What are the health benefits of papaya ?

 

The health benefits of papaya are more than one usually thinks. For most of us, papaya is just another good tasting tropical fruit, and while we expect papaya to have a certain amount of nutritional value, as with most fruits, the real benefits of papaya are a surprise to you. Papaya trees are found only in tropical regions, mainly in the Caribbean region and Central America, as well as in many islands in Hawaii and the South Pacific regions. 

Papaya trees require warm moist like summers, and cool dry winters. It is not exactly frost tolerant, nor can it stand to wet its feet, although it is a very demanding plant for water needs. Pear-shaped fruit has a flavor that is usually associated with a melon. Along with seeds, fruits are edible, such as leaves, which are boiled like spinach in some cultures and used as staple foods. 

Papaya seeds, and leaves have long been used for their medicinal as well as their gastronomic value. Leaves of Papaya in particular are considered highly beneficial for the digestive track. These contain an enzyme called papain that regulate digestion of carbohydrates and proteins, causing some to have trouble digesting, resulting in the release of a greater number of nutrients in the human body. 

The Papaya is so powerful that it is also used as a meat tenderizer, both at home and commercially. As far as health and welfare are concerned, many claims have been made about the benefits of papaya. Papaya fruit is said to be good for the heart health and circulatory system of human body. Some claim that the juice of Papaya is an excellent aphrodisiac, while others claim that papaya is an effective cancer fighter. Many, and perhaps most, of these claims lack scientific evidence, but this does not mean that the claims are completely unreasonable, although at times perhaps a little irresponsible. 

For example, papaya fruit is a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, all powerful antioxidants. Papaya is rich in fiber, which gives little credence to the claim that it is a cancer fighter and aids in maintaining cholesterol at a healthy level in human body. The fact that papaya contains compounds and ingredients that promote good digestion, and also contains many nutrients that strengthen the human body immune system, supports some of the claims made about the benefits of papaya. 

One can simply say that papaya fruit has a more positive effect on our digestive track system than other fruits or vegetables, and let it go to that. After all, every other organ in the body gets the most benefit from the digestive system functioning properly. This alone would be more than enough to warrant eating more of this fruit. At the very least, papaya is another healthy food item worth considering as a part of our regular diet, and a healthy diet goes a long way to make us feel our best and stay in top physical condition.