Oatmeal and papaya provide a satisfying and filling breakfast, but they also provide a number of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber. A single cup of oatmeal provides more than 68 percent of the daily recommended value of manganese and over 25 percent of the day's selenium and tryptophan. Papayas are rich in vitamin C, folate and potassium. They also have a mildly sweet flavor and contain only 17 grams of sugar per papaya.
Fiber
Fiber is essential for good health. It is known to relieve constipation, stabilize blood sugar and remove harmful waste products from the colon. It also keeps you feeling full a long time after you finish your meal. A single serving of oatmeal and papaya provides over 9 grams of fiber, which is 35 percent of the day's recommended fiber. The soluble fiber in oatmeal has been shown to lower cholesterol when eaten as part of a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet.
Protein
Protein is required to help grow, maintain and repair the muscles in your body. Your body is not able to store protein over long periods of time, so it is necessary to eat protein on a daily basis. A single papaya contains only 3 percent of the day's recommended protein intake, but a cup of oatmeal contains over 12 percent. Starting your morning with a bowl of oatmeal and papaya provides you with more than 15 percent of the day's protein.
Digestive Health
Papaya contains papain, an enzyme that aids your body in digesting proteins. Papain frequently is found in digestive enzymes that are sold in health food stores, and the enzyme is most potent when the papaya is still green. Green, unripened papayas can be used to make a green papaya salad, stew or curry. Papain even breaks down the proteins found in oatmeal or other whole grains.
Vitamins
A single papaya contains over 313 percent of the day's recommended vitamin C and over 20 percent of the day's potassium. It also contains over 10 percent of the day's recommended allowance of vitamins A, E and K. One cup of oatmeal contains over 25 percent of the day's recommended allowance of folate, in addition to 68 percent of the day's manganese. It also contains over 15 percent of vitamins A and E and over 10 percent of the day's recommended vitamin K.
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