Papaya Power
Papaya is a piece of salvation, and one of my favorite fruit ever! I discovered this fruit in one of my first travels in Hawaii, straight from the tree, and since then I’m in love with it!
It is an incredibly healthy tropical fruit. It's loaded with antioxidants that can reduce inflammation, fight disease and help keep you looking young.
This magic fruit has been my ride or die in the past years, and I want to share with you all the main 7 reasons why:
1. STOMACH OR INTESTINAL DISORDERS
If you are struggling with any kind of stomach or intestinal disorders, papaya cannot be beat. They can reverse colitis, Chron’s, IBS, ulcers, diverticulitis, gastritis, gastric spasms, liver disease, and pancreatitis.
2. INFLAMMATION
Papaya is the number one fruit for digestibility. Each papaya contains powerful enzymes, especially the papain and chymopapain according to research published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, that support the pancreas, aid digestion, and mend the walls of the intestinal tract, reducing inflammation and preventing scar tissue from forming there. If you suffer from stomach-aches or an inflamed intestinal lining, papaya will be your ally in healing irritated nerve endings that contribute to these ailments. Papaya also contains potent coenzymes that enhance alkalinity inside the intestinal tract.
3. PATHOGENS KILLER
Papaya’s amino acids and enzymes combined repel viruses. This fruit can also kill off H. pylori, C. difficile, and E. Coli, plus get rid of other unfriendly bacteria and parasites, including worms. Papaya is an ideal food is you are dealing with SIBO.
1. HEART HEALTH
The seeds of papayas are good for keeping your heart healthy. Having three powerful antioxidant vitamins – namely vitamin A, C, and E, means papayas are helpful in preventing problems such as atherosclerosis and heart diseases. The presence of pro-carotenoid phytonutrients helps prevent oxidation of cholesterol in the body. When oxidation of cholesterol takes place, it sticks to the walls of the blood vessels and forming plaque that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Vitamin E and vitamin C contained in papayas help in preventing the cholesterol from sticking to the walls, thereby keeping your heart healthy. As a good source of fiber, papayas also help reduce the LDL cholesterol levels in the body.
2. CONSTIPATION
If you need relief from constipation, papaya is made for you! The presence of folate, vitamin C, and vitamin E in papayas may reduce motion sickness by producing a tonic effect in the stomach and in the intestines. Papaya juice and the ripened form of papaya also aid in digestion. The fiber obtained from the fruit helps to increase bowel movements, says a study by a group of researchers from Austria. Improved bowel movements help ease the passage of stool, thereby reducing the effects of constipation.
3. OPTIMAL NUTRITION
Whenever someone has gone through a period of not eating, whether from fasting, anorexia, or grave illness, blended papaya is like magic for the refeeding process, because it offers optimal nutrition, and digests so easily.
4. GLOWING SKIN
Papaya is also a miracle worker for the skin. This fruit has anti-wrinkle, fountain-of-youth powers due to its high content of vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids. Not only it can help to make your skin glow again, it can also clear up eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Papayas has great revitalizing agents, which is why they are used in many cosmetics and are even used in homemade face masks. The papain kills dead cells and purifies the skin. The beneficial properties and the healing enzymes present in papaya help treat sunburn and irritated skin. Lycopene present in papayas reduces wrinkle formation in post-menopausal women, according to a 2014 study.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Papaya can lift you or a loved one out of crankiness, or impatience. Whenever you feel negativity creeping in, keep papaya on hand since it breathes positive energy into everyone who consumes it, removing darkness, purging old judgement, resentment, and stored-up frustration.
TIPS
- For constipation relief, eat half a papaya a day
- Check out and be careful to buy organic, and avoid GMOs
- If you like the peppery taste, eat a few papaya seeds along with the fruit. Eating a small amount of them per week can be great for eliminating parasites.
- For the ultimate gut-healing elixir, drink a tonic of papaya blended with celery juice
RECIPES
- Blend papaya with lime, mango, and mint for the freshest tropical smoothie
- Drizzle half papaya with lemon, raw honey, and eat by the spoon. Delicious! You can also fill this papaya boat with banana ice cream or a delicious berry smoothie
- Use papaya for skincare: blend half cup with a squeeze of lemon (and an inch of fresh aloe vera, if available) and keep it on your face for 20-30 minutes for the smoothest, most glowing skin
- Combine the chopped fruit with 2 tablespoons (28 grams) of chia seeds, 1 cup (240 ml) of raw milk and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix well and refrigerate before eating.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Papaya is rich in valuable nutrients and has a delicious taste. It is a delicious fruit that is best enjoyed ripe. It can be eaten alone or easily combined with other foods.
Its powerful antioxidants and enzymes may reduce your risk of many diseases — especially chronic ones and the ones that tend to come with age.
It may also defend against the visible signs of aging, helping your skin remain smooth and youthful.
Try adding this healthy and delicious fruit to your diet today and feel the benefits right from the first bite!
Much Love,
Manuela