Nutrition Facts of Papaya | |
Though it resembles a tree, a papaya plant is actually an overgrown
herb, known as an herbaceous perennial. Grown worldwide in tropical
climates, papaya is believed to have originated in Mexico and Central
America..
The most common use for papaya is to aid digestion. Papayas are the
only natural source of papain, an effective natural digestive aid,
which breaks down protein and cleanses the digestive track. This means
less food settles into the metabolism and becomes fat, making papayas’
natural digestive properties an advantage to people trying to lose
weight — especially for people who may cheat on their diets, said Homero
Levy de Barros, president and CEO, Caliman International.
But in addition to assisting the body in digestion, papayas pack a
nutritional wallop. Known as a “nutritional masterpiece,” papayas are
rich in vitamin C, folate, and potassium. They are also good sources of
fiber, vitamin A, vitamin E, the eye-saving carotenoids lutein and
zeaxanthin, and lycopene. A papaya has a lycopene level of about 2,000
ug per 100g (or 3,000 ug in one slice of papaya of 150g).
“You can debate which fruit is the number one in nutrition,
depending upon a variety of factors,” Levy de Barros said. “But for
people who know the nutritional make-up of fruit, certainly the papaya
would be in the top three of almost everyone's list.” Papayas have 33%
more vitamin C and 50% more potassium than oranges with fewer calories.
Papayas have 13 times more vitamin C and more than twice the potassium
than apples. Papayas have four times more vitamin E than both apples and
oranges.
Papayas vary in size, ranging from about 1 to 20 pounds and 7 to 20
inches long, depending on the variety. Eat about 2 cups of papaya
daily.
A ripe papaya has a golden-yellow outer skin. On the inside, its
flesh is smooth and silky with a deep yellow-orange or pinkish-orange
color and a sweet-musky flavor. Its large center cavity is packed with
small, round, black seeds, which are edible. Their peppery flavor tastes
great in a salad or salsa or blended into sauces or salad dressings.
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Thursday 19 September 2013
Nutrition Facts of Papaya
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