Papaya Fruit Diet

Papaya is a valuable part of a balanced diet supplying nutrients, fiber and other elements for the maintenance of a healthy body. Widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive disorders and disease, by the 1800s papaya was grown in all tropical regions. Hawaii and South Africa are now the primary exporters of papaya, which remains a versatile fruit wth very few calories.

Identification

The papaya tree grows in semitropical zones around the world and reaches 20-feet in less than 18 months. The fruit ranges in size from 1 to 20 pounds. Hawaii and Florida are major papaya producers. In addition to the pulp, the peppery seeds are edible. Ripe papaya can be eaten raw and the green fruit is delicious cooked as a vegetable.

Nutritional Content

Papayas are a good dietary source of calcium and potassium with only 55 calories per small fruit. A papaya contains only 0.2 g of total fat and no cholesterol. It supplies 11 percent of the daily value for fiber in addition to folate, vitamin A, four times more vitamin E and 33 percent more vitamin C than an orange. Rich in essential amino acids including carotenoids, lutein and lycopene, papayas are important for proper cell function. Papayas also contain a natural enzyme, called papain, which helps break down proteins during digestion.

Medicinal Uses

Papaya has been used for centuries for its medicinal benefits; every part of the tree including the seeds, bark, leaves and skin have been used. Tea was made with the roots and seeds and was used to get rid of parasites, stop bleeding, cure colic and treat jaundice, according to Innvista webpage. Many of the therapeutic benefits are still used today. A study from Nigeria used dried papaya seeds as a treatment for intestinal parasites. The "Journal of Medicinal Food" reported that the papaya seeds were an effective cheap, natural and readily available treatment without significant side effects.

Cancer

Papaya has been proved effective against many tumors, including cancers of the cervix, breast, pancreas, lung and liver. Researchers at the University of Florida discovered the extract from dried papaya leaves had an effect on 10 types of tumors. As larger doses were administered, the success of the results increased, as documented in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." The study suggested papaya as a therapy to help the immune system to fight cancer. People in Australia have also used papaya leaf extract to treat cancer without toxicity, according to Medicine News Today.

Potential Risks:

Papain in papaya may cause inflammation of the skin or upper gastrointestinal tract. Eating unripe or semi-ripe papaya may cause sores in the mouth or irritation in the esophagus, stomach or intestines, and is not recommended if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Excessive amount of papaya enzymes may induce allergic reactions that may include perforation of the esophagus, severe gastritis, paralysis and decreased heart rate.