MUMBAI: The papaya is an incredibly healthy tropical fruit. It's loaded with antioxidants that can reduce inflammation, fight disease and help keep you looking young. Papaya is the fruit of the Carica papaya plant.
It originated in Central America and Southern Mexico but is now grown in many other parts of the world.
Papaya contains an enzyme called papain, which can break down the tough protein chains found in muscle meat. Because of this, people have used papaya to tenderize meat for thousands of years.
If the papaya is ripe, it can be eaten raw. However, unripe papaya should always be cooked before eating — especially during pregnancy, as the unripe fruit is high in latex, which can stimulate contractions.
Papayas are shaped similar to pears and can be up to 20 inches (51 cm) long. The skin is green when unripe and orange when ripe, while the flesh is yellow, orange or red.
The fruit also has many black seeds, which are edible but bitter. Papayas also contain healthy antioxidants known as carotenoids — particularly one type called lycopene. What's more, your body absorbs these beneficial antioxidants better from papayas than other fruits and vegetables.
Free radicals are reactive molecules created during your body's metabolism. They can promote oxidative stress, which can lead to disease.
Antioxidants, including the carotenoids found in papayas, can neutralize free radicals.
Studies note that fermented papaya can reduce oxidative stress in older adults and people with prediabetes, mild hypothyroidism and liver disease.
Also, many researchers believe that excessive free radicals in the brain are an important factor in Alzheimer's disease.
In one study, people with Alzheimer's given a fermented papaya extract for six months experienced a 40% drop in a biomarker which indicates oxidative damage to DNA — and is also linked to aging and cancer.
The reduction in oxidative stress is attributed to papaya's lycopene content and ability to remove excess iron, which is known to produce free radicals.
Research suggests that the lycopene in papaya can reduce cancer risk. It may also be beneficial for people who are being treated for cancer.
Papaya may work by reducing free radicals that contribute to cancer. Additionally, papaya may have some unique effects not shared by other fruits.
Among 14 fruits and vegetables with known antioxidant properties, only papaya demonstrated anticancer activity in breast cancer cells. (Agencies)
Also Watch: