You probably know papaya as a colorful, tropical fruit that is delicious alone or in fruit salads. But papayas are so much more than that. They offer a number of health benefits, including the ability to aid your digestion. This fruit originated in Asia, but grows in tropical areas all over the world, according to Medicinal Herb Info. Before you begin to eat papayas to treat a health condition, consult your health care provider.
Health Benefits
Papaya contains a mixture of protein-degrading enzymes called collectively papain, reports Drugs.com. These enzymes have been used for centuries to treat a number of digestive disorders, including indigestion, and can be added to skin creams to soften the skin. Papaya is also sometimes used to reduce inflammation and swelling from injuries and after surgery. WHFoods.com adds that papaya is helpful for protection against heart disease, anti-Inflammatory effects, immune support, protection against macular degeneration and rheumatoid arthritis, and to promote lung health.
Nutrition
In addition to papaya's ability to aid digestion and treat some digestive disorders, it's a source of good nutrition. WHFoods.com reports that papaya is a rich source of fiber, potassium, folate, and Vitamins C, A, E and K. All you have to do to get these nutritional and health benefits from papaya is add it to your balanced diet.
Research
Research supports the claim that papaya enzymes are beneficial to digestive health. A study conducted at University of Nigeria in Enugu State, Nigeria, investigated the potential for papain to treat stomach ulcers. They tested animal subjects for the potential ulcer-preventive and ulcer-healing effects of papain. Their conclusion was that papain treated and helped prevent stomach ulcers while it aided the digestion process in the test subjects. The results of this study are in the December 2009 issue of "Journal of Medicinal Food."
Considerations
Some people can have severe allergic reactions to papayas similar to latex allergy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Since the papaya tree is a relative of the rubber tree, people with an allergy to latex made from the rubber tree can have the same allergy to papaya. Watch for signs of hives, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing or sinus and eye irritation after eating papaya or taking papaya digestive enzymes.
Forms
WHFoods.com lists a number of forms you can use to get the digestive benefits of papayas. They include tea bags, enzyme capsules, tablets, papaya juice, fresh papaya fruit and dried fruit. Choose the form that best fits your diet and lifestyle.
