Dried papayas come from the fruit of the papaya tree, a plant that was originally native to Mexico and Central America but that now exists in most tropical locations throughout the world. Dried fruits are simply fresh fruits that have been dehydrated using heat. Drying fruit provides an advantage in that it decreases weight and increases the nutrient density, but it may drain some heat-sensitive nutrients, such as vitamin C. Organic dried papayas vary in nutritional value depending on the brand, sugar content and additional ingredients.
Carbohydrates and Sugars
A 1.5-oz., or 40-g, serving of organic dried papayas contains 35 g of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are macronutrients that supply energy to cells and fuel energy metabolism. The majority of the carbohydrates are in the form of the natural sugars glucose and fructose. Each 1.5-oz. serving of organic dried papayas contains 29 g of these sugars. Most adults need about 225 g of carbohydrates each day, according to MayoClinic.com.
Fiber
Organic dried papayas contain about 1 g of fiber per 1.5-oz. serving. Fiber, a carbohydrate found in plant foods, helps promote digestive health, reduces "bad" blood cholesterol, helps control blood sugar levels and may help protect against colon cancer. Adult men require about 38 g of fiber each day, while women need 25 or 26 g, according to the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine.
Vitamins
Vitamins are micronutrients -- substances that the body needs in small amounts but that play a vital role in immune system health, growth and cellular function. While most nutrition labels do not go into detail on vitamin content, raw papayas pack an abundance of these micronutrients within the skin and flesh. Raw papayas contain vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin K.
Minerals
Minerals are also micronutrients, and the body needs just small amounts of these substances to regulate its cellular functions. As with vitamins, most nutrition labels do not provide details on mineral content. A 1.5-oz. serving of organic dried papayas contains 4 percent the typical daily value for the minerals calcium and iron. Raw papayas contain magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium.
References
- TropicalDriedFruit.com: Papaya History and Information
- NYTimes.com; Science; Fruit, Cut and Dried; C. Claiborne Ray; July 2008
- Melissa's; Organic Dried Papaya; 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines; February 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet; November 2009
- Institute of Medicine; Dietary Reference Intakes: Macronutrients; 2005
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