Papaya (or Pawpaw or Papita ) is a sweet yellowish-green fruit of Carica papaya plant (Botanical name). There are variety of benefits of papaya for our Health due to which it is also known as ‘Fruit of Angels’.

Apart from the slight peak of its production in summer, Papaya plants give fruit throughout the year.

The origin of Papaya is believed to be native to Tropical America, but now its commercial production is found in many parts of the World including India, Hawaii, tropical Africa, the Philippines, Ceylon, Malaya and Australia.

It can be consumed in the form of juice, salads, salsa and its orange flesh inside the peel all by itself.

It is not a citrus fruit, yet it is Rich in vitamin C. And a papaya a day can fulfil 144% of daily requirement of vitamin C.

It is also rich in many other nutrients like vitamin A, which helps in improving the eyes’ health. It is rich in vitamin B complex, folate, fibre and potassium.

Now let us talk about how beneficial these constituents of papaya are for our health.

Health Benefits of Papaya:

 1. Promotes hair growth

Study reveals, the nutrients in papaya help prevent balding. Hair Stylists suggest consumption of papaya, thrice a week can prevent thinning of hair and prevents balding too.

Papayas are used for making shampoos and conditioners for healthy hair, due to these health benefits only.

2. Helpful in Dengue Treatment

Research says, Dengue fever can be controlled with the papaya leaves’ extract. Papaya leaves are known to be rich in enzymes like chymopapin and papain.

These enzymes help normalise the platelet count, improves the blood clotting, improves the functioning of liver and helps in repairing the liver damage done by dengue, therefore helping an ailing person recover from the disease.

How to use papaya leaf juice to increase platelet count

• Take the papaya leaves and grind it to a paste. (Do not add water)
• Squeeze the leaves to extract the juice
• Mix 1 teaspoon of this juice with a small piece of jaggery
• Avoid drinking water immediately afterwards

3. Improves Digestion

Papaya is a rich source of valuable Protein Digesting enzymes, such as papain, chymopapain, caricain and glycyl endopeptidase. It can greatly help in the digestive process.

These enzymes help digesting diets rich in protein (meat).

4. Helps Boosting Immunity

Researchers from Italy have discovered that eating fermented papaya for six weeks can significantly increase the immune system. Special enzymes such as superoxide dismutase helps stimulate the body’s ability to detoxify.

Papaya is also rich in nutrients such as vitamin A, C, E, etc and is full of antioxidants that helps improving the immunity and cleansing of dead cells.

5. Good for your eyes

Papaya is rich in beta-carotene, the substance that gives it its rich color, like that of carrots. It prevents the degeneration of the eyes, and controls the severity of age-related macular degeneration. It prevents the cataract formation.

Studies showed that consumption of papaya in diet, thrice a day can help reduce this problem.

6. Prevention of Cancer

According to a research conducted by scientists of University of Florida, Papaya has anticancer effect against a broad range of lab-grown tumours, including cancers of the liver, cervix, breast, lung and pancreas.

7. Helps ease menstrual pain

Papaya is an extremely beneficial home remedy for menstrual cramps during menstrual cycle. Eating unripe papaya around a woman’s menstrual cycle is effective preventive measure against menstrual pain.

8. Protects against Arthritis

Arthritis can be a really crippling problem and people who have it may find their quality of life reduced significantly.

Papayas are rich in vitamin C, and have anti-inflammatory properties which helps in reducing the arthritis pain and improving bones’ health.

Study says, people taking diet low in vitamin C are more prone to arthritis and other bone related problems.

9. Papaya for Skin

Papayas are rich in Vitamins C, B5 and papain enzymes, it can help removal of dead skin cells including pimples, skin rashes and boils.

And the antioxidants present in Papaya helps in scavenging the free radicals in the body which are responsible for early aging and premature death of cells. It helps in cleansing the body and slows down the signs of aging.

You can either apply mashed papaya mixed with honey and fuller’s earth (Multani Mittie) or you can just eat it, in both ways it is helpful in making your skin glow.

10. Helps weight loss

Papaya have low calories but is rich in its vitamin contents, essential nutrients and minerals that makes up a perfect healthy diet.

Papaya is rich in Vitamin A, C, E & folate. It just gives 39 calories per 100 gram. The antioxidants present in papaya burns your calorie and extra fat deposits.

Apart from these health benefits of papaya there are several other benefits taht you can gain from papaya, for which we will keep on writing. Share this article with your friends, family and colleagues so that they could also avail the benefits of papaya. Do not forget to add some points if you think they should be in the list, in the comment box below.