Papaya: Uses And Benefits To Know
Is it true that “a papaya a day keeps the doctor away”? This tropical fruit has a delicious and sweet taste, and its nutritional characteristics have made it acquire great importance worldwide. Especially for the enzyme called papain.
How does papain help us?
During the digestion process, foods break down and mix with saliva, with the aim of creating a food bolus. This bolus is transported to the stomach to be stored.
Pepsin, an enzyme in gastric juices, is responsible for breaking down proteins so that the small intestine can absorb them.
At this point, it is up to papain, which takes care of decomposing food proteins and neutralizing gastric acids. This is how the stomach can digest faster.
Properties of papain
- It is a powerful digestive and anti-inflammatory
- It has analgesic properties
- It acts as an antiseptic
- It has detoxifying, diuretic and purifying properties
- Cleans the gastric mucosa.
- It destroys intestinal parasites
- It is high in potassium and low in sodium, which is ideal for people with high blood pressure or cardiovascular problems.
Papaya nutrients
- Papain: Very similar to pepsin, it helps digest proteins, is a digestive stimulant and an anti-inflammatory.
- Carpine: It is an alkaloid that acts on the bile fluid, particularly facilitating the digestion of very heavy meats and foods. It decreases heart failure and reduces tachycardia.
Types of papaya
There are about 50 different types of papaya; however, they are generally classified into:
- Golden: it is small and weighs between 400 and 600 grams.
- Hawaiian: it is shaped like a light bulb and its flavor is sweeter than the others.
- Formosa: its size varies from 1 to 5 kilos, it is characterized by a reddish pulp and a cylindrical shape.
Benefits of consuming papaya
Papaya is not only rich in papain, it also has a large amount of vitamins A, B, C and E. It is rich in magnesium and potassium, which make it an essential fruit for health.
Below we will see its benefits in a more specific way:
1. Helps to keep weight under control
Both papain and chymopapain contribute to the breakdown of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Papain is even more efficient than pepsin, an enzyme found in the stomach.
2. It is ideal for diabetics
Papaya juice reduces blood glucose levels, as it accelerates the regeneration of beta cells and increases insulin synthesis (especially green papaya).
3. Improve digestion
Papain, chymopapain, phytonutrients and other enzymes improve the digestive process. These allow the body to eliminate excess toxins.
4. Fights constipation
In addition to all the properties we have mentioned, papaya is rich in fibers, which take care of absorbing water and improving the consistency of the stool.
In other words, it cleans the stomach and, therefore, it is easier to eliminate the residues that accumulate along the colon and intestines.
5. Accelerates healing
As for the skin, one of the enzymes of particular importance is the protease, which promotes healing. In addition, it provides nutrients and vitamins that improve the condition of the skin and reduce inflammation.
6. It improves the lactation of mothers
Papain is responsible for facilitating the functions of the endocrine system, which increases the production of milk in breastfeeding women.
7. Decreases menstrual pains
By consuming papaya, the levels of oxytocin and prostaglandins in women increase. Therefore, slight contractions are generated in the uterus which take care of reducing pain.
Advice
- Papaya must preferably be ripe in order to take advantage of the properties of papain.
- It tastes best when served cold.
- If consumed with other fruits, it is important that the latter are also sweet, like banana. Together with citrus fruits, the stomach does not receive adequate acidity.
- You can drink papaya juice or water.
