Think, Eat, Be Healthy

Papaya Protects Our Health

Papayas are a tropical fruit full of healthy antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, vitamins and minerals. They also contain the enzyme papain that helps to digest proteins in a similar way to bromelain from pineapples. Dietary fiber is abundant, helping to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, bind toxic compounds in the colon and bulk up stools for proper movement through the intestines. Folate, vitamin K, and a variety of both carotenoids and flavonoids are all plentiful in papaya. And it it is a beautiful and delicious fruit.

Papayas are best eaten when fully ripe and yellow.

Papayas are best eaten when fully ripe and yellow.

When it comes to prostate cancer prevention, think about teaming up papaya with green tea. Both of these healthy whole foods have shown preventative effects against prostate cancer. New studies have shown a synergistic effect when they are eaten together. The preventative effect against prostate cancer is much larger than when either food is eaten by itself.

The fiber in papaya can help to lower blood cholesterol levels. Other compounds in papaya combine to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. This action prevents cholesterol from forming plaque on blood vessel walls, leading to heart disease.

The papaya is native to Central America. They also grow very well in the Tampa Bay area of Florida that I call home. They are a very interesting plant which can be male only, female only or both(like the majority of flowering plants). And sometimes they switch genders. I have some papaya in the back yard and they flower often but only fruit about every other year. Papayas are green as they mature and change to yellow as they ripen. Try to buy fully ripe papayas, or let them ripen at room temperature, at the amounts of antioxidants increase with the ripening process.

Papayas on the tree in my backyard in Florida.

Papayas on the tree in my backyard in Florida.

The seeds are also edible. Papaya seeds have a slightly bitter and peppery flavor that some people really like and some really hate. These seeds are also a natural de-worming agent for parasitic worms in the intestinal tract.

Papaya is a versatile fruit in a healthy whole food diet. It can be eaten raw right out of the skin like a melon or avocado. It can be used as part of a mixed fruit salad. It makes a delicious tropical fruit salsa with green onion, cilantro, lime juice and chile peppers. Pureed in a food processor and seasoned, papaya can be a great tenderizing marinade and sauce for ribs or poultry.