Papaya is a wholesome fruit. Papaya has more carotene compared to other fruits such as apples, guavas, sitaphal, and plantains. This pigment is similar to that found in carrots, beet root, dark green leafy vegetables like drumstick leaves, palak, curry leaves etc. Carotene in food is converted into vitamin A in our body. 100 gms of ripe papaya contains only 32 kcal. The comparative low calories content make this a favorite fruit of obese people who are into weight reducing regime. It has a good vitamin C content of 57 mgs for 100 gms. Unriped green papaya is used as vegetable. It does not contain carotene but all other nutrients are present.

Vitamins

Papaya when consumed regularly will ensure a good supply of vitamin A and C. Both are essential for good health. The common preventable blindness in Indian children is due to vitamin A deficiency. Eating papaya helps to prevent this kind of blindness.

Beta-Carotene

Papaya is a good source of beta-carotene, which helps to prevent damage by free radical, which might other wise lead to some forms of cancer.

EnzymesDifferent types of enzymes are present in papaya. Papain, a substance present in papaya is an excellent aid to digestion. It is an enzyme, which helps to digest the protein in food. Papaya has the property of tenderizing meat. This knowledge is been put to use in our country by cooking meat with raw papaya to make it tender and digestible. The unripe fruit is a rich source of papain, which is vegetable pepsin and is capable of digesting protein in acid, alkaline or neutral medium. Papain also exhibits pain relieving properties and the US food and drug administration (FDA) has approved its medicinal use to ease the discomfort of slipped discs (prolapsed inter vertebral disc). This is used for injection into herniated inter vertebral lumbar discs to relieve pain caused by pressure on nerves.

The celiac disease patients, who cannot digest the wheat protein gliandin, can tolerate it if it is treated with crude papain. Papaya can be prescribed for dyspeptic patients as the papain may help in the digestion of proteins. It is an ideal food for invalids because the flesh is easy to chew and swallow.

Healing

Healing speeds up with pieces of papaya laid on wounds and surgical incision. A large number of people believe that pregnant women should avoid papaya as it may cause a miscarriage. Scientifically speaking there is no evidence to support these beliefs.

This low calorie, nutritive, "low budget" all season fruit must be included in your regular diet for a healthy

 

Has more carotene compared to other fruits. Contains very less calories. Will ensure a good supply of vitamin A and C. Is an excellent aid to digestion. Can be prescribed for dyspeptic patients. Is an ideal food for invalids. Can be used as tenderizer in cooking. Is reported to speed up healing. Ripe papaya Green papaya Protein 0.6 gms Protein 0.7 gms Fat 0.1 gm Fats 0.2 gms Minerals 0.5 gm Minerals 0.5 gms Fibre 0.8 gm Fibre 0.9 gms Carbohydrates 7.2 gms Carbohydrates 5.7 gms Energy 32 kcal Energy 27 gms Total carotene 2,740 µgs Carotene 0 Beta carotene 880 µgs Beta carotene 0 Vitamin C 57 mgs Vitamin C 12 mgs Sodium 6.0 mgs Sodium 23.0 mgs Potassium 69 mgs potassium 216 mgs Iron 0.5 mg Iron 0.9 mgs

Nutritive value of 100 gms of papaya

Papaya