God’s love for mankind is apparent through the abundance of nature. Most of the plants and animals that God has created are useful to mankind in many ways and that of course includes the papaya tree, especially its fruit (the papaya fruit).
Both the papaya fruit and its seeds can be used and benefit people in many ways. In this article, we’re going to have a detailed discussion of all of the health benefits of papaya seeds. So, kindly read on to find out.
Health Benefits of Papaya Seeds
Consuming papaya seeds every day bestows myriad health benefits on both men and women which is described in detail below.
They retard the aging process
Papaya seeds contain an abundance of effective antioxidants like polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins. These antioxidants destroy/neutralize free radicals (especially that of oxygen) in our bodies that are responsible for damaging tissue systems and genes thus catalyzing the aging process. Consuming papaya seed recipes every day will definitely make you look younger than you are.
Improves your gut health
Papaya seeds are rich in fiber which helps us feel fuller for a longer period of time. The fiber in papaya seeds also eases our bowel movements. Papaya seeds also contain Carpaine which eradicates harmful bacteria and parasites in our stomachs and intestines thus keeping our digestive systems healthy. There are a lot of delicious veg and non-veg recipes in the world that you can savor and having indigestion problems will be uber-irritating for anyone.
Lowers the bad cholesterol level in your body
Papaya seeds are rich in fiber and oleic acid. Both these compounds lower the bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) levels in our bodies thus minimizing the risk of incurring heart diseases. Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVDs) take around 17.9 million lives every year. If people around the world consumed papaya seeds every day, that number would be drastically reduced.
Lowers the risk of cancer
Papaya seeds contain powerful antioxidants like polyphenols. They also contain a substance called isothiocyanate which prevents the formation of new cancer cells and kills existing ones in our bodies. Around 10 million people die from various types of cancer every year. If people around the world consumed papaya seeds every day, that number would be drastically reduced.
Reduces inflammation
Papaya seeds are rich in Vitamin C and compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols. These compounds are potent antioxidants and reduce inflammation in various tissue systems and organs. They thus prevent various inflammatory diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, asthma, type 2 diabetes, ankylosing spondylitis, etc.
Lightens your complexion
Both papaya and papaya seeds contain papain, which removes the dead skin cells on your skin thereby making your skin soft and vibrant. They also contain another compound called beta-carotene which makes your skin fairer in just a few weeks. This health benefit is certainly something that ladies wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Can cure food poisoning
Both papaya and its seeds have anti-bacterial properties. They can kill harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli (E-Coli), etcetera thereby improving our gut health. Papaya and its seeds can also weaken and kill parasitic worms like tapeworms, ringworms, etc.
Can cure dandruff problem
High pollution levels in cities around the world promote the growth of dandruff-causing fungi like Malassezia which can be a major irritation to anybody. Papaya and its seeds have anti-fungal properties and can kill fungi like Malassezia thus curing people’s dandruff problem.
Papaya seed’s nutritional value
Papaya and its seeds are rich in essential vitamins like vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins improve one’s eyesight, boost one’s immunity, and keep one’s hair strong and shiny. Papaya is also rich in antioxidants like polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins that retard the aging process and protect our genes from damage from free radicals, especially oxygen.
Papaya and its seeds are also rich in fiber, which helps one feel fuller for longer durations and reduces the risk of incurring cardiac diseases. Last but not least, papaya and its seeds have substances that can convert the harmful amino acid, homocysteine into harmless and useful amino acids that facilitate and accelerate the build-up of proteins in our bodies thus making us strong and healthy.
How you can use Papaya for cleaning and brightening your face
Papaya contains a fair amount of lactic acid (the same substance that’s found in milk and curd). Lactic acid enables the easy removal of oil and dirt from one’s face (just wash your face with water) and moisturizes one’s skin thus making it smooth and radiant.
Papaya can be used alone or in combination with other substances to make one’s skin clean, soft, and glowing. One popular procedure for face cleansing and brightening with papaya and its seeds is described below.
- Expose your face to steam for about 15 to 20 minutes. This will enable steam to penetrate the pores on your skin and remove oil and dirt in them.
- Finely mash one papaya and its seeds in a mixer with lemon juice or milk. Two tablespoons of milk or lemon juice will suffice.
- Apply the thick paste (papaya and lemon or milk mix) to your face and massage well for two minutes. Let the paste dry on your face for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Now wash your face thoroughly with water (lukewarm if required) so that your face will look clean and bright.
If this simple facial procedure is followed once a week, you will become unbelievably fair and very popular among your friends, colleagues, and relatives.
How to eat Papaya Seeds for weight loss
Papaya is a fruit that is low in calories. Therefore you won’t put on much fat or weight by eating a lot of papayas. Papaya also contains a compound called papain which prevents your body from storing excess fat. By these means, papaya can aid one in his or her weight loss regime.
If you’re convinced about papaya’s ability to help you shed your excess pounds, you can follow the listed papaya diet after consulting a doctor or a dietician because a papaya diet will not suit everyone.
Breakfast
Along with your milk, mash a few cut pieces of papaya and a teaspoon of its seeds along with a few almonds. Stir well before drinking to stay slim and fit throughout your life. This is far more simple and easy to follow than any diet plan devised so far.
Lunch
You can mix two tablespoons of rice flour along with one tablespoon of corn flour with half a bowl of drinking water and steamed rice. Then add two to three teaspoons of salt and one teaspoon of pepper to the mix.
Top the meal with steamed broccoli, lettuce, spring onion, baby corn, beans, and carrots. Now add a teaspoon of soya sauce to the meal and mix well. Tada! Your completely natural and healthy meal is now ready to be served. You can also toss in some cut pieces of papaya and roasted seeds in any fruit salad that you eat.
Evening snacks
A glass of papaya juice is enough to fill your stomach and keep you healthy in the evening. If you want to add more taste and nutrition to your evening drink, juice two slices of pineapple and mix it with your papaya juice. Pineapple blends in the best with papaya juice. Other fruit juices like grapefruit and musk melon can also be mixed with papaya juice for a healthy and delicious evening drink.
Dinner
A few cut pieces of papaya can blend in well with any vegetable or fruit salad that you have for dinner. Additionally, a papaya cake or papaya juice with honey can be had for dessert. Since papaya is low in calories, you can really spoil yourself with papaya desserts without worrying about any consequences.
Benefits of pawpaw seeds sexually
Papaya seeds are rich in Vitamin E which boosts one’s immune system and keeps one healthy. They are also potent antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory substances.
Hence, they are able to protect one’s sperm or eggs from harmful bacteria, fungi, and free radicals. Papaya seeds can also boost a man’s sperm count and their motility. Papaya seeds can elevate libido in both men and women and have been known to keep people physically and sexually healthy. The medicinal properties of papaya seeds are truly invaluable. There cannot be a cheaper and more natural remedy to one’s health and sexual issues than consuming a tablespoon of papaya seeds every day.
Precautions to be taken before consuming papaya and its seeds
Papaya is no doubt one of the most beneficial fruits that nature provides for one’s health and sexual well-being but there are a few precautions to be taken before consuming papaya seeds or the fruit and they are listed below.
Precautions to be taken before eating papaya fruits or seeds
Papaya is rich in a compound called Papain which can damage one’s esophagus when consumed in large amounts. People allergic to papain (or papaya) must avoid eating or getting in contact with papaya in various forms.
Even some people who are not allergic to papaya get frequent vomiting and nausea after eating papaya. So, it is better to consult with a doctor or a dietician before going on a papaya diet to avoid its undesirable side effects.
Pregnant women must strictly avoid eating papaya as the papain contained in papaya will poison the fetus. Eating unripe papaya must be avoided by all people as unripe papaya contains papain in large amounts which can damage one’s esophagus.
Precautions to be taken before applying papaya paste to one’s skin
Unripe papaya fruit contains papaya latex which is rich in papain. Papaya latex on one’s skin can cause irritation and possibly even rashes. You may even become allergic to the papaya fruit and its seeds if you apply unripe papaya paste or papaya latex to your skin. So, our advice to you is to never apply unripe papaya in any form to your skin so that you can avoid its harmful side effects.
Precautions to be taken before consuming papaya during the breast-feeding phase
It has been scientifically proven that the papain contained in papaya poisons one’s fetus when consumed during pregnancy. Therefore there is a high probability that it can harm young children and babies as well.
So, breastfeeding mothers and mothers of young children must avoid feeding their babies and children with papaya in any form to be on the safer side. Also, fermented papaya can lower one’s blood sugar levels. So, diabetic people, especially people with type 1 diabetes must exercise caution not to consume too much papaya or its seeds.
Our Take
The health benefits of papaya seeds and the papaya fruit are truly numerous. Papayas are rich in vitamins A, C, and E and improve one’s eyesight, hair health, and immunity. Papaya seeds and papaya fruits are rich in fiber which helps one feel fuller for longer durations. Papayas are also low in calories. So, you can gorge on papayas without having the fear of becoming fat.
Papaya in any form is a potent anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory agent that can reduce the inflammation in one’s body, make one look fairer and younger, and keep one healthy in all aspects.
Papaya seeds and fruit can protect one’s sperm or eggs from harmful bacteria, fungi, and free radicals thereby keeping one sexually potent. They can enhance sperm count and their motility thereby elevating libido in men and women.
Despite all these health benefits, the precautions mentioned in the previous section must be taken to avoid the harmful side effects of consuming or making contact with papaya.
Last but not least, papaya and its seeds must be consumed in moderation as the papain contained in them can damage one’s esophagus and cause allergies when consumed in large amounts.
FAQs
- Is papaya known by any other name in any other part of the world?
Papaya is called “pawpaw” in Australia. The scientific name of the papaya fruit is “Carica Papaya”.
- Are there any precautions to be taken after eating papaya?
It is advisable to steer clear of acidic fruits like lemon, orange, grapefruit, etcetera after eating papaya because papaya itself is acidic in nature and eating these citrus fruits will only aggravate the acidity in your body. Drinking milk after eating papaya should also be avoided as it can cause diarrhea.
- Why is papaya called the father of all fruits?
‘Papa’ is the informal word in English meaning father and the word ‘aya’ in Hindi means came. So, when you combine the two words, you get papaya which can be taken as ‘father has come’. Hence, papaya is termed as the father of all fruits.
- How much papaya fruit and seeds can one consume in a day?
One can consume one small bowl of cut papaya and two tablespoons of papaya seeds to stay healthy in all aspects and avoid the harmful side effects of consuming too much papaya (papain). If one is into juices then consuming one glass of papaya juice (with or without other food items) every day is the safe limit.
- Can dogs eat papaya?
If your dog likes vegan items, you can give it cut papaya. However, the seeds and skin of the fruit must be removed first. The latex and seeds of papaya can contain trace amounts of cyanide depending on the soil that it’s growing on, which is toxic to furry animals.
- Why is papaya considered one of the easiest trees to cultivate?
Every part of the papaya tree is phobic (like water on lotus leaves) to pesticides. Hence papaya trees have one of the lowest pesticide residues making them easier to cultivate than other trees, vegetables, or herbs.
