The Skin Care Nutrients In Papaya

Papaya has many nutrients that nourish skin. A 1-cup serving has just 55 calories and is a great source of dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, folate, and vitamins A and C. There are more than 40 different papaya species. The one commonly found in the grocery store is the Solo variety. This pear-shaped fruit can be eaten alone, in salsa, as part of a delicious dessert or incorporated into a main dish. If you want to boost skin health, papayas will be a welcome addition to your diet.

Vitamin C

Papaya is extremely high in vitamin C, providing 86.5mg in 1 cup. That's 144 percent of the recommended daily value for this nutrient. Vitamin C supports collagen production for healthy skin and is a powerful antioxidant that protects skin cells from damage by free radicals.

Vitamin A

Eating a cup of papaya will provide 31 percent of the recommended vitamin A, or 1,531 I.U. Vitamin A helps your body maintain and repair skin tissue.

B Vitamins

A cup of papaya has 53.2mcg of folate, or 13 percent of the recommended daily value for this B vitamin. The fruit also provides small amounts of other B vitamins, including niacin. B vitamins are vital to skin health, according to Harvard Medical School.

Vitamin E

Papayas contain some vitamin E as well. Vitamin E helps guard skin against sun damage and protect skin cells from free radical damage. One cup gives 5 percent of the daily recommended value of vitamin E, or 1mg.

Potassium

The mineral potassium balances fluids in the body and contributes to overall health. A cup of papaya has 10 percent of the daily recommended potassium, or 360mg.

Magnesium

A 1-cup serving of papaya provides 14mg of magnesium, which is 3 percent of the recommended daily value. Magnesium is essential to a host of chemical reactions in the body, including those that are responsible for skin health.