Papaya – a sweet and nutritious fruit. It not only tastes great, but also has many amazing health benefits. So what are the benefits of eating papaya? Let’s find out through the following article!
1 Nutritional value of papaya
According to nutritional studies, on average, a papaya will provide about 120 calories, 30g of carbohydrates (of which 5g is fiber, the rest is sugar) and 2g of protein.
In addition, papaya also provides a rich amount of vitamins and minerals such as: vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, magnesium, pantothenic acid…
In addition, this fruit also provides alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and some minerals that help to be strong antioxidants, reduce inflammation, fight disease and prevent wrinkles.
Papaya provides many nutrients that help beautify the skin, good for the respiratory system, cardiovascular system,…
2 Health Benefits of Papaya
Improves Immune Health
Papaya is a rich source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune system by stimulating the production and activity of immune cells, including enhancing the ability to destroy bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. (See more vitamin C products for anti-aging, immune enhancement, and energy metabolism support.)
In addition, papaya also contains antibacterial and antiviral compounds such as lycopene, beta-carotene, and quercetin. These substances have the ability to help prevent the growth of bacteria and viruses in the body, reducing the risk of infections.
Papaya helps support building a healthy immune system
Helps Reduce Inflammation
Papaya contains the enzyme papain, which acts as a natural pain reliever. This enzyme increases the body’s production of cytokines that help regulate inflammation, which can reduce pain from arthritis and similar conditions.
The choline content found in papaya also helps strengthen memory pathways and muscle growth, helps maintain the structure of cell membranes, aids in nerve impulse transmission, fat absorption, and reduces chronic inflammation.
Prevents Aging
Papaya contains several antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene. They help protect the body from the effects of free radicals – unstable molecules that can damage cells and contribute to the aging process.
These antioxidants have the ability to prevent damage caused by free radicals and keep the skin healthy.
In addition, papaya also contains nutrients such as lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can protect the skin from the effects of sunlight and reduce the risk of skin problems related to aging.
Supports healing of skin wounds
The proteolytic enzymes chymopapain and papain are active ingredients that break down dead cells and stimulate the regeneration of new cells, helping to heal wounds quickly.
In addition, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances in papaya also help reduce inflammation and protect the skin from the effects of free radicals. Thanks to that, papaya supports the wound healing process.
Good for skin and hair
Vitamin A contained in papaya is an essential nutrient for the production of sebum, which keeps hair moisturized. Vitamin A is also necessary for the development of all muscle tissues, including skin and hair.
In addition, the abundant amount of vitamin C that papaya can provide is necessary for maintaining collagen levels that build healthy skin structure.
Aids digestion
A study has shown that papaya helps maintain gastrointestinal physiology, improving functional disorders such as bloating, constipation, etc.
In addition, the enzyme papain in papaya can help tenderize meat, aid digestion and regulate intestinal motility.
Helps in Weight Loss
Papaya is very low in calories, which means you can enjoy papaya without worrying about gaining weight. The calories you take in will be less than the calories you burn every day.
Papaya is high in fiber, especially insoluble fiber. Fiber helps you feel fuller for longer and keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time. This helps you control your appetite and reduces overeating.
Support for diabetes treatment
Papaya has a hypoglycemic effect on the body thanks to the natural antioxidant flavonoids found, helping to regulate blood sugar levels.
In addition, papaya also contains low sugar, helping to release natural sugar slowly and not increase the body’s blood sugar level, suitable for use by people with diabetes.
Prevent eye diseases
Zeaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant found in papaya flesh, which helps filter harmful light rays and protect retinal cells, protect eye health and can prevent age-related macular degeneration.
In addition, papaya also contains a large amount of other essential nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotene that can protect the eyes and help prevent eye diseases.
Improves Blood Function
Vitamin C in papaya is a powerful source of antioxidants that can enhance immune function and iron absorption. Vitamin C helps facilitate the formation and maintenance of blood cells, including red blood cells and white blood cells.
Papaya is also a rich source of iron, a mineral that is important in the production of red blood cells, which are responsible for transporting oxygen to organs and tissues in the body. Consuming papaya can help provide iron to the body and improve blood function.
Papaya provides folate, a form of vitamin B9, which is necessary for the formation of new blood cells. Folate plays an important role in the production of DNA and RNA, increasing the number of red blood cells and helping to maintain blood function.
Good for the cardiovascular system
The fiber content in papaya has the ability to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in the blood, prevent plaque formation in the arteries and reduce the risk of heart disease. In addition, fiber also helps regulate blood sugar, reduce the risk of diabetes and protect cardiovascular health.
Papaya provides a significant amount of potassium. Potassium is an important mineral in regulating heart rate and maintaining stable blood pressure. It helps reduce vascular tension, dilates blood vessels and increases blood circulation in the body. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Good for the respiratory system
Papaya contains natural anti-inflammatory substances such as vitamin C and antioxidants. These substances have the ability to reduce inflammation in the respiratory system and help relieve the symptoms of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia…
Prevent Asthma
Beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A found in ripe papaya, may help reduce the risk of asthma.
Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body, and vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining lung and immune health. It helps boost immune function, reduces inflammation, and protects the lungs from damage.
Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk
Papaya is a good source of antioxidants such as vitamin C and beta-carotene. Antioxidants help protect brain cells from damage caused by free radicals, a potential cause of Alzheimer’s.
In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties in papaya can reduce inflammatory responses in the brain and ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Prevent Cancer
Papaya contains natural digestive enzymes, such as papain and chymopapain. These enzymes are capable of digesting the protein membrane surrounding cancer cells, helping the body destroy cancer cells.
The antioxidant compounds in papaya, especially Lycopene, can inhibit the growth of breast and liver cancer cells.
Helps strengthen bones
When you eat papaya, your body will be provided with vitamin K from this food. Vitamin K helps stimulate the absorption of calcium from the digestive tract into the body, while also helping to bring calcium to the bones and reduce calcium excretion through urine.
Thanks to the supply of vitamin K from papaya and other food sources, the body can maintain adequate levels of calcium in the bones, helping to keep bones healthy and prevent bone problems such as osteoporosis.
3 Should you eat ripe or green papaya?
Papaya can be eaten when ripe or green. Depending on personal preference and purpose of use, you can choose to eat ripe or green papaya to prepare many different dishes.
However, if you are pregnant, you should not eat green papaya because it causes uterine contractions. This can lead to premature birth, birth defects or even miscarriage, stillbirth.
You can eat ripe or green papaya, but pregnant women should not eat green papaya.
4 Does eating papaya increase bust size?
Papaya is said to contain many enzymes that can stimulate the production of female estrogen, which can help increase bust size. However, the effectiveness of this method may vary depending on each person’s constitution, diet and combined exercise.
You should note that eating papaya to increase bust size is a natural method and can take a long time and not everyone achieves the desired results.
5 Ways to Choose and Store Papaya
How to Choose Papaya:
When choosing papaya, choose fruits that have a nice color, no bruises, no cracks, and they need to have the right firmness for your intended use. Ripe papayas are usually orange or yellow, while unripe papayas are green.
How to Store Papaya:
To store papaya, you can leave them at room temperature for a few days if you want them to ripen, or put them in the refrigerator to keep them longer. If the papaya is not ripe, leave them at room temperature for a few days to help them ripen more naturally. Once ripe, you can store them in the refrigerator to extend their shelf life.
6 Some dishes made from papaya
Papaya soup
Papaya is thinly sliced and cooked in broth, often combined with other meats, seafood or vegetables to create a delicious and nutritious soup.
Papaya soup is rich in fiber, vitamin C and minerals such as potassium, magnesium and manganese. They also provide a small amount of protein from the meat or seafood used in the soup.
Stir-fried Papaya
Papaya is thinly sliced and quickly stir-fried with spices such as garlic, onions, chili peppers and fish sauce. This dish often has a rich sweet and salty flavor and is suitable as a side dish or vegetarian dish.
Stir-fried papaya provides fiber, vitamin C and minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Additionally, if you use ingredients such as onions, garlic and chili peppers, it can also provide some antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
Papaya Jam
Papaya is sliced and soaked in sugar, then boiled to make papaya jam. Papaya jam has a sweet taste, often used as a jam to eat with or as an ingredient in desserts.
Papaya jam is rich in fiber and vitamin C. However, it is also high in sugar, so it should be eaten in moderation.
Sweet and Sour Papaya
Papaya is thinly sliced and soaked in sweet and sour fish sauce, often with garlic, chili and sugar. It has a sweet and sour taste, is crunchy and is often served as a side dish.
This dish provides fiber from the papaya and antibacterial properties from the garlic and chili. However, because it is soaked in sweet and sour fish sauce, it should be eaten in moderation to avoid consuming too much sodium.
Papaya Braised with Meat
Papaya is sliced and braised with meat (usually pork) in fish sauce, sugar, garlic and other spices. This dish has a sweet and salty taste and is often served as the main dish in a meal.
Papaya Braised with Meat provides fiber, vitamin C and some minerals from the papaya. The pork or other meat in this dish provides protein and some fat.
Papaya Braised Ribs
Pork ribs are braised with papaya and other spices to create a delicious and aromatic braised rib dish.
This dish provides fiber from papaya and protein from pork ribs. If other spices and herbs are used, it can also provide antioxidants.
Chicken, Duck Stewed with Papaya
Chicken or duck is stewed with papaya and other spices, creating a delicious stew, often served at parties or special occasions.
This dish provides fiber from the papaya and protein from the chicken or duck. If other spices and herbs are used, it can also provide antioxidants.
7 Notes on using papaya
How much papaya should you eat each day
There is no specific amount of papaya to eat in a day, because each person’s nutritional needs are different. However, according to recommendations, adults should consume about 800g of vegetables and fruits per day, including papaya.
When to eat papaya
You can eat papaya at any time of the day, there are no specific rules. However, there are still some recommendations on how to eat papaya properly:
- Eat for breakfast: 30 minutes before, you should have a glass of almond milk or a glass of oatmeal to ensure energy for the whole day.
- Eat for lunch: You can eat rice with dishes made from papaya. After 30 minutes, you can drink another glass of papaya juice.
- Eat for dinner: After dinner, you can drink a glass of papaya smoothie with celery, onion and lemon juice or have diced papaya for dessert.
Absolutely do not eat papaya seeds because they contain carpine toxins that disrupt the heart rhythm and weaken the nervous system.
Who should not eat papaya
Papaya is generally a safe and healthy food. However, there are some people who should consider before eating papaya or consult a doctor if they have any health problems. These include:
- People with digestive problems: The enzyme papain in papaya can cause irritation for some people with sensitive stomachs.
- Children under 1 year old: The child’s digestive system is not yet complete, so it is easy to have loose stools and become dehydrated when having diarrhea.
- Pregnant women: Pregnant women eating papaya can cause strong uterine contractions, leading to the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth or birth defects.
- People with allergies: If you have allergic symptoms after exposure to papaya such as itching, rash or difficulty breathing, stop eating and consult a doctor.
The above article has pointed out 16 benefits of eating papaya, hopefully it is useful to you. If you find this article useful, please share it with your relatives and friends!
