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Benefits of Papaya Fruit

What are the health benefits of papaya? Does it cause any harm if taken at night?
(August 1, 2011)

Papaya is often called a wonder fruit for all its great properties. It is a nutritional storehouse and has effective digestive enzymes. Often nutritionists ask you to increase your fruit intake and papaya is often on that list. Papaya contains numerous minerals and chemicals, flavonoids as well as carotenoids. This fruit is believed to also promote improved cardiovascular health and protect from colon cancer.

This fruit is considered so full of health benefits that it promotes digestion, builds the immune system, prevents constipation, can lower inflammation, can reduce pain from burns especially if the skin of the papaya is used, can prevent heart disease, complications from diabetes and atherosclerosis.


Papaya is also a good source of fiber that helps bring down cholesterol.

There is no perfect time to enjoy a fruit but it is best eaten before a meal as after a meal the body converts the fruit into sugar while before a meal you absorb all nutrition.

Submitted by N on August 1, 2011 at 04:26

 

Can papaya be eaten during pregnancy?


Papaya, botanically called carica papaya, is a musky-flavored fruit that is a rich source of nutrients. It contains vitamins A and C and minerals including calcium and potassium and has a high content of fiber. As such, owing to its nutritional content, it imparts a lot of health benefits.

When it comes to the female reproductive system, it is believed that papaya may induce abortion or inhibit normal growth of the embryo, if consumed during pregnancy. This belief is partially true. Unripe or semi-ripe papaya when eaten by a pregnant woman may be fatal for the fetus, as it may induce uterine contractions. In fact, unripe papaya helps relieve irregular periods and acts as a potent emmenagogue. As such, the intake of unripe or half-ripe papaya for pregnant women is dangerous and definitely not recommended. However, ripe papaya is a rich source of nutrients, which would promote the normal development of the baby and also retain mother’s health. In fact, the eating of ripe papaya during pregnancy eases pre and post-partum symptoms and helps in lactation. Papaya may be consumed whole or as a juice. One may add some honey and milk to pieces of ripe papaya for maximum nutrition and health benefits.

Regardless, it is best to consult a gynecologist before resorting to the intake of papaya during pregnancy as it might be difficult to judge what degree of ripeness of the fruit would promote the state of health and in what quantity.
Submitted by N on July 27, 2011 at 01:19

 

Can papaya help lose weight?


Papaya, botanically known as carica papaya, is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Papaya is rich in vitamins A, B and C, minerals including magnesium and potassium, and roughage. Hence, papaya has a lot of health benefits on account of its nutritional content. One of the benefits of papaya is in that it helps with weight loss.

How can one use papaya for reducing weight?

Papaya is a rich source of an enzyme called papain. This enzyme helps in increasing your metabolism, thereby helping in weight reduction. As such, papaya for weight loss is highly recommended. Papaya is also considered a negative calorie food, which means that it calories in papaya are low, but consumes a lot of calories for its digestion. These additional calories for the digestion of papaya are generated from the stored fat in the body, thereby helping you with weight loss. Papaya is also a rich source of fiber, which helps maintain the normal state of the digestive system. It also helps prevent and treat constipation and flatulence. The fiber also helps keep you feeling fuller for longer, making you eat less.

If you plan on eating papaya to lose weight, make sure you complement it with a regular fitness regime and a healthy, balanced diet.

Submitted by N on July 20, 2011 at 01:18

 

How to use papaya for skin?


Everybody wants to maintain smooth, healthy, youthful and glowing skin. In most cases, unhealthy or dull skin is a result of poor eating habits and a weakened digestive system.Poor nutrition and the accumulation of harmful toxins in the body are the main reasons for dull skin. One common solution for all these disorders is papaya. In order to make use of papaya for skin care, you can also apply the papaya pulp on your skin in addition to eating it regularly.

A unique enzyme in papaya, referred to as papain, has a considerably positive effect on the digestive system. Its regular consumption performs all the functions necessary for maintaining a healthy skin: it eliminates the toxins from the body, treats constipation, and greatly helps in proper digestion.Most beauty care professionals recommend papaya for skin care. In addition to using papaya for glowing skin, you can use papaya for skin whitening as well, if you feel that your skin is turning dark due to over exposure to sun or pigmentation.

In order to make best use of papaya for skin care, mix one teaspoon of honey with about 100 gm of papaya pulp, and apply it to your face. Keep this mask for 15–20 minutes and then wash with cold water. This is one of the best home remedies for skin care, and it will solve all your skin related problems including acne and black heads.

Submitted by N on July 13, 2011 at 01:06

 

Is papaya good for diabetes?


Botanically referred to as Carica papaya, papaya fruit is a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins B and C, carotenes, flavonoids, and minerals including potassium and magnesium, and fiber. As such, papaya imparts numerous health benefits. One of the health benefits of papaya is that it helps in the management of diabetes. Papaya for diabetes is recommended by doctors on account of its ability to lower blood sugar levels.

Diabetes mellitus is caused by decreased production of insulin hormone or body resistance to the hormone, leading to accumulation of sugar in blood. In diabetes, patients are forbidden to consume most of fruits on account of their carbohydrate content. However, benefits of papaya for diabetic patients could be attributed to its low sugar content and high content of minerals and fiber. You can also use papaya leaves for diabetes. You can soak papaya leaves in water, strain the extract, and consume it three times a day to reduce blood sugar levels.

You can also use several other remedies like the intake of bitter gourd juice and powdered gooseberry. These remedies would complement the intake of papaya, and help with the management of diabetes. It is recommended, however, that you consult a doctor for expert advice.
Submitted by N on July 6, 2011 at 01:04

 

Fruits are considered to be the best food that you can consume as it is real food in the true sense. They help considerably in keeping you fit and healthy and one such wonder fruit is papaya that is a tropical fruit and is in the shape of a pear. This fruit is known for the number of health benefits that it has and primarily aids in digestion as it contains an enzyme called papain and since this fruit is also high in its fiber content it helps in treatment of constipation. Papaya is named as “the fruit of angels” and contains anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties where not only the fruit, but even their leaves and skin can be used for healing wounds and skin burns. Even the seeds of papaya are said to be greatly helpful in throwing out intestinal worms where in you need to chew about 2 teaspoons of these seeds well and then swallow it. You can take it by having some honey along with it as the seeds are very bitter.

Papaya is a rich source for antioxidants and contains vitamin C, A and E in abundance which are required by the body in order to have your immune system function effectively. Since this fruit is a great supply for vitamin E, making this food a part of your regular diet will give you a healthy and glowing skin as vitamin E delays the signs of aging making your skin look younger for longer. Also as this fruit is low in calories, it can be consumed if you are on a diet and want to lose weight. Nausea that is caused by morning sickness as well as motion sickness can be treated by eating papaya. Consuming this fruit also helps in protection against inflammatory polyarthritis which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis.

There are different opinions on whether fruits should be eaten in the night or if they should be eaten before or after a meal and so on. Many people believe that fruits should not be consumed in the night especially after a meal as it interferes with their digestion which results in the nutrients being lost. On the other hand, some people are of the opinion that it is a myth and any type of food can be digested by the body no matter what time it is eaten. If you wish to have this fruit at night, it is best that you consume only a small amount of it at least 3 hours before you go to bed.
Submitted by A V on May 13, 2010 at 06:59

 

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