#nutrition - benefits of papaya for digestion, wound healing, eyesight and even HPV infection!

The Health Benefits of Papaya 1 – Papaya for Digestion
Papayas contain the protein-digesting enzyme papain. Papain is also used to tenderize tough meats and as a component of digestive enzyme supplements as well an ingredient in many meat tenderizers. Papain is also used to treat  indigestion and chronic diarrhea.

The Health Benefits of Papaya 2 – Papaya for Wounds
Russian scientists have found that the antioxidants and natural enzymes in papaya can accelerate the healing of burns and wounds. Papaya contains the antioxidants Vitamin C, Vitamin E and beta-carotene, all of which contribute to inflammation reduction. 

The Health Benefits of Papaya 3 – Papaya for Age Related Macular Degeneration
Phytochemicals such as lutein, cryptoxanthin, and zeaxanthin, present in papaya, may help maintain better eyesight longer in older people and help to prevent age related macular degeneration. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that filter harmful high-energy blue wavelengths of light and act as antioxidants in the eye. 

The Health Benefits of Papaya 4 – Papaya for Human Papillomavirus
Women who had an increased consumption of cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin C had lower rates of infection by HPV, the cervical cancer virus, according to a study. The researchers concluded that women who consumed at least one papaya or more per week had lower risk of contracting the HPV infection than those who didn’t.

Nutrients in Papaya
Papayas are a fantastic source of antioxidant nutrients like vitamin C, carotenes and flavonoids. One half of a small papaya provides 150 percent of the daily value of vitamin C. They are also a very good source of folic acid, vitamins E and A, potassium, and dietary fiber.

History of Papaya
The papaya is thought to have originated in southern Mexico and Central America. Spanish and Portuguese explorers took papayas throughout Central America and on to many other subtropical lands, including India, the Philippines, and parts of Africa.
In the twentieth century, papayas were brought to the United States and have been cultivated in Hawaii, the major U.S. producer since the 1920s. Today, the largest commercial producers of papayas include the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

(I love papaya...)