Known as the fruit of angels, papaya is a nutrient-dense superfood that's loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and has incredible effects when consumed regularly. The sweet and tropical fruit has a lot of nutritional and medicinal value. Different parts of the fruit such as papaya seeds, papaya leaves or papaya pulp have their own set of health benefits. Papayas have been used for medicinal purposes for some time now for a wide range of ailments including menstrual pain and irregularity, constipation, and even malaria. Including papaya in your regular diet can help you lose weight, improve digestion and boost your immune system. Let's take a detailed look at the health benefits of papaya.
Here are some of the top healthy reasons to pick up papaya on your next supermarket visit.
1. Aids Weight Loss
Being a good source of fiber along with being low in calories, and rich in antioxidants and minerals, papaya aids in weight loss. The fiber content present in papayas keeps you feeling full for an extended time, thus, reducing cravings.
2. Improves Eyesight
Papaya is rich in vitamin A, which helps protect the corneas, and antioxidants slow the degeneration of the retina. Eyesight is weakened considerably with age due to macular degeneration. Eating papaya helps prevent this, while also keeping blindness at bay.
3. Helps Prevent Wrinkles and Visible Signs of Ageing
With papaya being an excellent source of Vitamin C, it helps build collagen in your body, resulting in your tissues binding together.
4. Eases Menstrual Pain
Women who suffer from severe menstrual cramps should eat papaya regularly. One of the main benefits of papaya, especially for women, is that the fruit helps the flow of menstrual blood. Papayas contain an enzyme called papain, which helps in the smooth passing of blood from your uterus.
5. Boosts Immunity
Papaya is loaded with Vitamin C which is beneficial for keeping several illnesses and infections at bay. It is a great source of beta carotene, an antioxidant that's been shown to support immune health. One serving of papaya contains more than 200% of your daily value of vitamin C. Therefore, it is a good idea to have a bowl of papaya regularly to keep such health problems at bay.
6. Promotes Heart Health
The presence of potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants makes papaya a heart-healthy food. These nutrients in papaya promote blood flow in the body and help keep the arteries healthy. Papaya also protects your arteries by lowering bad cholesterol levels and the risk of stroke, heart attack, and even high blood pressure.
7. Improves Digestion
The high-water content present in papaya can also help improve digestion by reducing bloating and easing constipation. The fiber in this fruit also aids regular bowel activity, which may help lower the risk of colon cancer. The presence of an enzyme called papain helps make protein easier to digest.
8. Good For Your Skin
Papaya has been touted for ages to result in glowing skin as it helps to remove dead cells and blackheads. Not to mention, the abundance of beta-carotene in this fruit helps to brighten the skin tone and keep it hydrated.