There are many papaya benefits for your health and this beautiful orange/yellow tropical fruit is proof that nutritious food can also have an amazing taste.
Papaya, also known as papaw, is a rich source of antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and special digestive enzymes that have a remarkable effect both internally and externally.
If you’d like to improve your skin, relieve digestion problems, protect your eyes and heart and possibly lower your risk of many diseases like cancer, then consider the many benefits of eating papaya.
Skin Protection
Ripe papaya is a great source of antioxidant vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids like beta-carotene and lycopene. The high levels of these valuable nutrients can help protect your skin against free radicals known to cause damage that leads to wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.
The enzyme papain in the flesh and skin of the fruit actually breaks down dead skin cells and helps promote skin renewal when used topically on the face or body. Papaya facial treatments are a popular way to improve your skin’s texture, elasticity and appearance. They may also help with wound healing and burns and even assist in the treatment of skin problems like acne, blemishes and age spots.
Papaya is Good for Your Eyes
Along with its beta-carotene content that can be converted to vitamin A, so important to healthy eyes and vision, papaya also contains the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.
Lutein and zeaxanthin, known as xanthophylls, are concentrated in the macular region of our eyes. Here they provide protection against high energy blue light that can damage our eye’s retinas. A good intake of both lutein and zeaxanthin is believed to significantly reduce our risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the most common cause of blindness in America.
The high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in papaya may also protect us against developing cataracts, glaucoma, and other chronic eye diseases. Other good sources of lutein and zeaxanthin are pumpkins, spinach, broccoli and the yolks from free range eggs.
Many people also report an improvement in visual acuity and color perception with high doses of lutein and zeaxanthin in supplements derived from natural sources like marigold flowers.
Heart Disease and Papaya
The high levels of vitamin C and vitamin E along with antioxidants like beta-carotene and lycopene in papaw can help reduce the oxidization of cholesterol in our arteries. Cholesterol oxidization is considered a dangerous process, potentially leading to arteries blocked with plaque that can result in heart attacks. Increasing your intake of these antioxidants from health foods like papaya may help improve blood flow to the heart and reduce your risk of developing heart disease.
Papaya is a good source of folate which helps control homocysteine levels in the bloodstream. High levels of homocysteine in the blood is known to damage blood vessels and is considered another potential cause of cardiovascular disease.
The beneficial fiber in papaya can also help lower undesirable LDL cholesterol levels in the blood by inhibiting its absorption during digestion. This is yet another way eating this amazing superfood can help protect us from heart disease and stroke.
Improve Digestion
The enzymes in papaya, and especially the green fruit, can improve digestion by breaking down proteins into their individual amino acids. Undigested proteins can lead to many health issues, such as gastrointestinal problems and an overgrowth of flatulence causing bacteria in the colon.
The proteolytic enzyme papain found in papaya is actually so good at breaking down proteins, it is used as a meat tenderizer commercially.
If you can’t find it fresh, green papaya enzyme capsules and high strength digestive powder are convenient to take with a protein meal. Papaya does make for a great dessert whenever you can get it though.
There is much more on how papain can benefit your health in the page on how papain enzymes benefit digestion.
Papaya and Cancer Prevention
There are several important compounds that may make papaya a very beneficial superfood for reducing your risk of developing certain types of cancers. Obviously seek the advice of a knowledgeable health care professional when dealing with any serious disease. But also know that nutritious foods can support the body’s natural defenses and, in the case of papaya, may have certain nutrients of particular relevance for reducing cancer risk.
Once again, the rich antioxidant content of papaya, particularly lycopene, beta-carotene and another less well known carotenoid called beta-cryptoxanthin, are particularly beneficial in reducing your risk of developing cancer.
Proteolytic enzymes in papaya can digest the fibrin protein layer of cancer cells that usually surrounds and protects them. This may leave the cancerous cells more susceptible to the body’s immune response. It is also believed to hinder its growth and inhibit the cancer from spreading.
The fruit also contains compounds called isothiocyanates that may help prevent cancer by eliminating potential carcinogens from our bodies and enhancing the action of tumor suppressing proteins. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli are an even richer source of isothiocyanates, but papaya is still a good source.
Recent research has studied the powerful cancer cell killing effects of compounds found in papaya leaves. See the page on could papaya leaf be a cancer treatment for more details.
Eating Papaya
Hopefully these 5 papaya health benefits are inspiring enough to have you wanting to eat it more often. If so, the next page on eating papaya for better health has many ways to include more of this great tasting and very healthy fruit in your daily meals.
Liked this post? Subscribe to the RSS feed for more!
Photo 1 credit with thanks: norwichnuts
Photo 2 credit with thanks: SantaRosa OLD SKOOL
Wonderful discovery of potentials for a fruit so Common and so undervalued, and wasting in our backyards! But among the various species, which is the best?
Hi Omotayo. Thanks for your comment.
There doesn’t appear to be significant nutritional difference between the different varieties from my research. The smaller Hawaiian varieties tend to be sweeter than the larger Mexican papayas though. Brighter colored pulp may also be an indication of more antioxidants.
If you intend using the seeds for their anti-parasitic and protein digesting properties, the larger seeds in the Mexican varieties do seem to be more potent. See http://superfoodprofiles.com/surprising-health-benefits-papaya-seeds for more details.
Dats great but i love d unripe on and strong. I mean not too soft and not over yellow. Pls wil it still be work as the ripe one?
Hi Vivianne. The greener the papaya the more papain enzymes it has in it, which is very good for clearing out the intestines of undigested waste. The ripe papaya are said to have more antioxidants. Some of both would be ideal.
Papaya also ideal for lose weight?
Hi Myriam,
The more healthy, antioxidant and nutrient rich foods like papaya you eat the less hungry most people tend to be, so yes I would think papaya could be beneficial for weight loss.
if a cube of ripe papaya could be rubbed on face, along with honey provides instant glow n can also helps undo the tiredness all over the day. papaya is too good for skin.
It was a young Indian therapist that suggested I take papaya for my incredibly sluggish bowel. Works like a charm. One day after eating, no problem, every time. But does anyone know if it will only work when I take it. Or is there any evidence to suggest that it could actually improve this chronic condition I’ve had as long as I can remember. What would be the best way to take it. And are there any other foods equally effective. Because eating just the one thing all the time is really boring!
Hi there,
This beneficial effect is likely due to the combination of digestive enzymes and natural fiber. Pineapple would be another good choice with similar properties and avocados, bananas and other tropical fruit are all likely to be helpful for improving bowel movements.
Papaya was one of those fruits that i wouldn’t even taste. Having heard about its health benefits, I am now eating and I have acquired the taste, something I thought I couldn’t do. Its nicer and more refreshing
when chilled.
Hi Nadine,
I’ve always enjoyed papaya, even before I knew how good it was for me. Different tastes I guess but it’s good to hear you’re having it now.
Wow.., all dis is amazing! But I wanna know wat proportion or amount is appropriate to be eaten on a daily basis.
Hi Freda,
You won’t ‘overdose’ on papaya so whatever you are comfortable eating is good. If you have easy access to this wonderful fruit then half a papaya in the morning makes a very healthy breakfast.
i have a gastro esophageal reflux disease and my common problem with my stomach is that i always feel bloated even i eat only plenty of food…would it helps alot eating papaya ??now i start eating papaya….and also i want to loose weight
Hi Althea,
Papaya is considered excellent for gastroesophageal reflux. Having it for breakfast rather than cereal would be a good step towards loosing weight. In fact, anywhere in your diet you can cut back on grain based foods, particular bread and pasta, would be beneficial. This article explains why – http://www.healthambition.com/why-bread-makes-you-fat/
Hope this helps.
papaya also rich in vit.C and since i am acidic i have a Gastro Esophageal Reflux,is it ok for me to eat papaya??because citrus fruits not advisable for me..Vit.C same ascorbic acidic not advisable for people with stomach problem such as Hyper acidity..and papaya rich in vit.C…
Hi Althea,
Papaya’s are not acidic and are one of the most strongly recommended for this condition so I think it would be fine. You could try a small amount the first time and see how you tolerate it. As I mentioned, for breakfast would be a great time to have papaya.