtained from the fruit helps to increase bowel movements and improved bowel movements reduces the effects of constipation.

20.  Counters Asthma

 Beta-carotene is also abundant in papaya and helps to counter asthma with a higher consumption.

Papaya Seeds and Leaves 

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 the cirrhosis of the liver.

An alkaloid called carpaine 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 a good number of sicknesses related to the intestine worms, 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 treatment of 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 the treatment of 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. Also helps in promoting healthy skin because of its rich in vitamin A and C.

The papaya leaves can be prepared 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.

The papaya leaves can be taken in the form of tea, which can be taken daily 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 but 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 taken at any time because it is good for the digestive system.