Benefits of Papaya & Papaya seed
The papaya, papaw, or pawpaw is the plant Carica papaya, one of the 22 accepted species in the genus Carica of the family Caricaceae. Papayas grow in tropical climates and are also known as papaws or pawpaws. Their sweet taste, vibrant color, and the wide variety of health benefits they provide make them a popular fruit.
Papayas contain high levels of antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Diets high in antioxidants may reduce the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. When cholesterol oxidizes, it's more likely to create blockages that lead to heart disease.
Rich in Vitamin C, papaya is one of the best edibles to strengthen the immune system to fight against diseases and infection. Papaya contains more than 200 %of your daily dose of Vitamin C. Apart from this, the fruit is also rich in vitamins A, B, and K which also boost immunity.
Papaya has folic acid, which is essential for converting the amino acid homocysteine into less harmful amino acids. High levels of homocysteine, an amino acid primarily found in meat products, are a risk factor for heart disease. So eating papaya in your diet may lower homocysteine levels, reducing this risk factor.
Nutrition
A medium-sized papaya contains more than 200% of the vitamin C you need per day, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and boost the immune system. It’s also a good source of:
Folate
Vitamin A
Fiber
Copper
Magnesium
Potassium
Pantothenic Acid
Benefits of Papaya
⦁ Protection Against Heart Disease: Papaya's high fiber content may reduce the risk of heart disease. High-fiber diets lower cholesterol levels.
⦁ Digestion and Reduced Inflammation: The enzyme named papain which is found in papaya can help make protein easier to digest.
⦁ Boosts immunity: Rich in Vitamin C, papaya is one of the best edibles out there to strengthen the immune system to fight against diseases and infection. Eating foods high in vitamin C can help to boost the immune system, allowing the body to fight off bacterial and viral illnesses.
⦁ Potentially Protects Against Prostate Cancer: Lycopene is a natural pigment found in foods that are red or orange. Some experts believe that eating more lycopene reduces the risk of prostate cancer, but some studies have been inconclusive. The lycopene in papaya can help reduce cancer risk. Scientists have also found that papaya showed anticancer activity in breast cancer cells.
⦁ Fight inflammation: A number of studies have shown that papaya helps reduce inflammatory markers in the human body which are considered to be the main cause of many diseases. It is also a storehouse of carotenoids that can reduce inflammation.
⦁ Antioxidant: Papayas contain carotenoids that can neutralise free radicals and reduce oxidative stress in older adults. Oxidative stress can lead to chronic inflammation which in turn harms the immune system.
Papaya Seeds
Papaya fruit is widely known for its taste, nutrition and health benefits but not many people are aware of the immensely beneficial Papaya seeds, that are usually thrown away. These tiny round seeds are actually edible and are good for our health if consumed in a limited quantity. They help in weight management, relieve menstrual pain and possess anti-cancer properties. They also boost our cardiovascular health and thus are considered as one of the best heart healthy foods.
Papaya seeds are black and have a shiny, wet and slimy covering. If you remove this covering, you can feel the rough black seeds. They are slightly bitter and peppery in taste. You can consume them by drying and grinding.
Nutritional Value of Papaya Seeds:
100 grams of dried papaya seeds provide around 558 calories of energy. They are rich in proteins, fat and fiber.
They also contain vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, etc.
Papaya seeds are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid. They also contain polyphenols and flavonoids that are powerful antioxidants.
Health benefits of Papaya seeds:
⦁ Powerful Antioxidant:
Papaya seeds are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and saponins. They are strong antioxidants.
⦁ Healthy Gut:
Papaya seeds are rich in fiber. They regulate our bowel movements, removing toxins from the body and thus maintaining a healthy gut. They are helpful in constipation.
Caprine present in papaya seeds kills bacteria and parasites in our intestines and thus keep our digestive system healthy.
⦁ Helps in Weight Loss:
Papaya seeds are rich in fiber. They keep our digestion on track, thus helping in the removal of toxins from our bodies. They also help in regulating our metabolism and prevent our body from absorbing fat. This helps in preventing obesity.
⦁ Lowers Cholesterol Levels:
Papaya seeds are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid. These fatty acids regulate cholesterol levels by reducing bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol ).
Papaya seeds are also rich in fiber. Fiber helps in reducing cholesterol levels in the body.
Thus, consuming papaya seeds helps in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels in our bodies.
⦁ Anti-cancer Properties:
Papaya seeds contain polyphenols that are powerful antioxidants. They prevent our body from different types of cancers. Papaya seeds also contain isothiocyanate, which inhibits the formation and development of cancer cells.
⦁ Nephroprotective
Papaya seeds protect our kidneys from damage. Consumption of papaya seeds ensures the smooth functioning of our kidneys.
⦁ Maintains Cardiovascular Health:
Papaya seeds protect our hearts. These seeds are rich in various antioxidants that protect our bodies from free radical damage. They also help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which protects our heart from various disorders.
⦁ Reduces inflammation:
Papaya seeds are proven to be effective in reducing inflammation. Papaya seeds are rich in vitamin C and compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids and polyphenols. All these compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. They are thus useful in preventing and reducing inflammation in diseases like gout, arthritis etc.
⦁ Good for our Skin:
Papaya seeds exhibit anti-ageing properties. They maintain the elasticity of our skin and thus prevent the development of fine lines and wrinkles.
⦁ Antibacterial:
Papaya seeds protect our body from bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteries, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, etc.
⦁ Relieves Menstrual Pain:
Papaya contains carotene and this substance is essential in helping the body regulate the production of a hormone known as estrogen. While papaya seeds can help induce menstruation and also increase its frequency, they can also help to some degree in managing menstrual cramps.
⦁ Manage Liver Cirrhosis:
Papaya seeds have also been known to contain the vital nutrients necessary to help manage diseases like Liver cirrhosis. Consuming 3 to 4 papaya seeds, crushed and mixed with lime juice on a daily basis, can help in the treatment and recovery of liver cirrhosis.
⦁ Cures Food Poisoning:
Research has shown that preparing and consuming an extract of papaya seeds can help to successfully kill bacteria like E.coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, etc. which are responsible for most cases of food poisoning.
Sources
https://www.healthshots.com
https://pharmeasy.in
https://www.webmd.com