Poppin’ Papayas

What better way to celebrate the beginning of summer than with National Papaya Month!

Papayas are easily the most underrated food; it’s not every day you add this tropical plant to your fruit bowl. Unbeknownst to most, papayas are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants that combat a countless number of diseases. Not to mention, they’re delicious. As you delve further into the unique properties that papayas have to offer, you will see there’s no question why they’ve earned the title “the fruit of the angels.”

Once a native crop exclusive to Central America, the papaya is now produced all around the world. In fact, today the United States is one of the largest commercial producers of papaya and it can be found in grocery stores all around the country. The average papaya at your local supermarket contains nearly four cups of fruit once the inedible portion is removed. That is almost double the fruit recommendation for the average American. When choosing your fruit, a good indication of ripeness is reddish-orange skin that is slightly soft to the touch. Papayas that are on the yellower side should be kept at room temperature and will take a few days to ripen. If you want it to ripen a little faster, a lesser known trick is to place it in a paper bag with a banana and it should be good in the next day or so.

Just to get a gage of how jam-packed with nutrients a single papaya is, one cup of this fruit provides 144% of your daily value of vitamin C, three grams of fiber and one-third of your daily recommendation of vitamin A — for as little as 55 calories. Along with vitamin C, papaya is rich in other sources of antioxidants as well, such as carotenoids and flavonoids. When digested, these phytochemicals fight against the oxidation of cholesterol. In other words, they prevent cholesterol from turning into plaque and clogging up your arteries. In effect, papayas are natural guards against the proliferation of illnesses like atherosclerosis and heart disease.

If you don’t know a thing about fiber, at least know this: fiber can do wonders to your body and papayas are chock full of it. Fiber is able to bind to carcinogens in the colon, keeping healthy cells away from free radical damage. It is also extremely important in maintaining digestive health. Fiber is essential to water absorption in the colon as well as food transit through the gut. Adding fiber to your diet will reduce bowel irregularities and will likely make your days a little bit easier.

But by far, the most interesting characteristic of the papaya, is its supply of one particular enzyme called papain. Papain is a digestive enzyme that can be used to treat sports injuries, trauma wounds and allergies. Due to its anti-inflammatory effects, papain especially improves healing from skin irritations like bug bites and burns. And while you can find this enzyme in an isolated supplement form, digesting papain from natural sources, like papayas, is more effective.

 Here are a few tips and tricks on how to incorporate this healthful fruit into your menus:

• Peel away the outer casing with a knife and scoop out the insides with a spoon.
• Once scooped, you may enjoy as is!
• Add to a salad for some fruity flavor to jazz things up.
• Mix with other berries and blend to make a sweet and healthy smoothie.
• Make a hot and spicy salsa.

Now that you know about all the wonderful benefits of papaya — go out there, add some glamour to your plates, and reap the benefits of this “angel fruit”!  Your body will thank you later.

Your turn to take action: How creative can you get with a papaya? Let me know below in the comments section.

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