Papaya

The papaya is one of the plants in the Caricaceae family. Its origin is believed to be in the tropics of the Americas and southern Mexico. At present, India is the leading country in producing papaya.

The papaya fruit is a large berry, size depends upon varieties & cultivation areas. Ripe Fruit of Papaya feels soft, its skin has attained an amber colour to orange hue and along the walls of the large central cavity are attached numerous black seeds.

Papaya Cultivation

There are three types of papaya plants found that is male, female, and hermaphrodite. Only pollen is produced by the male, while no fruit is produced by the female. Unless pollinated, the female produces small, inedible fruits. Because its flowers contain both male stamens and female ovaries, the hermaphrodite can self-pollinate. Almost all commercial papaya orchards contain only hermaphrodites.

The papaya is cultivated in most tropical countries. Papaya's tree grows quickly in cultivation and start bearing fruit in three years. However, because it is frost-sensitive, it can only be grown in tropical climes. Temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius (29 degrees Fahrenheit) are extremely dangerous, if not lethal. Standing water will kill the plant in as little as 24 hours, therefore it loves sandy, well-drained soil.

Cultivars of Papaya

There are two types of papayas that are regularly produced. The sweet, red or orange flesh of one is termed as red papaya, while the yellow flesh of the other is called yellow papaw in Australia. Either kind of these papaya, picked green, is called a green papaya.

Genetically engineered cultivars

The genome of Carica papaya was the first transgenic fruit tree to be sequenced. In response to a papaya ringspot virus outbreak in Hawaii in 1998, genetically modified papaya (including the 'SunUp' and 'Rainbow' types) were licenced and introduced to market. Some PRV DNA has been integrated into the DNA of plant varieties that are resistant to the virus. Eighty percent of Hawaiian papaya plants had been genetically engineered as of 2010. Scientists from the University of Hawaii made the changes, and farmers were given the modified seeds for free.

Papaya Nutrition Facts

Papayas, Raw Nutrition Value Nutritional value per 100 g
Energy	43 kcal
Carbohydrate	10.82 g
Sugar	7.82 g
Dietary Fiber	1.7 g
Fat	0.26 g
Protein	0.47 g
Vitamins Quantity %DV†
Vitamin A Beta-Carotene	6% 3%
Thiamine (B1)	2%
Riboflavin (B2)	2%
Niacin (B3	2%
Vitamin B5	4%
Folate (B9)	10%
Vitamin C	75%
Vitamin E	2%
Vitamin K	2%
Minerals Quantity %DV†
Calcium	2%
Iron	2%
Magnesium	6%
Manganese	2%
Phosphorus	1%
Potassium	4%
Zinc	1%
Sodium	1%
Lycopin	1828 mg
Water	88 g

Culinary Uses of Papaya

The unripe fruit of papaya is slightly bitter and sweet. And the ripe fruit is sweet, reduces pitta, reduces inflammation pain, reduces vata, and purifies the blood. It removes poison, increases strength, removes sweat, and is leprosy-removing.

Because of its deadly latex content, the unripe green fruit can only be eaten cooked. The papaya's ripe fruit is normally eaten uncooked, without the skin or seeds. The papaya's black seeds are edible and have a pungent, peppery flavour.

Green papaya is used in Southeast Asian cuisine both raw and cooked. In many parts of Asian countries, the young green leaves of the papaya are steamed and eaten like spinach.

In Indonesian cuisine, the flower buds are sautéed and stir-fried with green tomatoes and chillies as Minahasan papaya flower vegetable dish, while the unripe green fruits and young leaves are prepared for use in lalab salad.

Unripe green papayas are used in Lao and Thai cuisine to form a spicy salad known as tam maak hoong in Laos and som tam in Thailand. It's also found in Thai dishes like kaeng som.

Papaya leaves have been used as a malaria therapy, an abortifacient, a purgative, and smoked to relieve asthma in traditional medicine.

Papaya Health Benefits

Due to the nutritious properties of papaya in Ayurveda, it is used as a medicine for many diseases like diarrhoea, tongue sores, ringworm, swelling, tooth and throat pain. Let us know about it in further detail.

Raw or ripe papaya contains so many minerals, vitamins, proteins, energy, etc., that they prove beneficial for many diseases. Papaya has a bitter taste, is hot and pungent, is a phlegm and vata reducer, and is easily digestible.The milk that comes out by cutting its ksheer, or raw papaya, is digestive.

Papaya fruits contains multivitamin like vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and other essential nutrients. Due to which papaya leaves, seeds, roots and fruits are used in Ayurveda as the treatment of all diseases.

The following are some of the major health benefits of papaya:

Help Digestion and Reduced Inflammation

The papaya fruit contains two types of enzymes which are papain and chymopapain. Both enzymes help in digest proteins, meaning they can help with digestion and reduce inflammation. Papain is a chemical substance in some over-the-counter digestive supplements to help with minor upset stomach.

Both papain and chymopapain found in papaya also help to reduce inflammation. They also may help acute pain, like those from burns or bruises, and they can help with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis and asthma.

Healthy Immune System

Vitamin C rich foods can assist to strengthen the human immune system, allowing the body to fight with bacterial and viral infections. Papaya have significant amount of this antioxidant which provides an excellent source of immune-boosting diet.

Vitamin A is another essential vitamin for a healthy and efficient immune system, and papaya is a good source of Vitamin A.

Heart health is improved

Papaya is high in vitamins and minerals that help the cardiovascular system work properly. This fruit also helps to lower the risk of a heart attack by providing fibre, potassium, and vitamins, all of which are beneficial to heart health.

Lowering risk of Cancer

According to certain research, papaya possesses anti-cancer qualities that can protect against a variety of malignancies, including cervical, breast, liver, lung, and pancreatic cancers. This fruit is high in antioxidants like lycopene, beta-carotenes, and carotenoids, which help to protect the body from free radical damage.

It aids with weight loss.

This low-calorie fruit is great for losing weight. If you're looking for things to add to your weight-loss diet, consider this simple fruit, which has only 43 calories per 100 grammes.

Papaya beneficial in curing mouth ulcers.

Papaya gives relief from mouth ulcers by applying it's milk or asheer on the tongue, the wounds on the tongue are healed quickly.

Beneficial to your eyesight

Vitamin A is well-known for its importance in maintaining excellent vision. The beta-carotene in papaya converts to vitamin A in the body, which helps to keep your eyes healthy. At the same time, its antioxidant component protects the retina and cornea from wear and tear.

Papaya beneficial in toothache

Consuming papaya can give quick relief from toothaches. Applying papaya milk on the affected area by wrapping it in cotton ends toothache.

Papaya gives relief from Sore throat

Papaya is one of the best home remedies for sore throats. The paste of papaya gargled with water or milk is beneficial for throat diseases.

Papaya Fruit Benefits for Liver and Spleen Disorder

Within a month, papaya seeds can readily detoxify the liver and stimulate appetite, especially in the elderly, children, and alcoholics. Papaya seeds inhibit the generation of free radicals in liver cells and quickly regenerate new ones. Myrosinase (an enzyme) found in papaya seeds activates the cytochrome P 450 isoenzyme in the liver. Papain, which is found in papaya seeds, has the ability to breakdown and remove dead tissues without affecting the activity of healthy cells. This conventional therapy is only utilised for three weeks before being restarted after one week. Water intake is roughly 3-4 litres per day during this therapy.

Benefits of Papaya seeds in Paralysis

Papaya works to get relief from the problems that occur due to paralysis. Massaging with papaya seed oil aids in relief from paralysis and ardit (paralysis of the mouth).

Allergies and side effects of Papaya

When papaya isn't fully ripe, it secretes a latex fluid that can irritate and cause allergic reactions in some people. Meat tenderised using the enzyme papain may produce an allergic reaction in sensitive people because it behaves as an allergen.