Papaya …

Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants that the body needs to fight against cancer-causing cells. Vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene are antioxidants that prevent all kinds of cancers. So adding a daily serving of papaya to your diet may lessen your risk of developing cancer.

Papaya is a great source of proteolytic enzymes that are very important in digesting food. The most important of these proteolytic enzymes found in papaya is papain. Papain breaks down proteins in food, allowing for better digestion.

Many alternative medical practitioners believe that one of the benefits of papaya is to control premature aging. Papaya helps the body to properly digest food and when the body digests all the nutrients it needs, the body will remain vital for a long time.

Papaya is also rich in fiber, which travels through the body and binds itself to cancer-causing toxins in the colon. The fiber in papaya flushes out the toxins in the colon and so one of the benefits of papaya is that it helps prevent colon cancer especially, due to its antioxidants and its fiber content.

The antioxidants in papaya prevent cholesterol from oxidizing. When cholesterol becomes oxidized it forms plaque in the blood vessel walls that can eventually build up and cause a heart attack or stroke. Fiber is known to lower cholesterol.

Also, vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene are good at reducing inflammation and as such these nutrients are used to treat asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis among many other inflammatory ailments. Papayas are bright yellow or orange in color and therefore are rich sources of beta-carotene. They are also rich in vitamin C, folates, vitamin B, and flavonoids. There are many minerals in the fruit as well. In addition to soluble fiber, papaya also contains potassium, magnesium, and pantothenic acid.

Among the many benefits for the health and skin, papaya’s nutrients can also boost immunity. Both vitamins C and A, which are found in abundance in papayas, are excellent for the body’s immune system. Together, these nutrients can help prevent illnesses such as cold, flu, and other recurrent infections. As we age, macular degeneration is one of the side effects that many experiences.

Macular degeneration is a natural degenerative disease that can be prevented by consuming at least three servings of papaya every day. The antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E, are strongly related to the prevention of vision loss and therefore are excellent when it comes to having good vision.

The benefits of papaya seeds are also similar because they have similar concentrations of the nutrients that the fruit and the papaya plant contain. However, papaya seeds are considered healthier than the fruit itself because of the high bioavailability of the nutrients. Eat the seeds too, they are as healthy for you as the entire papaya. I mix the seeds in my smoothie or you can sprinkle them on salads or use them in place of peppers as they have a similar taste.

I consider the papaya one of the most valuable and nutritional superfoods in the world…

I try and eat a half a large Mexican Papaya or two Thai papayas every day and have been doing so for ten plus years…. I sprinkle chia, hemp and flax seeds on the papaya