Papaya is one of my favorite fruits to rave about. I love it in smoothies, eaten alone in a papaya bowl (recipe here) or used in fruit salads. You can even grill it, gently. It is sweet, soothing and incredibly easy to digest. One cup of papaya is packed with nutrients and health benefits. Get papaya recipes and the super food details on this must-eat fruit...
Papaya and Papain. Papain is the enzyme found in papaya.
Healthy Pinkness. Papaya is an incredibly healthy fruit for the high amounts of papain that it contains. Papain is right up there with bromelain from pineapples when it comes to high quality fruit enzymes. Papain aides in digestion, and has been shown to assist in a wide variety of body functions from clearing up allergies to calming skin issues. I recommend eating papaya first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and with no other food. Papaya digests very quickly, and thus should be eaten alone.
As you'll find below, papaya is low in calories, yet nutrient dense. And the high water content make it a hydrating fruit for warm and dry days, seasonal eating.
Here are the nutrition facts for papaya, obtained from nutritiondata.com... Nutrition Facts: Papaya
1 cup cubes
calories: 55
fat: 0 g
protein: 1 g
carbs: 14g
Vit A: 31% RDA
Vit C: 144% RDA
Fiber: 3 g
Folate: 13% RDA
Vitamin E: 5% RDA
Vitamin K: 5% RDA
Potassium: 10% RDA
Calcium: 3% RDA
Magnesium: 3% RDA
Nutrition Facts Summary: Papaya is low in calories, fat-free, high in vitamins A and C. High in potassium. And a great source of vitamins K and E. It is even a good source of fiber.
Papaya: super food. Get some!
Papaya Recipes:
Fresh Strawberry Papaya Coconut Smoothie
Double Fruit Enzyme Smoothie
Peach Papaya Light and Dreamy Smoothie
Where to find frozen papaya chunks
Calm Tummy Smoothie
Ten fruits to grill
