Papaya is a common man’s fruit which is reasonably priced and has a high nutritive value. This fruit is available throughout the year. Like the banana tree nearly every part of the papaya tree is said to be useful and of medicinal value.

This highly loved tropical fruit was reputably called “The Fruit of the Angels” by Christopher Columbus. In the 20th century, papayas were brought to the United States and have been cultivated in Hawaii, the major U.S. producer since the 1920s. Today, the largest commercial producers....

.....of papayas include the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico.The most common use for papaya is to aid digestion. Papayas are the only natural source of papain, an effective natural digestive aid, which breaks down protein and cleanses the digestive track. This means less food settles into the metabolism and becomes fat, making papayas’ natural digestive properties an advantage to people trying to lose weight

Nutrient Content

Papaya contains Vitamin A ,Vitamin C ,Calcium ,Phosphorus ,Potassium ,Carbohydrates ,Vitamin E and K

Health Benefits of Papaya

• Papayas  contains enzymes like arginine and carpain.Arginine is essential for male fertility and carpain is considered to be good for the heart.
• Papaya contains a high amount of potassium and the flesh of papaya is very high in Vitamin A.
• Papaya seeds and leaves are useful in treating intestinal worms found in the body.
• Raw papaya also helps in reducing menstrual irregularities for women. Papaya helps to ease the condition by promoting natural flow of menstruation.
• Papaya cleans the stomach and studies have shown that papaya alone eaten for 3 to 4 days has a highly beneficial tonic effect upon the stomach and intestines.
• Regularly consuming papaya helps to relieve morning sickness and nausea.
• Papaya has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-cancerous properties. The anti-inflammatory properties in papaya will help reduce pain for those suffering from arthritis, edema and osteoporosis.
• Papaya has rejuvenating properties that especially assists in controlling early aging.
• Eating papaya on a regular basis is known to restore strength and health to the body.
• The juice of papaya assists in mitigating infections of the colon. It also helps in breaking down pus and mucus.
• Papaya is a rich source of antioxidant nutrients like carotenes, vitamin C, vitamin B, minerals, fiber, etc. All these nutrients boost the health of the cardiovascular system, apart from providing protection against colon cancer.
• Being a rich source of fiber, papaya consumption helps in lowering high cholesterol levels.
• Papaya finds application in cosmetic and beauty solutions. Applying papaya paste on the face cleans the pores, reduces oiliness, prevents acne and moisturizes the skin giving it a supple smooth texture.

Papaya Recipe

Papaya Chutney

• 1 Papaya

• 2 tsp Minced Ginger Root

• 2 tsp Garlic (sliced)

• 200 gm Jaggery

• 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder

• 1 tsp Salt

• 4 tbsp Tamarind Juice

• 1 tsp Garam Masala

• Water as required

Method

•           Wash and peel the papaya; cut into slices.

•           Take a vessel and put papaya slices, ginger root, and garlic along with water.

•           Bring it to a boil over medium heat and then add jaggery, salt and chilli powder.

•           Continue to cook for another 5 minutes.

•           Stir in the tamarind juice and garam masala and mix thoroughly.

•           Cook for another 10 minutes, or until the chutney thickens to the desired consistency.

•           Remove pan from the heat, and let cool; serve as needed