Papaya is a fruit native to Mexico.. It is large in size and is now cultivated in many parts of the world. Thanks to its good taste and nutrients, papaya has become an indispensable fruit for a light and healthy diet in many households around the world.
Like most fruits, it has a low protein and fat content. Not so other nutrients that are found in important concentrations and that benefit the body in different areas.
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Papaya has multiple benefits and properties for the body.
Among the components of the papaya is papain, fiber and vitamin C.. These nutrients intervene in different parts of the body and influence it in different ways. For that reason it is important to know what are the properties and benefits of papaya.
Surely after knowing all that papaya has to offer you will not hesitate to include it in your regular diet. Either in combination with other fruits and at different times of the day, since it is a fruit that can be eaten in different dishes and cooked in many different ways.
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1. Improves constipation
Papaya is one of the fruits that most helps to relieve constipation.. Although its fiber content is not the highest compared to other fruits, papain and its water content manage to stimulate the intestine to improve transit.
However, if there is no problem in this regard, eating papaya helps to avoid it, so it also has a preventive effect. So eating this fruit for breakfast in a measured portion is a great idea to feel light for the rest of the day.
2. Boosts the immune system
The vitamin C in a small portion of papaya is much greater than that of an orange. All it takes is 100 grams of this tropical fruit to meet your daily vitamin C requirement.
This vitamin is essential to strengthen the immune system, so consuming papaya frequently helps to reduce the risk of infection in viral diseases, especially during the winter season.
3. Diuretic
Eating papaya helps not to retain liquids. This in turn prevents swelling in the body. This fruit is composed of 90% water and, for this reason, ingesting it has diuretic effects on the body.
There is no doubt that this fruit is ideal to feel light for the rest of the day. In summer when the heat is more intense and it is common to retain liquids; in these cases papaya is an excellent ally to lighten swelling and relieve discomfort.
4. Protects the skin
The skin is protected thanks to the beta-carotenes in papaya.. These beta-carotenes are the precursors of Vitamin A, which protect the skin from free radicals that affect and damage the skin leading to premature aging. With papaya we counteract this effect.
In addition, they provide a natural pigmentation to the skin that makes it look young and radiant. During the summer, this effect is ideal because it helps us to achieve a spectacular tan, making pigmentation more intense and uniform.
5. It favors the absorption of iron
Due to its high Vitamin C content, papaya helps iron to be absorbed by our body.. A sufficient intake of iron helps to reduce the chances of anemia, but in order for the iron to be fixed, it is also necessary to ingest enough Vitamin C.
As already mentioned, papaya is one of the fruits with the highest concentration of Vitamin C, so it is an ideal food to ensure the fixation of iron in the body. Thus, we strengthen the immune system.
6. Antioxidant
Papaya contains lycopene, which is a potent antioxidant.. This component is what gives papaya its intense orange color. At the same time, it gives the body its antioxidant benefits to fight free radicals.
This property has benefits for skin and hair. Many people recommend adding a little papaya pulp to shampoo to nourish the hair, however ingesting it is much better for its nutrients to be absorbed into the body.
7. Protein digestion
Papain contained in papaya helps to better digest proteins.. It is an enzyme whose function is to correctly process, digest and absorb the proteins contained in other foods.
This is the reason why a balanced and healthy diet usually includes some portion of papaya. It is a fruit that helps very well to balance the diet. And as already mentioned, it is perfect for discarding what the body does not need.
8. Bacteriostatic action
Some studies seem to show that papaya has bacteriostatic functions.. Especially when this fruit is not ripe, they help to prevent the bacteria that lodge in the intestine and that can damage it from developing.
Because of this property, papaya is said to be bacteriostatic. Although this function diminishes considerably the more ripe and sweet it is. Even so, the rest of the properties of papaya remain the same.
9. Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Papaya contains flavonoids. Flavonoids, among other functions protect the body from oxidation by cholesterol.. This is directly related to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
In addition to this flavonoid content, thanks to its Vitamin C and A, which strengthen the immune system and its antioxidants, papaya is an excellent ally to prevent diseases related to the accumulation of cholesterol.
10. Promotes the formation of collagen
Vitamin C in papaya favors the formation of collagen.. This component is vital to maintain a healthy body and a young and radiant skin. Collagen production decreases with age.
However, a high consumption of foods containing Vitamin C, as is the case of papaya, favors that collagen does not decrease and that our body continues to generate it. This protein is essential to prevent the deterioration of cells in the body.
11. Acid-base balance
Papaya has several minerals. Potassium, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, are minerals that favor the acid-base balance that the body needs. Magnesium and potassium are the minerals that are present in greater quantities.
Although there are other fruits that present these minerals in higher proportions than papaya, the other properties found in this fruit complement very well a balanced and healthy diet.
12. Against wounds
The papaya has been used in various forms in traditional medicine.. One of these functions is precisely for the treatment of wounds. This is because papain helps to accelerate the healing process.
Papaya is one of the foods and fruits with the highest concentration of papain, which is why it has been historically used to prevent infection in wounds and eliminate necrotic areas. So it is good to take into consideration eating papaya to avoid wound infection and accelerate the healing process.