The papaya probably originated in southern Mexico and Central America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. This melon-like fruit provides a good source of vitamins A and C. Raw papaya makes a delicious, low-calorie snack or addition to your meal.
Calories and Fat
Like most fruits, papaya has a low energy density, meaning it has few calories in a large volume of food. A half-cup serving of cubed raw papaya contains only 25 calories. This serving contains no fat, cholesterol or sodium. Choosing low-energy-density foods such as papaya can help you fill up without consuming too many calories.
Carbohydrates
A half-cup serving of cubed papaya contains 7 g of total carbs, including 1 g of dietary fiber and 4 g of sugar. Dietary fiber promotes healthy digestion and helps provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories, enabling you to control your appetite and manage your weight. The Harvard School of Public Health recommends that women consume at least 20 g of fiber every day and men at least 30 g.
Vitamins
You can get 70 percent of the recommended daily vitamin C intake from a half-cup serving of cubed papaya. Vitamin C plays an important role in gum and tooth health, tissue growth and repair, and wound healing. A half-cup serving of cubed papaya also provides 15 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, a nutrient needed for eye and skin health, and protection against infections. A half-cup serving of cubed papaya also provides 25 mcg of folate, or 6 percent of the recommended Daily Value, or DV. Folate, a B vitamin, plays an essential role in the production and maintenance of new cells, the production of DNA and RNA, and the metabolism of homocysteine.
Other Nutrients
Papaya does not provide a significant amount of protein or iron, and it provides only a small amount of calcium. A half-cup serving of cubed papaya provides 2 percent of the recommended daily calcium intake.
Member Comments