Papayas - Carica papaya - Full of Healthy Enzymes

Papayas--Good for Digestion as Well as Full of Bioflavinoids, Vitamins, and Helpful Enzymes!

The papaya, Carica papaya, is a fruit native to the tropics of southern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. However, it is now cultivated in most countries with a tropical climate--including Brazil, India, South Africa, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.

The papaya tree is small, with a single, unbranched stem growing from 15 to 30 feet (5 to 10 meters) tall. The leaves form at the crown--and the leaves and fruit originate from the trunk.

When the papaya fruit is ripe, it feels soft and its skin is amber to orange-ish yellow.

Papaya Trees, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Your Basic Papaya... Actually, a Cultivated, Large Variety...

Papaya Info...

Green papayas are rich in an enzyme called papain (similar to the enzyme bromelain found in pineapples and the enzymes in mangos.

This "protease" (an enzyme that breaks down proteins) is useful as a meat tenderizer and for a remedy for digestive problems.

The fruit (both raw and cooked) is useful also for alkalinizing your body to maintain a healthy balance--which is an important thing to do for those who suffer from gout. Gout sufferers have a problem with breaking down proteins in their diet--protein breakdown enzymes such as the papain in papayas, bromelain in pineapples and the enzymes in mangos help to break these proteins down so that they don't create the conditions that cause a gout attack.

Unripe green papayas can be eaten as an ingredient in curries, salads, and stews. They are commonly used in Thai cuisine--both raw and cooked.

The black papaya seeds are edible and have a sharp, spicy taste--they are sometimes ground and used as a substitute for black pepper. In some parts of Asia, the young leaves of papaya are steamed and eaten like spinach.

In most situations, ripe papayas are eaten raw, without the skin or seeds. The fruits are sliced usually in halves and the seeds are scooped out. The creamy, sweet flesh can then be scooped out and eaten with a spoon.

Health and Medicinal Benefits

Papain ointment made from fermented papaya flesh can be applied to the skin to treat cuts, rashes, stings, and burns. It is said that Harrison Ford was treated for a ruptured disc he suffered when he was filming Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom by having papain injected into his back.