9 Reasons Why Papaya Is Good For Health

Papaya or pawpaw is a delicious tropical fruit of the 'Papaya' tree. Italian explorer Christopher Columbus called it 'fruit of the angels' because of its soft and buttery consistency. It provides many health and beauty benefits as it has essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, polyphenols, and dietary fibers, etc.

# Good For Digestive System

Papaya is good for our digestive system as the “papain” enzyme in it breaks down proteins, inhibits protein to fat conversion, kills intestinal worms, and cleanses the digestive tract.

Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc in papaya protect our digestive system from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of colon cancer, abdominal cancer, pancreatic cancer, intestinal cancer, and stomach cancer, etc.

Dietary fibers in papaya are natural laxatives that improve bowel movement, aid in stool elimination, and relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating and flatulence, etc.

Other nutrients like zinc, iron, magnesium, and folate, etc also improves our digestive health.

# Promotes Weight Loss

Papaya promotes weight loss as it has a low calorific value of 43 calories per 100 grams.

Dietary fibers in papaya provide stomach satiety, controls our urge to eat again and again, and thus controls overeating which is a prime cause of obesity.

Papaya contains about 91 percent water that helps with weight management as it reduces calorie overload, controls overeating, improves digestion, and increases absorption of nutrients.

# Provides Anti-Inflammatory Benefits

Anti-inflammatory compounds like Vitamin C (antioxidant), dietary fibers, choline, and enzymes such as papain and chymopapain in papaya relieve pain and inflammation of inflammatory conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, rheumatoid, gouts, asthma and bronchial asthma, etc.

Choline in papaya reduces chronic inflammation.

# Relieve Toothache And Strengthen Bones & Teeth

Papaya makes our bones and teeth stronger as it contains bone-strengthening minerals like calcium, potassium, vitamin K and magnesium, etc.

Calcium promotes the growth and development of the bones and reduces the risk of bone disorders like osteoporosis.

Potassium neutralizes acid load, reduces loss of calcium from the bones, and thus improves bone density.

Magnesium contributes to bone health by improving bone density.

Manganese in papaya enhances calcium absorption and improves the bone mineral density of the spinal column.

Anti-inflammatory compounds like vitamin C in papaya reduce pain and inflammation caused by toothache.

For relieving toothache, make a paste of fresh papaya roots and gently massage it on teeth and gums for a few minutes.

Other nutrients like zinc, phosphorus, and folate, etc also aid in making our bones healthier.

# Protection From Various Cancer(s)

Papaya contains antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc.

These compounds protect our cells from free radical damage and minimize the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, abdominal cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer, etc.

Free radicals are the unstabilized ions that stabilize by stealing electrons from the neighboring molecules, and doing so causes oxidative damage to them.

# Aids in Managing Cholesterol

Vitamin C and dietary fibers in papaya reduce LDL cholesterol from the body and minimize the risk of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a condition that leads to hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to the accumulation of plaque and fat deposits in the arterial walls.

It is a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, and coronary artery disease.

# Regulates High blood pressure

The vasodilating properties of potassium in papaya relaxes our blood vessels, improves blood circulation, relieves high blood pressure or hypertension.

Hypertension affects millions worldwide and gives rise to health problems like severe headaches, nose bleed, chest pain, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, vision problems, and blood in urine, etc.

Zinc and magnesium in papaya aid in regulating high blood pressure.

If you are already on blood pressure medication, then consume papaya after having a word with your doctor to avoid the risk of food-drug intolerance.

Eat papaya moderately as potassium over-intake may drop blood pressure abnormally causing symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, nausea, dehydration, lack of concentration, blurred vision, and pale skin, etc.

# Keep Cardiovascular System Healthy

Papaya improves our cardiovascular health as it contains antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc that protect our cardiovascular system from free radical damage.

Dietary fibers in papaya reduce LDL cholesterol and minimize the risk of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of several cardiovascular problems.

Papaya contains potassium that relaxes our blood vessels and controls hypertension or high blood pressure that causes several cardiovascular and other health problems.

Other nutrients like zinc, iron, magnesium, manganese, and copper, etc in papaya also contribute to our cardiovascular health.

# Maintains Ocular Health

Beta-carotenes and vitamin A in papaya maintain our ocular health as they improve vision, prevent dryness of eyes, and reduce the risk of night-blindness.

Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids, etc in papaya protects our eyes from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and glaucoma, etc.