One fruit, numerous benefits

FM Bureau | 01-May-2014

Papaya is a delicious tropical fruit which has a mouth-watering flavor and lots of health benefits. Originally from the tropics of America, the taste and its numerous health benefits made the fruit popular in all the continents

By FM Bureau

Papaya enjoys a rich history, and has been used since very long for medicinal uses in day to day life. The Mayans used to worship papaya trees and called it the “Tree of Life”. It is said to be one of the favourite fruits of Christopher Columbus. The story goes that when his crew landed in America after a long voyage on meagre meal, the native people welcomed them with extravagant feast, which caused digestive problems. The natives took the voyagers to the forest and offered them papaya and they got cured. The leaves, seeds and the milk of the papaya tree are used to cure intestinal problems and kill intestinal worms and parasites. Women from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh use them to prevent pregnancy and for abortion. Above all, papaya is a very delicious food that has been enjoyed lavishly by people as a part of cuisines and salads.

Nutritional values

Papaya comes loaded with nutrients. Every part of a papaya tree, from the fruit to the leaves contains some medicinal properties.

Health benefits

Skin: It is great for the skin and can be used as a face pack to get its benefits. It helps to get rid of acne and skin infections as it helps to open clogged pores. The fermented flesh of papaya also called papain helps to dissolve the dead cells, giving fresh and glowing skin as a result. It is good to cure the skin infections and wounds that don’t heal quickly.

Cholesterol: As it is a fruit that is rich in fibre, it lowers blood cholesterol levels. It contains enzymes that help prevent oxidization of cholesterol, which in return helps to prevent heart attacks.

Anti-ageing: The antioxidants in papaya help in controlling premature ageing. This quality of the papaya helps you to get a younger look.

Intestinal worms: The seeds of papaya too possess medicinal properties. They are very good in treating intestinal worms in the body.

Constipation: Papaya helps in preventing constipation and helps digestion. The enzyme papain is a digestive enzyme that helps natural digestion.

Colon: Its juice helps in curing infections of the colon by clearing the pus and mucus from it. You need to take it regularly to heal quickly.

Weight loss:  low in calories and high in nutritional values. Hence, papaya is a good food for those who want to lose some weight.

pregnant ladies, regular

Osteoporosis: It contains anti-inflammatory enzymes that help in relieving pain for those who are suffering from arthritis, edema and osteoporosis, and it also possesses anti-cancerous properties that can help prevent cancer.

Immunity: It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C that help in boosting the body’s immunity and hence is very good for those who are suffering from fever, cold or flu.

Shampoos: Shampoos containing papaya are very good to control dandruff.

Menstrual irregularities: It helps in controlling the menstrual irregularities in women. Papaya helps to ease menstrual cramps and helps in promoting regular flow of menstruation.

Liver cancer & papaya juice: As it has anti-proliferative effect on liver cancer cells, it stops or slows down the growth of the cancer cells of liver and helps in its cure.

Contraception: Research with adult male langur monkeys has shown that it has contraceptive capability and maybe it has similar effect in adult males too.

Kidney disorder: In poison related kidney disorder it was found that the aqueous seed extract of the unripe mature fruits of papaya induces antioxidant and oxidative free radical scavenging and help kidney to recover.

Dengue treatment: Researchers have found that the juice obtained from the papaya leaves helps in the dengue fever treatment. The extract obtained from the papaya leaf increases the platelet count also known as thrombocytes in patients with dengue fever.

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