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Papaya: 12 benefits and healthy properties

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Papaya is a fruit native to Mexico. It is large in size and is currently cultivated in many parts of the world. Thanks to its good taste and its nutrients, papaya has become an indispensable fruit for a light and healthy diet in many homes throughout the world.

Like most fruits, it has a contribution of proteins and fats that we can consider as low. Not so other nutrients that are in important concentrations and that benefit the body in different areas.

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Papaya has multiple benefits and properties for the body

Among the components of papaya are papain, fiber and vitamin C. These nutrients are involved in different parts of the body and influence it in different ways. For that reason it is important to know what are the properties and benefits of papaya.

Surely after knowing everything that papaya has to offer you will not hesitate to include it in your usual diet. Either in combination with other fruits and at different times of the day, since it is a fruit that can be eaten in different dishes and cooked in very different ways.

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1. Improve constipation

Papaya is one of the fruits that helps the most to relieve constipation. Although its fiber content is not the highest compared to other fruits, papain and its water content manage to stimulate the intestine to improve transit.

However, if there is no problem in this regard, eating papaya helps to avoid it, so it also has a preventive effect. So eating this fruit for breakfast in a measured portion is a great idea to feel light the rest of the day.

2. Boost the immune system

The vitamin C that is in a small portion of papaya is much higher than that of an orange. It is enough with 100 grams of this tropical fruit to cover the daily requirements of vitamin C.

This vitamin is essential to strengthen the immune system, so consume papaya with frequency, helps reduce the risk of contagion in viral diseases, especially at times wintry.

3. Diuretic

Eat papaya helps not retain fluids. This in turn allows for no swelling in the body. This fruit is made up of 90% water and, for this reason, ingesting it has diuretic effects on the body.

There is no doubt that this fruit is ideal to feel light the rest of the day. In summer when the heat is more intense and it is common to retain fluids; in these cases papaya is an excellent ally to lighten swelling and relieve discomfort.

Papaya benefits

4. Protect the skin

The skin is protected thanks to the beta carotenes of papaya. These beta-carotenes are the precursors of Vitamin A, which protect the skin from free radicals that affect and damage it, leading the dermis to premature aging. With papaya we counteract this effect.

In addition, they provide a natural pigmentation to the skin that makes it look young and radiant. During the summer, this effect is ideal as it helps us to achieve a spectacular tan, making the pigmentation more intense and uniform.

5. Promotes iron absorption

Due to its high content of Vitamin C, papaya helps iron to be absorbed by our body. A sufficient intake of iron helps reduce the chances of anemia, but for iron to be fixed you must also ingest enough Vitamin C.

As already mentioned, papaya is one of the fruits with the highest concentration of Vitamin C, making it an ideal food to ensure the fixation of iron in the body. Thus, we strengthen the immune system.

6. Antioxidant

Papaya contains lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant. This component is what gives papaya its intense orange color. At the same time, it gives the body its antioxidant benefits to fight free radicals.

This property has benefits for the skin and hair. Many people recommend adding a little papaya pulp to the shampoo to nourish the hair, however ingesting it is much better so that its nutrients are absorbed into the body.

7. Protein digestion

The papain contained in papaya helps in better protein digestion. It is an enzyme whose function is to correctly process, digest and absorb the proteins contained in other foods.

This is the reason why a balanced and healthy diet usually includes some portion of papaya. It is a fruit that helps to balance the diet very well. And as already mentioned, it is perfect for discarding what the body does not need.

8. Bacteriostatic action

Some studies seem to show that papaya has bacteriostatic functions. Especially when this fruit is not ripe, they help the bacteria that lodge in the intestine and that can damage it do not develop.

Due to this property, papaya is said to be bacteriostatic. Although this function decreases considerably the more ripe and sweet it is. Even so, the rest of the properties of papaya remain the same.

9. Prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Papaya contains flavonoids. Flavonoids, among other functions, protect the body from oxidation by cholesterol. This is directly related to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

In addition to this content of flavonoids, thanks to its Vitamins C and A, which strengthen the immune system and its antioxidants, papaya is an excellent ally to prevent diseases related to the accumulation of cholesterol.

10. Promotes the formation of collagen

Vitamin C in papaya favors the formation of collagen. This component is vital for maintaining a healthy body and youthful, radiant skin. Collagen production decreases with age.

However, a high consumption of foods that contain Vitamin C, such as papaya, favors that collagen does not decrease and that our body continues to generate it. This protein is essential to prevent the deterioration of cells in the body.

11. Acid-base balance

Papaya has various minerals. Potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus are minerals that promote the acid-base balance that the body needs. Magnesium and potassium are among the minerals that are present in the highest amounts.

Although there are other fruits that present these minerals in greater proportions than papaya, the others properties found in this fruit complement a balanced diet very well and very healthy.

12. Against wounds

Papaya has been used in various ways in traditional medicine. One of these functions is precisely for the treatment of wounds. This is because papain helps speed up the healing processes.

Papaya is one of the foods and fruits with the highest concentration of papain, for that reason it has been used historically to prevent infection in wounds and eliminate necrotic areas. So it is good to take into consideration eating papaya to avoid wound infection and speed up the healing process.

Bibliographic references

  • Aziz I, Branchi F, Sanders DS (August 2015). "The rise and fall of gluten!". Proc Nutr Soc (Revision) 74 (3).
  • Moe Byrd-Bredbenner, and Berning Beshgetoor: Perspectives in Nutrition. Canada: McGrawHill, Fourth Edition.
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