The Papaya, also known as milky, is an oval-shaped tropical fruit with a thin yellow skin, inside its pulp can be appreciated whose color can be yellow or orange depending on the species of the plant, it has a very pleasant sweet taste, being widely used for its benefits especially at the gastrointestinal level.
This fruit is native to America, where it was known to the natives before the discovery, the Spaniards took it to Europe and from there it went to Africa and Asia. Currently the main papaya producing country is Brazil.
Main nutrients of papaya
This fruit is rich in sugars or carbohydrates, water, vitamin C, potassium, iron and calcium, in smaller proportions it also contains B vitamins, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, sodium and iodine. Papaya is also rich in beta-carotene and an enzyme known as papain that confers a variety of benefits for gastrointestinal health as well as lutein important for vision.
Health benefits of papaya
Papaya is rich in a substance called papain, it is an enzyme capable of breaking down proteins into their constituent amino acids, which facilitates their digestion in the intestine.
When proteins are not digested properly, they are capable of causing discomfort such as heaviness, bloating, and overgrowth of bacteria that can cause flatulence.
Its high beta-carotene content gives it antioxidant properties that delay aging and delay the development of different degenerative processes as well as cardiovascular diseases.
Another of its components, lutein, is important to maintain good vision since this substance is capable of protecting the retina from free radicals, especially the macula, which is the part of the retina where the process of vision with greater precision.
Main ways to consume papaya
Papaya is a fruit that is consumed peeled and chopped both cold and at room temperature, it is very pleasant if before eating it a splash of lemon is placed on it. It can also be ingested in the form of a smoothie or as a meringue, the latter being prepared by liquefying the papaya with milk and adding a little sugar.
This fruit can also be candied and used to make cakes, especially Christmas cake, it can also be cooked to prepare the delicious dulce de lechosa in which green papayas are used.
Photos: iStock - Juanmonino / Michael Luhrenberg
