Papaya is much more than just an appetising fruit. This tropical treasure contains an abundance of health benefits. Learn all about papaya benefits and how having this fruit on a regular basis might help with weight loss and gut problems.
Introduction
Papaya is one of the most delicious and versatile fruits available, but there's so much more to this tropical treasure than its sweet taste and colour. There are several health benefits of eating papaya, including the ability to help with weight loss, reduce oxidative stress, treat diabetes, help fight ageing, and wound healing.
Papaya is among the most popular fruits in tropical and subtropical regions, second only to the banana. Papaya fruit benefits are derived from its content of rich antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins such as C, E, A, dietary fibre, and minerals such as magnesium and potassium.
Learn more about these seven surprising health benefits of eating papaya below!
Papaya Nutrition
There are numerous health benefits of eating papaya. They are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin E. Let’s see the nutritional value of every 275g of ripe papaya.
Calories |
24 kcal |
Protein |
0.50 g |
Fat |
0.23 g |
Carbohydrate |
4.40 g |
Fibre |
2.28g |
The nutritional value of ripe papaya [100g] includes:-
Calories |
24 kcal |
Protein |
0.42 g |
Fat |
0.16 g |
Fibre |
2.83 g |
Carbohydrate |
4.61 g |
Vitamin C |
43.09 mg |
Vitamin A |
115.67 mcg |
Total folates |
60.9 mcg |
Health Benefits Of Eating Papaya Empty Stomach
Glowing Skin:
Papaya is also known to have exfoliating properties, making it great for the skin. Eating mashed papaya on an empty stomach can heal your skin by providing necessary antioxidants.
Better Digestion:
For anyone with poor digestion, eating papaya on an empty stomach every day could do wonders. Papaya carries an enzyme called papain within it, which assists in breaking down the food, making papaya a perfect morning snack.
Anti-aging Benefits:
Who doesn’t want a younger looking skin? Eating papaya on an empty stomach in the morning could make your dream come true. Raw papaya contains an abundance of natural alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which can fight wrinkles and may make you look younger.
Want a younger-looking skin? Eating papaya is the way. The yellow-orange coloured fruit is abundant in natural alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) that make the skin look brighter, plumper and smoother. In addition to this, eating a whole papaya will reflect on the skin inside and out. Eat papaya regularly to increase the suppleness and elasticity of the skin, as this can hydrate the skin due to its low sodium content.
The Top 6 Health Benefits of Eating Papaya
1. Weight Loss
One of the most popular advantages of papaya may be weight loss. Due to its high levels of dietary fibre, papaya may help keep you full longer after a meal. This can help reduce food cravings and overeating, especially in times when you are prone to emotional eating.
The benefits of eating papaya on an empty stomach are that it has vitamin C content that helps boost your metabolism and fights indigestion, leading to weight loss.
2. Boosts Immune System
Papaya contains vitamin C in large amounts, an important antioxidant that helps boost immune system health. Many of the advantages of papaya are due to its high content of beta-carotene, a nutrient that converts to vitamin A in your body and maintains healthy eyes and skin.
The bonus for eating green papaya benefits? Vitamin C has been found to boost your mood by increasing dopamine levels in your brain. If you're feeling down or anxious, eat some papaya!
3. Prevents unhealthy extracellular growth
The most important advantage of eating papaya is that it releases enzymes that suppress tumorous cell growth. The papain present in papaya helps break down and digest protein in food and may help dissolve existing extracellular growth in our bodies.
Another substance found in papaya, isothiocyanate, has been shown to fight unhealthful extracellular growth while not affecting healthy cells. Papayas contain an enzyme called lycopene that can prevent extracellular growth due to free radical formation. These raw papaya benefits make papaya an essential fruit to include in your diet.
4. Lowers Cholesterol
Another green papaya benefit is that it may help to reduce your cholesterol, so incorporate papaya into your diet. It contains a fibre called pectin, which makes up about 30 percent of the papaya's fibre content. Pectin helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and can also help remove plaque from arteries, preventing heart disease and other coronary issues.
In addition to lowering bad cholesterol, papaya contains vitamins B1 and C and beta-carotene. These vitamins provide antioxidant benefits that further aid in preventing atherosclerosis, one of the most important benefits of eating papaya.
5. Improves Digestion
One of the most important benefits of eating papaya is that it improves digestion. But how?
When you regularly eat papaya, you're giving your digestive system a little boost. The fruit contains papain that helps break down proteins in your stomach and improves digestion. When digestion is better, gas and bloating are reduced, too. Even if you have stomach ulcers, you can enjoy this fruit because it doesn't irritate damaged tissue.
6. Keeps Bones Strong
One of the most common advantages of eating papaya regularly is that it may keep bones strong and healthy. This is due to phytochemicals like lutein, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and lycopene present in papaya.
Drinking papaya juice or eating papaya pulp regularly may help prevent rickets (softening of bones), osteoporosis (thinning of bones), and other conditions associated with calcium deficiency. Green papaya benefits may also include repairing weakened bones as well as strengthening them naturally.
Top Benefits of Eating Raw Papaya
- Loaded with the goodness of fibre, one of the primary benefits of eating raw papaya is its ability to prevent constipation. This is primarily due to papain, a digestive enzyme that is present in unripe green papayas.
- Raw papaya can also be helpful in soothing inflammation from both the skin and body. It is also considered an effective remedy against respiratory infections.
Closing Thoughts
You may have understood the benefits of eating raw papaya. Papaya is a nutrient-rich fruit that may offer numerous health benefits. If you’re looking for ways to improve your well-being, adding papaya to your diet is a great idea. These seven benefits are only the tip of the iceberg—there may be many more reasons to love this delicious fruit.
So, what are you waiting for? Start incorporating papaya into your daily diet and enjoy all the fantastic papaya health benefits. With its sweet and tangy taste, there’s no reason not to add this superfood to your meals.
Have you tried eating papaya yet? What has been your favourite way to prepare it? Let us know in the comments below!