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Super Fruits - Papaya

Papaya is an exotic fruit packed with numerous health benefiting nutrients. It is one of the favorites of fruit lovers for its nutritional, digestive, and medicinal properties. It probably thought to have originated in the Central Americas. Papaya plant is grown extensively all over the tropical regions.

Papaya tree bears many spherical or pear-shaped fruits clumped near its top end of the trunk. They come in variety of sizes ranging from 6-20 inches in length and 4-12 inches in diameter.

An average-sized papaya weighs about a pound. The fruit is said to ripen when it yeilds to gentle thumb pressure, and its skin turned amber to orange hue.
Inside, the fruit features numerous black peppercorn like seeds, encased in a mucin coat, at its hollow central cavity as in melons. The flesh is orange in color with either yellow or pink hues, soft in consistency and has deliciously sweet, musky taste with rich flavor.

Nutrition content:

Papaya Leaf contains lots of great nutrients such as B-Vitamins for vitality and enhanced mood, Vitamins A and C which are powerful antioxidants, calcium and Vitamin D which are important for strong bones, Vitamin E which is important for sexual and cardiovascular health.

Flavonoids that are powerful antioxidants that keep away cancer and cardiovascular disease, tannins that boost the immune system, and betacarotene for immune enhancement and eye health.

Papaya Preparation:

Here are some serving tips:

• Ripe papaya fruit is usually eaten raw

• Fresh papaya cubes are a great addition to fruit salads.

• Papaya juice with ice cubes is a popular drink.

• Its cubes can be used in shakes, sorbets, salsa, etc.

• Ripe fruit also goes well with chicken and seafood savory dishes.

• Unripe green papaya can be used as a vegetable, either cooked, usually in stews, stir-fry, curries, and soups. Papaya flowers stew is a popular recipe in many South-East Asian regions.

Health benefits of Papaya:

1# Lowers cholesterol: Papayas are rich in fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants that prevent cholesterol build up in your arteries.

2# Helps weight loss: One medium sized papaya contains just 120 calories.

3# Boosts your immunity: A single papaya has more than 200% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C, building a stronger immune system.

4# Good for diabetics: Despite being sweet in nature, papayas are low in sugar content. The vitamins present in Papaya prevents development of heart disease in diabetes.

5# Great for your eyes: Papayas are rich in Vitamin A which keeps your eyes healthy, preventing them from damage

6# Protects against arthritis: 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.

7# Improves digestion: Eating a papaya daily will improve digestion as it has a digestive enzyme along with fibre which helps improve your digestion.

8# Helps ease menstrual pain: Women who experience menstrual period pain should help themselves to several servings of papaya, as an enzyme in Papaya helps in regulating and easing flow during menstrual periods.

9# Prevents signs of ageing: Papaya is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and antioxidants which helps prevent your skin from wrinkles.

10# Promotes hair growth: Apart from keeping the skin healthy, papayas are very effective for maintaining healthy hair. Vitamin A is crucial for keeping the hair smooth, shiny and moisturised.

11# Prevents cancer: Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoids that protects against prostate cancer and colon cancer.

12# Helps reduce stress: Papayas is rich in several nutrients like Vitamin C which can keep you free from stress.

13# Prevents constipation: Papayas contain soft, easily digestible flesh with a good amount of soluble dietary fiber that helps to have normal bowel movements; thereby reducing constipation problems.

14# Improved health: Papaya fruit is also rich in many essential B-complex vitamins essential to replenish and play a vital role in metabolism

15# Regulates blood pressure: Fresh ripe papaya also contains a good amount of potassium and calcium, important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.

Information sourced from www.thehealthsite.com

Health Benefits of Papaya Leaves:

1. Indigestion-Heartburn - Papaya Leaves are great for getting rid of invading bacteria that causes an upset stomach, reducing inflammation and healing gastric ulcers. Papaya Leaf tea soothes away colon inflammation.

2. Break Down Wheat Gluten - Papaya Leaves have the ability to break down wheat gluten making it easy to digest.

3. Prevents Cancer - Papaya Leaves have a milky sap that’s great for preventing and killing cancer cells especially cervix, prostate, liver, breast, and lung cancer. The more concentrated the tea the better the results and there are no side effects of any kind. Take 10 Papaya leaves, cutting up and boiling in 1/2 gallon of water until it boils down to a quart, let it cool, strain and store in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid in the fridge for 2 days. Drink as much Papaya leaf tea as possible.

4. Treating Prostate Enlargement - Papaya Leaf tea can help with benign prostate enlargement.

5. Acne Remedy - Dry Papaya Leaves pound the leaves with just enough water to make a paste. Apply to the area with acne, wash off after 10 min.

6. Increase Platelet Count - Papaya Leaf Tea can increase platelet counts in cases of dengue fever and more.

7. Menstrual Pain - Take 6 Papaya Leaves and boil them in a liter of water for 15 minutes let it cool and drink one large glass 3 times a day.

8. Laxative - Papaya Leaves made into a strong tea also work well as a good laxative... for those who suffer from constipation.

9. Treat Fever - Papaya Leaves made into a tea lower fevers and helps with colds, flues, and even dengue fever.

10. Skin Problems - Papaya Leaves can help with fungal infections of the skin, warts, scars... and get rid of freckles.

11. Increase Appetite - Papaya Leaf tea increases appetite bringing vigor and vitality back to the body.

12. Cataracts - Papaya Leaf tea can prevent cataracts.

13. Emphysema - Papaya Leaves contain lots of Vitamin D which prevents emphysema.

14. Immune Booster - Papaya Leaves contains lots of powerful contents that boost your immune system and stave off cardiovascular disease, strokes, and cancer.

15. Anti aging- Papaya Leaf contains 50 or more different amino acids some of these agents are used as anti-aging compounds.

Sourced: community.omtimes.com

Medical disclaimer:

This information is intended solely for the general information of the reader. The contents is not intended to offer personal medical advice, diagnose health problems or for treatment purposes. It is not a substitute for medical care provided by a licensed and qualified health professional. Please consult your health care provider for any advice on medications.

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