Benefits Of The Papaya Fruit

Papaya contains 'papain' which helps to digest food.

Introduction

           Papayas are well-known,cheap and easily available sweet fruits.They grows during the month of February and March as well as May to October.The unripe papaya is green in colour. On its ripening it becomes yellow in colour. The seeds of the ripe papaya are pepper-like black. The are bitter in taste.

         Mexico and the West Indies Islands are known as the original home of papayas. In 17th century ,it was introduced into India,Africa,Australia and other countries.

Qualities Of Papaya

    Sweet fruits Papayas are good medicine for constipation and urinary disorders. The ripen papayas are delicious,heavy,warm,oily,laxative and antibilious. It increases virility, beneficial to the heart,liver and helps to alleviate insanity. It helps to check splenic enlargement(splenomegaly).

Analysis of Contents

Water(89.6%)

Protein(0.5%)

Fat(0.1%)

Carbohydrates(9.5%)

Minerals(0.4%)

Calcium(0.01%)

Phosphorus(0.01%)

Iron(0.4 mg/100 gm)

Vitamin 'A'(2020 I.U./100 gm)

Vitamin 'C'(46 to 136 mg/100 gm)

            Nearly one half of the sugar in the papayas are constituted of glucose and the other half by mostly fruit sugar(fructose). As a source of vitamin 'A' among fruits,papayas ranking is next to mango. Vitamin 'C' in papayas increases with maturity.

               In an experiment carried out in Hawaii,it was found that extremely raw papayas contained 32 mg,green 40 to 72 mg,half-ripe 53 to 95 mg and the ripen papayas 68 to 136 mg of vitamin 'C' per 100 gm.

             The sugar and vitamin 'C' contents in papayas are highest during the month of May to October. Papayas also contains vitamin 'B1', vitamin 'B2' and niacin.

           The white (milky) secretion of raw papayas contains the digestive enzyme papain in significant amount. Papain ia a protein-digesting enzyme.

Use

        Raw papayas can be used in its juice form. The ripe papaya can be taken in its natural form. Juice can also be extracted from it by adding a little milk or water to it in a mixer. Papaya juice is delicious and refreshing.

Papayas Benefits

        The raw papayas juice is very helpful in expelling round worms from the digestive tract. It helps to secure proper menstrual flow. The ayurveda experts have regarded papain as a remedy for abdominal disorders. It is a good medicine for dysentery,hyperacidity,dyspepsia and constipation. In addition to papain, papaya contains enzymes such as arginine(for male fertility),carpain(good for heart) and fibrin(necessary for blood-coagulation).

          Dr. Lytton Bernard has claimed rejuvenating properties for papaya for the control of ageing. Papaya cleanses the body completely. To get such cleansing benefits one should take about 200 ml of papayas juice daily. The purpose is rapidly served if one undertakes juice fasting and consumes 200 ml of papayas juice alternated each hour with the equal amount of cucumber juice.

         Because of  different types of enzymes contained by papaya, it has been recommended for use as a part of the treatment for cancer. After treatment with antibiotics, the use of papayas juice will hasten the restoration of the friendly symbiotic bacteria in the gut which will have been destroyed by the drugs. Papaya is also a diuretic. It is therefore beneficial in kidney disorders.

NOTE

       Pimples are removed by rubbimg the white pulp of raw papaya on the face. It brings lustre to the face and removes wrinkles.

        Some Ayurveda experts believe that papaya causes heat in the body. That is why they advise to avoid papaya in pregnancy,and in fever.

       The seeds of the ripe papayas are used for quenching thirst and for destroying intestinal worms. A poultice of the leaves of a papayas plant is beneficial in neuralgia(nerve-pain) and elephantiasis.