Posted by Akilah Richards on Feb.23, 2009

©iStockphoto.com - kajaberry

Thank goodness for migration! The beautifully round, sweet but a bit tart, tropical fruit packs a plethora of tools in its arsenal, and can help with everything from digestion to dull hair. Cultivated in tropical climates, but sold in most places you can buy fresh fruit, Papaya is truly the “It” fruit! Just how much papaya can do for you? Fighting cancer, warding off blindness, cleansing your system, and helping your digestion process are just some of papaya’s fabulous benefits. Read on for details.

Papaya, The Vitamin Kit: How generous of Papaya to provide must-have nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E and K, potassium, folate, magnesium, lutein and zeazanthin! These particular nutrients have proven effective against hypertension, stroke and even the Big C (cancer). Opthalmological studies have even suggested that papaya eaters have a lower risk of developing cataracts. Even better, Papaya, among other fruits, helps the body to absorb vitamins and minerals!

Papaya, The Digestive Aid: High in proteolytic enzymes, also known as proteases, papaya is an excellent digestive aid, right down to its seeds. Gring Papaya seeds until they look and feel like black pepper, then sprinkle away on you family’s meals to help break down proteins. In many parts of the world, green papaya juice is used as an internal cleanser, especially when mixed with pineapple juice, which contains the enzyme bromelain.

Papaya, The Fiberous Friend: One cup of cubed papaya offers 2.5 grams of fiber. Plus, Papaya’s fiber is said to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and keep them away from the healthy colon cells. The fibers in papaya help lower cholesterol levels, and help minimize constipation.

Papaya, The Antioxidant: Eating foods that contain the Antioxidant vitamin C, is recommended to asborb free radicals particles that threaten the strength of our immune system. Medical professionals suggest that people at high risk for colon cancer can benefit from papaya’s colon protection element.

Papaya, The Fabulosity-enhancer: It’s a well-known fact amongst those of us who’ve lived in the tropics, that papaya is one of the great enhancers of hair and skin. Here are two quick-n-easy ways to make papaya work for your Fab-factor:

1. Mix or blend ripe papaya with honey and coconut milk for for an amazingly effective hair conditioner. Let it sit in your shower cap covered hair for about 30 minutes, then come back over to Greendivamom.com to thank me!
2. Blend some papaya and put the paste on your face for about 15 minutes. You could add cucumber for an extra cooling factor, then rinse, stare into mirror, and smile incessantly.

Store your prized papaya in a cool dry place, not below 50 degrees F. It will last from 3 to 7 days, and can be used as a snack, meat tenderizer, and even in stews and curries. You can even use the boiled papaya tree leaves as a vegetable or salad garnish!!

CAUTION: For pregnant women, unripe papaya may prove too risky. According to WikiAnswers.com, researchers have noted that unripe papaya latex acts like prostaglandin and oxytocin, which the body makes to start labor. Synthetic prostaglandin and oxytocin are commonly used to start or strengthen labor contractions. Though doctors are hesitant to specify whether pregnant women should avoid papaya altogether, most think it’s wise to avoid it in the first trimester, and avoid unripened papaya during the entire pregnancy.

Papaya’s full nutritional profile.

RECIPES

Papaya Shrimp, from Jamaicans.com

3 tbsp. butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 onion, chopped

1 tsp. dried thyme or 1 sprig fresh

1 lb. medium shrimp, shelled, deveined (may leave tail portion on)

half a medium papaya, chopped into 1/2″ chunks (can use a bit more or less if you desire)

In a saucepan, melt butter.  Sauté garlic and onion. Once sautéed, add papaya and thyme, stir until papaya just begins to get mushy. Pour mixture into a bowl and then sauté shrimp in the same saucepan (with a little more butter) for a couple of minutes. Finally, add the papaya/garlic/onion mixture back in for another 5 minutes on low heat till shrimp is cooked.
Serve over rice or with noodles.

Papaya Pie, from recipeisland.com

4 egg whites

a pinch of cinnamon

1 dash Orange extract

3 medium ripe papayas

4 tablespoons of flour

4 tablespoons of sugar

2 teaspoons of lime juice

1/2 teaspoon of lime zest

1 medium sweet pre baked pie shell

First pick out all seeds from papayas then
 coarsely mash the papayas. Add lime juice,
 zest, cinnamon along with the orange
 extract. Fold in the flour and sugar. Beat the
 egg whites until they are nice and stiff and 
fold right into the papaya mixture. Bake it for about 25 minutes until the top 
is just brown. Transfer the pie right into 
the refrigerator and serve chilled. Enjoy!

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Posted under Food Facts, Food, Nutrition & Recipes.