Surprising predictions part 4

7 Amazing Benefits of Papaya You Didn't Know About

Papaya, also known as pawpaw, is a tropical fruit that’s eaten both fresh and as dried strips in many countries around the world. 

Papaya can be eaten plain or made into jams and desserts, and it contains several antioxidants that offer various health benefits. Read on to learn more about papaya benefits and how you can enjoy them every day.

1) Weight loss

There’s a reason papayas are often referred to as the world’s healthiest fruit. One study found that people who regularly ate papayas lost more weight than those who didn’t. 

This may be partly due to chlorogenic acid, a substance found in papaya that has been shown to reduce fat absorption, lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels. 

(1) In fact, eating just one papaya daily for eight weeks can help you lose six pounds and improve your digestion. 

(2) If you don’t like papaya or can’t find it at your local grocery store, try another superfood like kale or berries instead. Just make sure to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day to keep yourself healthy! When buying papayas, look for ones that have yellow-orange skin with black spots. 

Avoid green-skinned varieties because they will not ripen well. Ripe papayas should smell sweet but not be mushy to touch when gently squeezed; underripe ones should feel firm but yield slightly when pressed. 

Once ripe, cut off any stem attached to them before storing them in an airtight container in your refrigerator where they will last up to two weeks after purchase. 

The flesh is edible even when unripe, so if you’re unable to get hold of ripe ones you can still enjoy their nutritional benefits by peeling away the skin and popping out a chunk of flesh from its interior core—the seeds inside are edible too! While there are many ways to use papaya, here are some ideas: 1. 

Top salads with shredded papaya 2. Add chunks of papaya to homemade smoothies 3. Blend chunks into soups 4. Toss chunks into stir fries 5. Slice papaya thinly and add pieces to sandwiches 6. 

Make fresh juice using a blender 7. Make homemade ice cream using frozen chunks of papaya 8. Bake whole slices in muffin tins 9. Add grated or mashed pieces to bread dough 10. 

Use dried papaya as a meat tenderizer 11. Use dried papaya to marinate meat 12. Eat raw sliced papaya plain 13. Use grated or mashed pieces to thicken sauces 14. Mix small chunks into pancake batter 15. 

Sauté sliced papaya 16. Dice and add chunks to casseroles 17. Simmer in chicken broth 18. Puree small bits of chopped papaya with yogurt 19. Use papaya to create a glaze for baked ham 20. 

Use papaya to create a glaze for grilled fish 21. Use papaya to create a glaze for roasted pork 22. Use papaya to create a glaze for baked chicken 23. 

Use papaya to create a glaze for roasted turkey 24. Grate and use in place of lemon zest 25. Chop and add pieces to butter cookies 26. Chop and add pieces to banana bread 27. 

Chop and add pieces to chocolate cake 28. Chop and add pieces to vanilla cake 29. Chop and add pieces into pound cake 30. Put chunks in yogurt 31. Cook with chunks in soup 32. Cook with chunks in stew 33. Cook with chunks in chili 34. Marinate meat overnight 35.

2) Clear skin

One cup of papaya has more than 90% of your daily value of vitamin C, which is essential for building collagen. If you’re looking to get rid of acne or clear up dry skin, adding papaya to your diet may be just what you need. 

Drinking a glass of fresh papaya juice each morning has also been known to help with eczema and psoriasis. In addition, drinking papayas can also prevent and treat sunburn by keeping your skin hydrated while soothing inflammation. 

It’s particularly effective when consumed along with tomatoes; mix them together in a drink or on some crackers! Just one serving of papaya contains more than 3 grams of fiber, so it’s an excellent choice if you’re trying to lose weight. 

The soluble fiber in papaya helps promote satiety and can lower cholesterol levels as well as blood pressure. 

Lastly, eating a few slices of raw papaya every day will help reduce bloating and constipation—two common side effects from taking certain medications—by preventing your body from absorbing large amounts of water through your digestive tract. 

For these reasons, many doctors recommend eating raw papayas to patients taking antidepressants or diuretics (commonly prescribed for high blood pressure). 

To get all these benefits at once, add diced papaya to your salad or smoothie bowl—the easiest way to enjoy its goodness! Papaya is also delicious eaten right off the tree, but make sure you wash it thoroughly before consuming because they contain latex sap that could cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

You should also avoid over-ripe papayas, as they are very sweet and sugary and can quickly lead to weight gain. Instead, stick to smaller yellow fruits with greenish-colored tops since they tend to have fewer seeds. 

Like most fruits, it’s best not to eat papaya immediately after brushing your teeth due to potential tooth decay. However, if you do want to enjoy it during breakfast or dinner, try mixing it with a little lime juice to cut down on any tartness. 

And don’t forget: papaya tastes great when paired with other fruits like pineapple and mango! When shopping for papayas, look for those that are firm yet give slightly when pressed gently. 

Avoid those with soft spots or discoloration as these fruits might be spoiled. Store your papaya in a cool area away from direct sunlight until ready to use, then peel off the skin and slice away! Remember to remove both ends of each fruit segment using a paring knife before cutting into cubes or dicing into thin pieces. 

And remember: you can freeze sliced pieces of raw papaya to use later in recipes like smoothies, shakes, salads, and desserts such as fruit cups and ice cream sundae toppings! You can also blend it with coconut milk and frozen strawberries to create a healthy, creamy sorbet. 

And if you’re feeling adventurous, there are tons of papaya-based dishes that you can try out—including papaya salad, kimchi soup, raw papaya relish. 

And even papaya chutney! Although it’s rarely used in Western cooking, the fragrant leaves of the papaya plant are also edible and highly nutritious. 

They taste similar to spinach or kale and can be added to stir-fries or omelets for a nutrient boost. A couple handfuls of fresh leaves also makes a wonderful addition to your smoothie or juice.

3) Vitamin C boost

Did you know that a papaya is your body’s best source of vitamin C? Most people don’t so we thought we’d share. Whether eaten raw or dried, papayas are great for boosting your immune system, treating scurvy and reducing cholesterol. 

In fact, studies show that certain antioxidants in papayas may help ward off certain types of cancer and heart disease And these aren’t laboratory-produced results the University of Hawaii has been studying the health benefits of papayas since 1972. 

If you eat one papaya every day (or at least once per week), you could be protecting yourself from major diseases without even realizing it! Here are six more incredible ways that papayas can benefit your healthhealth Is it Safe to Eat Papaya Seeds. 

Many fruit seeds have nutrients inside them but many people wonder if they're safe to eat. While some might not like eating papaya seeds because they're difficult to digest others feel they're nutritious enough to consume on their own. 

There's no scientific evidence proving either side of the argument correct or incorrect yet but there's also no reason why you shouldn't try eating them if you want to give them a shot. 

After all, papayas are only mildly toxic when consumed in large quantities by humans and usually only cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. 

So, if you do decide to eat papaya seeds, just make sure you don't accidentally swallow any! Read on to learn how papayas can improve your health. 1) Boost Your Immune System Vitamin C helps boost your immune system and prevent infection. 

When fighting off an illness, having adequate levels of vitamin C in your body will speed up recovery time and decrease chances of getting sick again soon after recovering from an illness. 

2) Prevent Scurvy Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, which leads to bleeding gums and spongy skin. It used to be a common ailment among sailors during long sea voyages before citrus fruits were discovered as a cure. 

Nowadays, most Americans get plenty of vitamin C through their diet thanks to fruits and vegetables, making scurvy rare in modern times unless you're severely malnourished. 

3) Fight Heart Disease Studies suggest that consuming high amounts of vitamin C can reduce your risk of heart disease as well as stroke because it lowers LDL cholesterol levels while increasing HDL cholesterol levels.

4) Appetite suppressant

Ever wonder why you’re more hungry when you’re sick? A compound in papaya called methylimidazole may reduce your appetite by affecting how certain parts of your brain communicate with each other. 

In one study, scientists injected rats with a special type of virus that caused nausea and then fed them papaya. The results showed an increase in rats eating fewer calories than those who weren’t fed papaya. 

(1) This is likely because it affects your levels of serotonin and dopamine—two hormones that affect your mood, hunger and sleep. 

Plus, as we mentioned earlier, papayas are high in fiber! And we all know how important fiber is for feeling full. 

So if you’re looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight without feeling deprived, adding papaya to your diet could be a great idea! Not only does it help suppress your appetite, but it also offers tons of health benefits like lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol. 

Just make sure you eat it fresh. Cooking can damage some of its nutrients. One cup of raw papaya contains just 44 calories and provides 3 grams of fiber! It’s also rich in vitamin C, which helps boost immunity, prevent cancer and keep skin glowing. 

If you’re not a fan of eating papaya on its own, try mixing it into smoothies. For example, try blending frozen mango chunks with shredded coconut meat and 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt until smooth. 

Top off your creation with 2 tablespoons of chia seeds and 1⁄2 cup of chopped papaya for added fiber and protein. 

If you don’t have time to blend up a smoothie, try snacking on 1⁄2 cup diced papaya sprinkled with cinnamon and 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts. 

Or spread 1⁄2 teaspoon almond butter on top of 1⁄4 cup diced papaya sprinkled with cinnamon! (2) 

5) Constipation cure

If you're looking for a way to quickly cure constipation without relying on laxatives, papaya is a safe and natural way to do it. The fruit is rich in fiber and nutrients, which aid digestion. 

Papayas also contain healthy enzymes that can ease constipation symptoms and reduce pain while helping food move through your digestive tract more easily. 

Using fresh papaya instead of powdered supplements can give you more beneficial nutrients, but both should work well as long as you've got a ripe, fresh one on hand. 

When it comes to treating constipation with papaya, simply add two teaspoons of diced or sliced fruit to your diet daily for several days. 

And don't forget to drink plenty of water—up to eight glasses per day—to help flush out toxins from your body! In addition to making constipation go away, papaya can improve other aspects of your health too. 

For example, eating it regularly may boost your immune system thanks to its high levels of vitamin C and carotenoids. It's also packed with folate, vitamin B6 and potassium. 

As if that weren't enough, there are some people who believe that eating papaya may help them lose weight by reducing their appetite because of its high levels of fiber. 

However, keep in mind that these claims haven't been proven by scientific studies yet. Regardless of whether or not you want to use papaya as a weight loss tool, adding it to your diet will likely make you feel better overall. 

After all, what's not to love about such an easy-to-use superfood? Whether you eat it raw, cook with it or juice it, papaya is a delicious choice that deserves to be part of your regular diet. 

Just remember to buy organic versions whenever possible so you can avoid pesticides and other chemicals that could negatively impact your health. 

Whether eaten alone or added to recipes like smoothies, soups and salads, papaya makes an excellent addition to any meal plan. Be sure to choose organic versions whenever possible so you can avoid pesticides and other chemicals that could negatively impact your health when consumed over time. 

While there are many different types of papayas available at most grocery stores today, they aren't always picked at their peak ripeness. 

To ensure you get a tasty and nutritious version, look for ones that have bright orange skin coloration and no soft spots. To store papaya properly, place it in your refrigerator's crisper drawer where it should last up to 10 days. 

Once cut open, wrap leftover pieces tightly in plastic wrap before placing them back into your fridge. Most people enjoy papaya fresh off the tree, but if you'd rather use it cooked or juiced than eat it raw. 

Here are three simple ways to prepare it: Roasted Papaya: Cut unpeeled papaya into cubes (or slices) and place onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

6) Promotes digestion

A papaya a day can help keep gut problems at bay. According to research published in The Journal of Medicinal Food, consuming half a papaya daily for two weeks can boost your body’s ability to break down protein—an important factor in managing digestive issues like inflammatory bowel disease. 

Also, all that fiber and water you get from eating papayas can keep your system running smoothly, which is particularly helpful if you’re currently experiencing gas or bloating. 

To reap these benefits, aim to eat 1/2 cup of cubed fresh papaya per day. But be sure to go easy on sugar when cooking it: One cup of pineapple juice added to a fresh papaya recipe will give you 27 grams of sugar—more than double what you should be getting in an entire day! (via Health) 

Papaya is not only low in calories and high in fiber, but it’s also rich in enzymes that aid digestion. In fact, recent studies show that some papaya enzyme treatments can even prevent stomach ulcers. 

Try incorporating a quarter-cup of sliced papaya into your next meal to reap its amazing digestion-boosting properties. For a fun way to add extra flavor and health benefits to any dish with just one ingredient, toss a handful of halved strawberries or blueberries into your next fruit salad or smoothie. 

These sweet little fruits are packed with powerful antioxidants that help improve your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from other foods you eat throughout the day. (via Health) 

Papayas are an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps strengthen bones and connective tissues—helping you avoid injuries like sprains and strains. 

Vitamin C is also important for wound healing, so adding more papayas to your diet may be beneficial if you suffer from cuts or scrapes on a regular basis. (via Health)

7) Gives you more energy

While most people associate papayas with digestion and gas, these fruits are actually packed with nutrients that keep you energized. One cup provides a full day’s worth of vitamin C! As an added bonus, it also provides plenty of fiber to help keep your digestive system moving along smoothly. 

If you’re feeling sluggish or just need a boost, reach for some papaya—you won’t regret it. It may even make you want to get up and dance! That is, if you can handle it. 

Just kidding...but seriously though...go ahead and try dancing around in a circle while eating a slice of papaya—we dare you! You can thank us later. (Seriously.) 

Getting enough energy isn’t easy when you work long hours each week, especially if you have kids at home to take care of too.

But thankfully, there are healthy ways to power through your day without relying on caffeine or sugary snacks that only leave you craving more sugar after they run out of steam. 

Instead, try adding more foods like papaya into your diet because they're full of good-for-you vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and potassium! Although most people think about getting enough energy from food during their morning workout sessions, it’s really important to fuel up before working out too. 

Why? Because burning off those extra calories requires some serious fuel! If you don’t get enough nutrients beforehand, your body won’t be able to burn as many calories while exercising. 

So make sure you eat a meal with plenty of protein and carbs beforehand—that way, you can give it your all in your next workout session. 

And speaking of giving it your all...if dancing around in a circle while eating a slice of papaya doesn't sound fun for you (but we know for some people.

it does!), here's another way to add more energy into your life: exercise! As we mentioned above, eating a nutritious meal is essential for fueling up before hitting the gym so that you can get maximum results from every exercise session. 

But what about afterward? It’s just as important to refuel your body after a workout, which means drinking lots of water and eating nutrient-rich foods within an hour or two. 

Eating protein will help repair muscles faster than any other type of food source—and who doesn't want stronger muscles?! Protein is also great for boosting metabolism, which helps you burn even more calories throughout the day. 

So go ahead and grab yourself a big bowl of oatmeal topped with strawberries and bananas plus an egg white omelet cooked in olive oil! Yum...you earned it!

A banana may not look like much compared to other fruits but don’t let its small size fool you – these little guys pack quite a punch when it comes to nutrition.