FRUIT OF THE ANGELS (PAPAYA)

The delicious and highly nutritious papaya fruit is packed with a lot of vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients. It is widely cultivated tropical fruit tree. The botanical name of this plant is Carica Papaya. Papaya contains soft, easily digestible flesh with a good amount of soluble dietary fiber. This fruit is available in the market throughout the year. Fresh ripe papaya fruit is richest source of vitamin C and excellent source of vitamin A and flavanoids like beta-carotene, luteine, zea-xanthin and crypto-xanthin. These fruits are rich in B-complex vitamin like thiamin(B1), riboflavin(B2), pyridoxin(B6) and folic acid. It also has good amount of potassium. In addition to this, it also has papain and chymopapain.

• Papaya reduces the risk of cancers like colon, prostate, lung, uterus, etc.
• It is very low in calories i.e., 100 gms of this fruit has 40 calories.
• It helps to reduce weight.
• It improves the body metabolism.
• It helps to maintain the normal heart rate and blood pressure.
• It helps to relieve nausea.
• It helps to reduce inflammation, asthma, oestero-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• It is very useful for the treatment of various skin irritations and wounds.
• It helps to reduce blood cholesterol level.
• It regulates the menstural cycle.
• It improves the skin complexion.
• It stimulates the ovarian secretion, estrogen and healthy function of the mammary glands for breast development.
• It prevents the cataract formation in eye.
• It is very helpful for the prevention of atherochlorosis and diabetic heart disease.
• It helps to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol.
• It helps the normal bowl movement and thus prevents constipation.
• It enhances the immune system of the body.
• Papain obtained from raw papaya and tree is used for tenderizing the meat.
• Papaya seeds have been proven natural remedy for many ailments.
• It regulates the normal pH level of the body.
• The seeds and leaves are useful in treating intestinal worms found in the human.
• The seeds are used to treat stomach problems and ringworm infection.
• It controls the premature aging.
• It is very useful for muscular degeneration.
• Papaya shampoo is good for hair and dandruff
• It has restorative property that can help soften the skin and give smoothness and good appearance.
• It removes the man's fertility because it contains arginine.
• Unriped papayas may cause uterine contractions which may lead to miscarriage as it contains papain enzyme.
• Pregnant women should avoid taking unriped green papaya.
• Unriped papaya can however be used safely as a cooked vegetable.
• Papaya can be taken in the form of fruit, juice, salads, milkshake, jam, jelly, etc.,

Please try to grow this delicious, highly nutritious fruit tree in your home garden.