On domestic fruit counters you can often find a huge variety of exotic fruits. Papaya is one of the tropical representatives, which, unfortunately, is not in great demand in our country. The main reason is that many do not even realize what a great benefit of papaya for the body. And there is harm too. All this - further in the article.
Description of the fruit
The papaya is a palm-shaped tree with a thin, branchless trunk that can reach a height of 10 meters. Papaya fruits are an oval and elongated fruit, the weight of which can vary from 400 to 800 grams. The color of the fruit in the process of ripening changes its color: from dark green to bright yellow. The pulp of papaya can be eaten, which is similar in taste to melon. Juicy pulp has a pronounced orange color, inside it is a cavity with seeds. One papaya can contain over 700 black colored seeds that have a spicy, tangy taste.
The papaya tree is also called melon, or bread. The plant has become widespread in Europe since the colonization of Central and South America. Southern Mexico is considered its homeland. But due to the fact that the plant is not particularly picky and has a lot of useful properties, the fruit has taken root in many warm countries of the world. Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines - and these are far from all the countries whose population grows and consumes South American delicacy every day.
Composition of the fruit
The composition of the fruit includes such useful minerals as zinc, iron, phosphorus, calcium, as well as useful vitamins A, B (1, 5, 9), E. The yellow color of a mature fruit indicates the presence of a large amount of carotene in the fruit.
It is important to know that the immature fruit contains a poisonous element - latex latex milky juice of a thick and viscous consistency. However, gradually in the process of maturation latex changes its composition, color and becomes safe for humans.
papaya calories
The papaya fruit can be safely eaten even by people who follow the figure. After all, the fruit has a low calorie content. Depending on the type of fruit, 100 grams of papaya can contain approximately 45-70 calories.
Where is papaya used?
Papaya is widely used in cooking, but it is used not only fresh. Thanks to the long history of the existence of the fruit, people have learned how to preserve, bake, stew, and also use it as a marinade for meat.
V traditional medicine papaya has also found wide application. Due to its beneficial properties, the fruit is used to treat a large number of diseases.
Also, papaya fruits are widely used in cosmetology and nutrition, and the stems and bark of the tree are used to make rope.
Benefits of papaya for the body
Speaking about the benefits of papaya, first of all it is worth noting that it contains papain. This natural enzyme, which, when it enters the human body, has a powerful proteolytic effect, that is, it contributes to the digestion of protein foods.
Scientific studies have proven that regular consumption of papaya contributes to:
- Reducing the risk of bowel cancer. Therefore, this fruit is especially useful for people who are at risk.
- Rapid healing of wounds.
- Removal of harmful toxic substances from the body. Due to this property, the fruit is widely used in nutrition.
- Prolonged sexual life in men. If men consume 150-200 grams of this delicacy every day, they will significantly prolong their sexual activity.
- Strengthening immunity. The fruit of the fruit is a wonderful anti-inflammatory medicine, helps to strengthen the immune system and will protect the human body during colds.
- Improving the functioning of the organs of vision. Thanks to its useful elements, the papaya fruit slows down the aging process of the retina of the eyes and gives them a second life.
- Strengthening the cardiovascular system. The natural enzyme carpain, which is rich in tropical fruit, strengthens the condition of the walls of the heart vessels.
- Reducing pain in osteoporosis and arthritis.
Harm papaya
Not only papaya benefits. And there can be harm to health if there are certain contraindications:
- people who are prone to allergic diseases should not get carried away with fruit;
- in no case should you eat an unripe fruit, as it contains poisonous milky juice - latex.
The benefits and harms of papaya for women
storehouse useful minerals and vitamins that this fruit contains are a real find for the female body, especially during pregnancy. This tropical fruit is rich in folic acid, the presence of which in the body of a woman in the first trimester of pregnancy is mandatory. After all, it is thanks to folic acid that the neural tube of the fetus is formed. And its lack in the female body during pregnancy can cause a number of birth defects.
Papaya will save expectant mothers from toxicosis. Thanks to papain, the fruit improves bowel function and prevents morning sickness.
Another reason to include papaya in the diet of a pregnant woman is the ability of the fetus to remove toxic substances and cleanse the body. The tropical delicacy also has a laxative effect, and, as you know, many women in an interesting position suffer from constipation.
Tropical fruit can also prevent the formation of stretch marks on the skin of expectant mothers. Because it is rich in elements that enrich the skin natural fats which gives the skin additional elasticity.
It is worth taking a closer look at papaya and the fair sex, who have problems with the menstrual cycle. If you eat a few pieces of fruit every day a few days before your period, you can alleviate the pain during menstruation.
But it is worth remembering that unripe fruit is dangerous for the body. A pregnant woman who eats even a few small pieces of unripe papaya may bleed and miscarry.
Papaya: benefits and harms for the intestines
The papain enzyme helps digest protein foods and prevents colon cancer, but that's not all of it. medicinal properties. Eating the fruit will help people suffering from ulcers or gastritis. Natural papaya enzymes, the benefits and harms of which we are considering, help improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
The tropical fruit helps prevent the development of diabetes, accelerates protein processing, improves intestinal motility and relieves stool problems.
The use of papaya in cosmetology
Tropical fruit has long won the love of cosmetologists. In many countries, cosmetics are produced, which include papaya. After all, lotions and scrubs containing this fruit are treated for acne, help get rid of age spots and freckles.
In beauty salons, papaya-based masks are made to slow down skin aging, as well as give it a healthy color and elasticity. It is known that the enzymes that make up the fetus greatly reduce hair growth. It is for this reason that it is included in most depilatory gels and creams.
Dried fruits
The benefits and harms of dried papaya for the body have also been studied in some detail. If you really want something sweet, then you can replace harmful sweets and cakes with dried fruits. Lead the calorie content of dried fruits is only 90-110 calories per 100 grams of product.
Dried papaya retains all of its nutrients and minerals. Daily use of candied fruits improves mood, increases the body's resistance to stress and prevents depression.
Also daily use dry fruits will replenish the body with the necessary carbohydrates that are needed for energy production. Dried papaya will be an excellent substitute for fresh papaya, because only in this way can you provide yourself with this fruit for the winter season.
Uses of papaya seeds
Few people know, but the medicinal properties of papaya seeds have already become a proven scientific fact. Papaya seeds, the benefits, harms and uses of which we are considering, have a specific taste and not everyone will like it. They are somewhat like a mixture of black pepper and mustard.
In folk medicine, papaya seeds are widely used to treat cirrhosis of the liver. To do this, you just need to grind a few seeds and combine with a tablespoon of lemon juice. If you take this remedy twice a day for 3-4 weeks, then the condition of the liver will improve significantly.
Crushed papaya seeds are also used for poisoning, as they help to remove harmful toxins from the body and improve digestion.
If you use a teaspoon of dried seeds daily in the morning on an empty stomach, you can significantly improve the condition of the body and skin. And the crushed version of dry seeds will be an excellent substitute for black pepper in cooking, because even after heat treatment, all beneficial features.
But it is worth remembering the contraindications in the use of papaya seeds:
- papaya seeds should not be used to treat poisoning in children under 14;
- it is worth refusing to use them for people taking blood thinners;
- with cirrhosis of the liver, papaya seeds can be consumed only after consulting a doctor, since the papain contained in them may not be combined with prescribed medications;
- papaya seeds can cause a decrease in male fertility.
You can store fresh papaya seeds in the refrigerator in a closed container. Before use, they should be pre-rinsed under cold water.
Despite all the beneficial properties of papaya, do not forget that the juice of an unripe fruit can be life-threatening. In order not to put your life at risk, you must be able to choose a ripe fruit, which is determined by color. First, the ripe fruit should be bright yellow, without green blotches. Secondly, the juice of a ripe fruit becomes clear and watery in consistency.
In Asian countries, there is a legend that says that the juice of an unripe fruit was used to make a potion. Poison was mixed into the food of opponents and enemies.
Christopher Columbus, who discovered the fruit for Europe, called it "the fruit of the angels." In our country, papaya only in the last decade has become popular and found its buyer.
Americans call the papaya fruit "bomb fruit". And not in vain.
These large yellow-green fruits with a pleasant melon aroma gradually conquered the whole world.
They can easily be seen in the markets in any corner of the globe, and plantings of ten-meter trees from their native America have already reached the South Caucasus. It was there, on the Black Sea coast, that experimental plantations were planted.
What is this papaya, why is it so attractive, what useful properties does it have, and why do beauties adore it?
Calorie content and chemical composition of papaya
The secret of the popularity of huge edible fruits, which are about 35 cm long, lies in their chemical composition. It turns out that almost all the elements of the periodic table are collected in the pulp, which explains the American nickname. Yes, yes, it is a fruit bomb that I want to call it, more precisely, a vitamin one.
Indeed, by eating such a fruit, a person receives not only taste pleasure, but also a charge of substances necessary for health. Given that the weight of one of the smallest fruits is about 500 g, then it is quite possible to count on receiving daily allowance many elements. But there are also 7-kilogram giants on the tree. 
Papaya contains large amounts of vitamin C (up to 68%), which is essential for redox reactions and protective functions of the body. Also trace elements and amino acids. Speaking in the language of numbers, the contents of 100 g of the edible part of papaya look like this:
Vitamins:
- A - 47 mcg;
- B1 - 0023 mg;
- B2 - 0.027 mg;
- B4 - 6.1 mg;
- B5 - 0.191 mg;
- B6 - 0.038 mg;
- B9 - 37 mcg;
- C - 60.9 mg;
- E - 0.3 mg;
- lycopene - 1828 mcg;
- lutein - 89 mcg;
- K - 2.6 μg;
- PP - 0.357 mg.
Macronutrients and micronutrients: - potassium - 182 mg;
- copper - 45 mcg;
- magnesium - 21 mg;
- calcium - 20 mg;
- phosphorus - 10 mg;
- sodium - 8 mg;
- manganese - 0.04 mg;
- selenium - 0.6 mcg;
- iron - 0.25 mg;
- zinc - 0.08 mg.
Essential and non-essential amino acids: - arginine - 0.01 g;
- valine - 0.01 g;
- histidine - 0.005 g;
- isoleucine - 0.008 g;
- leucine - 0.016 g;
- lysine - 0.025 g;
- methionine - 0.02 g;
- threonine - 0.011 g;
- tryptophan - 0.08 mg;
- phenylalanine - 0.009 g;
- alanine - 0.014 g;
- aspartic acid - 0.05 g;
- glycine - 0.018 g;
- glutamic acid - 0.033 g;
- proline - 0.01 g;
- serine - 0.015 g;
- tyrosine - 0.005 g.
Fatty acid: - omega-3 - 0.047 g;
- omega-6 - 0.011 g;
- lauric acid - 0.002 g;
- myristic - 0.013 g;
- palmitic - 0.06 g;
- stearic - 0.004 g;
- palmitoleic - 0.038 g;
- oleic - 0.034 g;
- linoleic - 0.011 g;
- linolenic - 0.047 g.
Digestible carbohydrates: - fructose - 3.73 g;
- glucose - 4.09 g;
- mono- and disaccharides - 7.82 g.
Nutrients also include dietary fiber (1.7 g), water (88 g) and ash (0.39 g). In total, papaya contains 11 g of carbohydrates, 0.26 g of fat and 0.47 g of protein, with a calorie content of 43 kcal. Many consider the fruit to be dietary and prefer it as a source of vitamins necessary for the body during diets.
Important! The pulp and seeds of unripe papaya fruits have a contraceptive effect, and if consumed in large quantities, they can provoke an abortion.
What is useful papaya for the body
Sweet exotic fruits, strong wood and papaya foliage have found their application in many areas of human life. For example, ropes are made from bark and leaves. Fruits (which, according to scientists, are), due to their nutritional value, are recommended for the treatment of a number of ailments. Fruits are especially useful for people with eye diseases and pregnant women. 
For vision
The components of papaya allow you to work on the perspective of the eyes, saving them from future blindness. In adulthood, due to specific working conditions, people often develop retinal dystrophy of the eyeballs, which leads to loss of vision. The systematic use of fruit pulp prevents the development of these processes, and beta-carotene improves the functioning of the eye muscles.
During pregnancy
The benefits of papaya for pregnant women can be talked about incessantly.
Firstly, it is a real storehouse of essential vitamins and minerals.
Secondly, folic acid in the composition of the fruit prevents the development of anemia, normalizes blood circulation, which is especially important for the formation of a healthy fetus.
Thirdly, in addition to stimulating vigilance, the fruit cleanses the body of toxic substances, preventing them from accumulating.
However, expectant mothers should be careful when choosing useful berry. The fact is that green, hard-skinned fruits contain large amounts of peptin, which provokes intense uterine contractions, as a result of which even a small proportion of eaten papaya can lead to premature birth. 
If there are no ripe yellow-green specimens, and you really want to feast on exotic, bake it in the oven or stew it.
Did you know? Papain was found in the pulp of papaya, with the help of which the ancient Indians softened the toughest and seemingly unfit meat.
Papaya in cooking: how to peel, how to eat and with what
The berries of the so-called melon tree are often eaten raw, since some of the useful substances. The fragrant pulp of a pleasant orange-pink color is used for making salads and juices.
Also, marinades and even ice cream are prepared from it. A few drops of juice are added to the broth so that the meat fibers become tender and melt in your mouth.
But when you hold such a miracle in your hands for the first time, it is not clear how to clean, and even more so, eat this papaya. To begin with, we note that only the pulp belongs to the edible parts of the fruit. The skin and seeds are discarded. Cooks use different ways cleaning berries. In most cases, this process resembles cutting: the fruit is cut in half, the grains are removed with a spoon, the parts are divided into slices and the peel is removed from each.
Other housewives share their experience of cutting the inside into squares right on the skin of the slices. After the manipulations, the bottom is cut off with a sharp movement directly onto the plate. And skewers are stuck into the resulting sweet figures for convenience.
If there is neither a knife nor a spoon at hand, which, by the way, can also be used to select the pulp on a plate, then the removal of the skin and bones is done by hand.
Did you know? In some Asian countries, papaya seed is used as black pepper.
Now let's figure out how to eat papaya. The uniqueness of an exotic fruit is in the ease of combining it with meat dishes, desserts and. Moreover, the fruit is tasty both raw and stewed, fried or baked. For example, green exotics are cut in such a way that juice flows out of them, and then the pulp is used as zucchini. It is in this case that the pulp is suitable for frying, stewing and boiling. Moreover, this marvelous fruit can be baked like a barbecue on fire.
The use of papaya in folk medicine
Folk healers advise infusions of papaya inflorescences for the treatment of colds and as an expectorant.
The antimicrobial properties of the milky juice of green fruits are used to treat deep and poorly healing wounds. For example, African peoples harvest unripe papaya to obtain this medicinal drug. On average, from one such berry you can get about 10 g of liquid, for long-term storage dried in the sun until brown. And Peruvian traditional healers talk about the unique ability of the leaves to heal scars on the skin right before our eyes. 
There are many ways to lose weight with these fruits. He also advises using them to get rid of heart ailments, ulcers of the digestive tract, colitis, bronchial asthma, burns, dermatitis; use them to improve liver function and normalize blood sugar, cleanse the intestines, stimulate the immune system.
Juice treats the skin with insect bites, eczema, relieves pain, and in some countries it is prescribed for spinal ailments, hernias, and osteochondrosis. Folk Aesculapius prepare anthelmintics from seeds.
Important! Fresh papayas should be stored in the refrigerator, but they are not intended for long-term storage. After 14 days, the fruits lose their usefulness.
How is it used in cosmetology
On a global scale, papaya is an essential ingredient in facial and hair cosmetics. On sale there are many masks and creams with an exfoliating effect from the extract of these fruits. Also, extracts from the seed are used in cosmetology to improve the condition of the epidermis, regenerate the skin, remove pigmentation, warts, scars and freckles.
Today, the popular enzyme peeling is also carried out with the participation of acids produced by the melon tree. The procedure has a beneficial effect on the skin, tightens pores, removes acne and stimulates the production of collagen. After several sessions, the face noticeably rejuvenates, becomes clean, acquires a healthy color. 
But this is not a complete list of the amazing properties of miracle berries. No wonder the natives called papaya "trees of health." In high-quality cosmetics with a whitening effect, you will also definitely find an extract from their pulp. It is present in shampoos, hair balms, and even in shaving products and toothpastes.
Papain has a destructive effect on keratin, thus slowing down unwanted vegetation. These properties of the fruit are used in a series of cosmetic products for skin care after epilation.
Did you know? Congolese people still wrap meat in papaya leaves, which is an alternative to our usual refrigerators..
Papaya oil has earned special respect among the ladies' society, which has a moisturizing, cleansing and antibacterial effect. It is easily absorbed into the layers of the epidermis and, in conjunction with papain, normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands. Cosmetologists recommend it for the care of normal and oily skin.
Women who regularly make hair masks with the oil of these fruits can boast a lush, health-breathing mop. Liquid heals damaged split ends, strengthens hair follicles and nourishes them. To get the effect, a few drops added to the main care products are enough.
Contraindications
Exotic papaya can be harmful, especially for those who do not know how to choose ripe high-quality fruits and are prone to allergic reactions, there are no other contraindications. Especially should be wary of green berries - their juice and pulp are poisonous. Once in the body, they provoke severe poisoning, pain in the lower abdomen, indigestion and allergies. In large quantities, the substance turns into a potent poison.
Many long-known and familiar plants turn out to have a lot of useful properties, you just have to take a closer look at,
Many people try exotic papaya out of interest. However, few people know what useful properties the fruit has and whether harm is possible from taking it. Let's figure it out and find out under what contraindications the product should be abandoned, and when its use will only benefit health and beauty.
Bright and juicy papaya is good not only because it has a pleasant taste. The fruit has a beneficial effect on the entire body and helps with many ailments:
- cleanses the intestines, promotes the removal of harmful substances from the body;
- useful for people suffering from gastritis, hernia, heartburn, because it eliminates the action of excess acid in the stomach;
- relieves pain in arthritis, osteochondrosis;
- protects against colds;
- increases appetite;
- serves as a means of preventing cancer;
- prevents premature aging of the body;
- helps with menstrual irregularities;
- used to treat dermatological diseases;
- helps to get rid of depression.
Papaya derivatives are no less useful:
Table: Chemical composition of the product (per 100 g)
| The nutritional value | |
| calories | 88 kcal |
| Squirrels | 0.6 g |
| Fats | 0.1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 9.2 g |
| Cellulose | 1.8 g |
| Water | 88.5 g |
| Saturated fatty acids | 0.1 g |
| Mono- and disaccharides | 11.2 g |
| Ash | 0.8 g |
| vitamins | |
| Vitamin PP | 1.5 mg |
| beta carotene | 0.74 mg |
| Vitamin A | 64.0 mcg |
| Vitamin B2 | 0.13 mg |
| Vitamin B5 | 0.1 mg |
| Vitamin B9 | 14.0 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 30.0 mg |
| Vitamin E | 0.02 mg |
| Vitamin K | 0.7 mcg |
| Choline | 7.6 mg |
| Macronutrients | |
| Calcium | 12.0 mg |
| Magnesium | 29.0 mg |
| Sodium | 28.0 mg |
| Potassium | 348.0 mg |
| Phosphorus | 68.0 mg |
| trace elements | |
| Iron | 1.6 mg |
| Zinc | 0.1 mg |
| Copper | 86.0 mcg |
| Selenium | 0.6 µg |
Contraindications for admission
There are contraindications to the use of papaya and its derivatives:
- The fruit should not be eaten by people with individual intolerance to the product and a tendency to allergies.
- It should not be abused by healthy people either, it is fraught with itching, yellowing of the skin and other unpleasant manifestations, as well as a decrease in reproductive opportunities in men.
- Seeds are forbidden to be taken with a stomach ulcer and during the use of drugs that thin the blood.
- An unripe fruit is not suitable for eating: it can cause severe poisoning, because it contains the alkaloid carpain, which is a toxic substance.
Do not get carried away with dried papaya: a large amount of food eaten will lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract. And too frequent use of candied fruit causes tooth decay, provokes weight gain and increases blood sugar levels.
Can papaya oil be added to food?
Papaya oil is for external use only. It cannot be added to food, because the product contains alkaloids.
Video: The benefits and harms of an exotic fruit
For an adult
The daily norm of papaya is 30-40 grams. The fruit is usually eaten raw: it is necessary to cut off the peel from it, pull out the seeds, and cut the flesh into pieces or slices. You can add lemon or lime juice to papaya. Some gourmets even fry the fruit and stew, and also complement it meat dishes. The product is combined with chicken, beef, tuna, trout, shrimp, octopus, apple, banana, pineapple, melon, watermelon, honey, kefir, sour cream, semolina, oatmeal, millet porridge. Fruit is not eaten with legumes.
Papaya is a perishable product, it is permissible to store it in the refrigerator for no more than a week. It is not recommended to freeze the fruit.
There is no single point of view when it is better to use papaya. Some experts recommend doing this before meals, while others believe that taking the fruit on an empty stomach can lead to heartburn and indigestion. Try both options to see how your body reacts.
Papaya seeds can be used as spices for dishes: they need to be dried and thoroughly ground.
Before use, the papaya pulp must be separated from the peel and seeds.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding
Women in the period of expectation of a child are supposed to eat papaya in limited quantities. A single use of the product should not exceed 3 tablespoons in volume. Unripe fruits are extremely dangerous for pregnant women: they can cause miscarriage, or cause premature birth. It is advisable to consult a doctor before taking the fruit.
At breastfeeding it is recommended to avoid including papaya in the diet, as well as any other exotic fruits, as it can cause allergies in infants. If you really want to, then it is allowed to try to eat a small piece and observe the reaction of the crumbs.
For kids
The child should be given papaya when he is 8-10 months old, or after the baby reaches the age of 1 year. At first, the daily dose should be one teaspoon - it is necessary to check the reaction of the crumbs. Then the rate can be increased, gradually bringing up to 3 tablespoons.
Papaya is desirable to serve the child in the form of mashed potatoes. To do this, it is necessary to clean the fruit from seeds, peel, and grind the remaining pulp thoroughly.
For diseases
Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you can use papaya, as it normalizes the production of insulin. Patients are advised to eat no more than two small slices of this fruit per day.
Gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis
In chronic ailments, it is allowed to eat papaya, but only during the period of remission and in moderation. It is best to eat fruit for dessert.
When losing weight (on a diet)
During fasting days for the purpose of losing weight, you can take 2 fruits per day. There is even a mono-diet based on the use of papaya: during the day you only need to eat a salad made from the pulp of the product. Two papayas are peeled, crumbled, then cilantro is added, a tablespoon vegetable oil, tea - lemon juice, salt to taste. The diet is followed throughout the week. Thanks to this diet plan, you can lose up to 4 kilograms.
There is another way to lose weight with fruit. It is designed for two weeks and allows you to lose 8-12 kilograms. An approximate menu for the day is as follows:
- Breakfast: papaya, salad with vegetables, cottage cheese, boiled egg, a glass of mint tea.
- Dinner: light soup(without potatoes), papaya, steamed meat or chicken, vegetables.
- Snack: papaya, yogurt.
- Dinner: papaya vegetable stew, dairy products.
Healing recipes using papaya
Spinal Hernia Powder
Purchase papaya powder (you can buy it online) and consume one tablespoon 10 minutes before meals. Do this 3 times a day for 6 months. Additionally, it is recommended to eat half a papaya fruit once a week. It is important that it is fresh.
No need to try to create the powder yourself, buy it ready-made.
Dried leaf infusion for cancer
Take one tablespoon of dried papaya leaves, mix them with 250 ml of water and infuse for 20 minutes. The prepared tea should be drunk twice a day.
Mixture with bones (seeds) for the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver
Papaya seeds are suitable for the preparation of a remedy for cirrhosis of the liver
Take five seeds (they must be dried), grind them in any convenient way. After that, add a tablespoon of lime juice to the raw material and mix everything. The prepared composition should be consumed twice a day for a month.
Papaya in home cosmetology
face mask for blemishes
Cut off the skin and remove the seeds from the papaya. Pieces of fruit, along with one tablespoon of natural honey and a spoonful of whole almonds, chop with a blender. When the mixture becomes homogeneous in consistency, remove it and apply on a pre-cleansed face. After 10 minutes, wash off the mask with warm, but not hot water.
Wrinkle Smoother
Mix two tablespoons of papaya puree with one tablespoon of honey. Then the composition must be made thicker by adding flour - oatmeal or wheat. The finished mask should be applied to a clean and damp face, to enhance the effect, the skin can be steamed in advance. After 10 minutes, the mask is washed off.
The mask can cause allergies. Lubricate the skin on the bend of the elbow with the prepared mixture and check if any negative reactions appear within a day.
It is not forbidden to use papaya for making face masks
Skin treatment for enlarged pores
Gently wipe the problem areas on the face with papaya peel, and after 20 minutes, wash your face with cool water.
Hair Blend
Grind the pulp of boiled papaya on a grater, steam two tablespoons oatmeal. Mix the ingredients and add two tablespoons of honey, one tablespoon of linseed and sandalwood oils. Apply the resulting product to your hair. Lubricate the ends with sandalwood oil. After an hour, the applied mixture is supposed to be washed off with an herbal shampoo.
Papaya can be eaten not only for pleasure, but also for the treatment and prevention of ailments, general health promotion and care for appearance. In order for the use of the fruit to bring only benefits, it is important to consult a doctor before using it for therapeutic purposes and take into account contraindications.
Papaya is an exotic product, many people look at it with caution and know almost nothing about the beneficial properties of this tropical fruit. But papaya has been known for a long time - it is actively used in medicine, cosmetology, ropes are made from the bark and branches of the tree. High taste qualities of this fruit allow you to combine it with different types cheeses, add to fruit salad mixes, eat raw and baked. By the way, if you bake papaya, the aroma of fresh bread will appear - the second name of the tree that gives these fruits is “bread”.
Interestingly, each papaya fruit contains a huge amount of seeds - their number can reach 700 pieces!
Composition of papaya
Nutritional value of 100 g:
- Calories: 39 kcal
- Proteins: 0.61 gr
- Fats: 0.14 gr
- Carbohydrates: 8.01 gr
- Dietary fiber: 1.8 gr
- Ash: 0.61 gr
- Water: 88.83 gr
- Mono- and disaccharides: 5.9 g
- Saturated fatty acids: 0.043 g
Vitamins:
- Beta-carotene: 0.276 mg
- Vitamin A (RE): 55 mcg
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine): 0.027 mg
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 0.032 mg
- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic): 0.218 mg
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): 0.019 mg
- Vitamin B9 (folic): 38 mcg
- Vitamin C: 61.8 mg
- Vitamin E (TE): 0.73 mg
- Vitamin K (phylloquinone): 2.6 mcg
- Vitamin PP (Niacin equivalent): 0.338 mg
- Choline: 6.1 mg
Macronutrients:
- Calcium: 24 mg
- Magnesium: 10 mg
- Sodium: 3 mg
- Potassium: 257 mg
- Phosphorus: 5 mg
Trace elements:
- Iron: 0.1 mg
- Zinc: 0.07 mg
- Copper: 16 mcg
- Manganese: 0.011 mg
- Selenium: 0.6 mcg
The fruit in question not only tastes familiar to everyone, but also chemical composition. In the course of research on papaya, it was found in its composition:
- vitamins in large quantities;
- carotene;
- calcium;
- iron;
- phosphorus and other useful substances.
But the most useful component that is part of the fruit in question is papain. In its composition, it resembles gastric juice, therefore, immediately after entering the stomach, papain actively breaks down proteins, starch and fats. Papaya also contains an enzyme that directly affects the functioning of the heart and the condition of blood vessels.
papaya is perfect dietary product, because it contains no carbohydrates and fats, and the calorie content per 100 g of the product is only 39 Kcal.
benefits of papaya
In general, the considered exotic fruit has many useful properties, but only the most important ones will be considered in this material. These include:
- Serves as a preventative. This property is provided just by papain, which in composition resembles gastric juice. Papaya should be on the table of those people who are at high risk for developing bowel cancer.
- Cleansing the body. We are talking about the removal of harmful, toxic substances from the body - this is due to the presence of dietary fiber in the composition, which simply binds harmful compounds.
- Has regenerating properties. Both the pulp and the peel of the exotic fruit in question are excellent for healing small wounds. This property can also be used for anti-aging procedures - masks based on papaya (extract or extract from the fruit) have a rejuvenating, moisturizing effect.
- Ensures the normal development of pregnancy. The composition of papaya contains a fairly large amount - it provides a flow of fresh blood to the uterus, prevents the development of anemia during the period of bearing a child and is "responsible" for the correct formation of some fetal systems.
- Restores and strengthens the reproductive function in men. This is due to the enzyme arginine, which is part of papaya. Of course, eating even a ton of exotic fruit will not help restore the reproductive function lost as a result of serious pathologies. But prolonging a man's sexual life is quite likely.
- Improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The enzyme carpain is “responsible” for this property - it has a positive effect on the condition of the walls of blood vessels, strengthens them and increases tone.
- Improves the functioning of the organs of vision. Usually, doctors recommend eating carrots to solve some vision problems. But recent studies have confirmed that papaya has a much greater impact on the health of the organs of vision. For example, with the constant use of the exotic fruit in question, vision loss is prevented due to age, destruction and aging of the retina is prevented.
- It has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties. Cream from papaya extracts is produced by the pharmacological industry and is actively used in dentistry - it helps to speed up the process of treating viral and bacterial diseases of the oral cavity. Some doctors claim that if you use papaya 2-3 times a week, it will serve as a prevention of periodontal disease and superficial caries.
- Gets rid of herpes. Juice and pulp of papaya will help to quickly get rid of herpes, the so-called "cold on the lips" - it is enough to lubricate the herpes as often as possible with the pulp or juice of the fruit in question during the day.
It is recommended to use fresh papaya to strengthen the immune system and even to reduce elevated body temperature - this fruit contains salicylic acid.
It is also very useful for women to use papaya - this will help normalize and stabilize the menstrual cycle, relieve pain and other manifestations of premenstrual syndrome.
The harm of papaya - to whom the fruit is contraindicated
It makes no sense to say that the fruit in question can harm the human body - doctors have not revealed such an effect. But there are specific contraindications to the use of papaya.:
- individual intolerance and / or hypersensitivity;
- unripe fruits - juice from them.
To make sure that you are not allergic to papaya, just take a little juice or pulp of the fruit and apply it to the skin for 20-30 minutes. After this time, it will be clear how the body reacts to the new product. But the juice from unripe papaya should not be consumed in any case - it contains toxic substances.
How to choose papaya
To get really tasty and healthy papaya, you need to remember only one rule - a ripe papaya has a bright yellow color, but even a small presence of green color will definitely indicate that the fruit is not yet ready for consumption.
By the way, the unripe fruits of the fruit in question can be eaten, but only after heat treatment- it is added to meat hot dishes, casseroles are made from pulp.
Papaya is a rather unusual, but not less useful, exotic fruit.
Papaya is a juicy fruit of a large plant of the Karikov family. The fruit is eaten fresh, used in salads, pies, juices and confectionery. The unripe fruit can be cooked like a pumpkin.
Ripe papaya has a soft, buttery texture and a sweet, musky flavor. Inside the fruit in a gelatinous substance are black seeds. They are used as a spice and often added to salads. Almost all parts of the plant are used in cooking, industry and medicine.
The composition and calorie content of papaya
Papaya is rich in nutrients but low in calories.
Composition 100 gr. papaya as a percentage of the daily value:
Papaya contains unique enzymes that digest proteins: papain and chymopapain.
Calorie content of papaya - 43 kcal per 100 gr.
benefits of papaya
All parts of the papaya plant are used to treat dengue, diabetes, and periodontitis.
Papain and chymopapain in the fruit reduce inflammation and joint pain. Vitamin C in papaya is beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis.
For the heart and blood vessels
Papaya is beneficial for people with thrombocytopenia and low platelets. The fruit is rich in vitamin C, which protects the "good" cholesterol from oxidation and prevents it from forming plaque in the arteries.
For the brain and nerves
The beneficial properties of papaya have a beneficial effect on Alzheimer's disease.
Choline is an important nutrient in papaya. It helps us fall asleep, improves brain function and strengthens memory.
For eyes
Papaya is rich in vitamin A, which is important in preventing macular degeneration and other eye diseases.
For bronchi
Papaya relieves inflammation, helps with asthma and other diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
For the gastrointestinal tract
Eating papaya prevents constipation.
Papaya contains fiber, which is beneficial in preventing colon cancer. Papaya fibers bind to carcinogenic toxins in the colon and protect healthy cells from them.
For the pancreas
In people with diabetes, eating papaya lowers blood sugar levels.
For kidneys and bladder
Papaya root infusion is used to treat problems with bladder and kidneys.
For Women's Health
Papain in papaya reduces pain from cramps in PMS.
For skin
The zeaxanthin in papaya improves skin condition and prevents sunburn. The enzyme papain will help in the treatment of bedsores.
For immunity
Papaya prevents damage to DNA cells and protects against the development of prostate cancer. Eating fruit strengthens the immune system, reduces the risk of developing infectious and inflammatory diseases.
Harm and contraindications of papaya
Papaya - useful fruit, but fruits that are sprayed with chemicals can be harmful to health. Papaya causes harm in such cases:
How to choose papaya
Sweet papaya with a soft texture was called by Christopher Columbus "the fruit of the angels". Once considered exotic, now it can be found on sale. all year round. Although, in early summer and autumn there is a seasonal peak.
If you want to eat the fruit immediately after purchase, then choose a papaya that has red-orange skin and is slightly soft to the touch. Fruits that have areas of yellow need to lie down for a few more days to ripen.
