PAWPAW/PAPAYA

28 Amazing Benefits Of Papaya For Skin, Hair And Health

PAWPAW also know as PAPAYA is “The Fruit of the Angels” because it is loved by all and is quite famous for its luscious taste and rich texture as well as health benefits.

Papaya is available throughout the year. It has a delicious sweet taste with a soft butter like consistency. This pear-shaped fruit is usually 7 inches long. The inside flesh is rich orange in colour with a slight shade of pink or yellow. Papaya has a lot of hidden benefits for skin, health and hair. Not just the fruit itself, but other parts of papaya also are very beneficial. Like ‘Papain’ commonly known as papaya enzyme is helpful in digesting proteins. It is extracted from the tree and the fruit to make dietary supplements, and is also used as a major ingredient in some chewing gums.

Papayas were originally found in Central America, while the explorers from Spain and Portugal helped bring this fruit to many other subtropical lands, which then journeyed to places like Philippines, some parts of Africa and India. Today, the US, Mexico and Puerto Rico are said to be the largest commercial producers of papaya in the world. Apart from Papains, papaya is also a rich source of antioxidant nutrients such as carotenes, vitamin C and flavonoids; the B vitamins, folate and pantothenic acid; and the minerals, potassium and magnesium; and fiber. The pulp of this fruit is also a basic component of many facial creams, and shampoos.

Vitamins

Eating paw paw helps your body metabolize the other food you eat. A cup of raw paw paw provides about 10 percent of the vitamin B-6, thiamin, riboflavin, folate and niacin you need daily. These B-complex vitamins work together to help your body convert protein, carbohydrates and fat into energy. Paw paw contains antioxidants, giving you one-half of the vitamin C you should get each day. Vitamin C plays a role in keeping your cells healthy and your immune system strong, and it helps your body absorb some essential minerals, such as iron and calcium.

Minerals

Unlike many tree fruits, paw paw is a rich source of minerals. Each cup provides about one-seventh of the magnesium, one-eighth of the potassium and one-tenth of the phosphorus you need each day. It also contains 1.35 milligrams of iron. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women up to age 50 get 18 milligrams of iron a day, while men and older women need 8 milligrams of iron daily.

Weight Control

Paw paw is a satisfying fruit for people trying to lose weight or maintain their current weight. Each cup of raw paw paw has 148 calories, 2.25 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of fat. It is also higher in fiber than an apple or a pear, giving you 7.4 grams of fiber per cup. Eating high-fiber food benefits your digestive system and adds bulk to your meal, making you feel fuller and more satisfied without taking in excess calories.

7 Health Benefits Of Eating Pawpaw

Sure, you know that pawpaw is a fruit; you rightfully assume it’s good for you, but do you know that the benefits of eating pawpaw go far beyond the generic boost of vitamin C.

Papaya Contains Antioxidants

One of the benefits of eating papaya is that it helps to prevent cancer. Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants that the body needs to fight against cancer-causing cells. Vitamin C, E and beta-carotenes 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 Used to Treat Digestive Disorders

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. Papain is used in prescription of digestive enzymes to treat individuals with cystic fibrosisor pancreatic conditions; producing for them what the body cannot produce naturally. Eating papaya is also a benefit because papain taken orally treats less serious digestion disorders such as bloating and chronic indigestion. In these cases papain is extracted, dried and sold as tablets.

Papaya Boosts Male Virility

Another great benefit of papaya is to boost male virility. Papaya contains an enzyme called arginine which is known in the medically community to boost blood flow around the man-hood. Arginine boosts nitric acid in the body to relax the muscles surrounding the blood vessels tat supply the man-hood. These blood vessels then dilate and increase blood flow. A more concentrated form of arginine is used to treat erectile dysfunction.

Papaya Prevents Premature Aging

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 Used as a Cleanser

Taking a quarter pint (150ml) of papaya juice, cucumber juice and green bean juice in alternating hours for 12 hours can be a benefit to your colon. These juices work as potent natural cleansers when combined.

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.

Papaya Prevents Heart Attacks and Strokes

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.

Also, fiber is known to lower cholesterol. The fiber in papaya converts a substance called homocysteine into harmless amino acids that the body can process, but without the breakdown, homocysteine can eventually damage blood vessel walls, causing strokes or heart attacks.

Papaya Treats Inflammation

Papain and chymopapain, protein-digestive enzymes found in papaya lowers inflammation and improve healing from burns. Papain breaks down the inactive proteins in the skin, removing dead tissue from burns. This benefits the body as it helps heal skin injuries, relieves psoriasis, removes warts, treats ringworm and cold sores.

Also vitamins C, E and beta carotenes are good at reducing inflammation and as such these nutrients are used to treat asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis among many other inflammatory ailments.

Skin Benefits Of Papaya:

Papaya, which is rich in so many healthy components, is best for skin care as it promises and works to provide you with healthy and glowing skin.

• Being a good source of Vitamin A and Papain, this fruit helps in removing dead skin cells along with breaking down the inactive proteins.
• The best feature of papaya is its ‘Low Sodium Quality’, thus resulting in very little retention of water. In simple words it means, it helps you keep your skin hydrated.
• Papaya is actually a wholesome fruit as it contains more Carotene when compared to other fruits like apple, custard apple, guava and plantains. Not being an expensive fruit, papaya is a common man’s fruit which is beneficial in many ways.
• The application of finely grounded paste of raw papaya on the face for 25 minutes helps reduce those unwanted pimples and other embarrassing blemishes on the face.
• Both, direct application and eating will help you achieve smooth, supple and soft skin.
• Regular consumption or application of papaya also provides shine to the skin, which comes from within and is long lasting.
• The mashed papaya can be used for treating the sore and cracked heels.
• Papaya also acts as a natural skin exfoliator.
• Application of papaya also helps in removing skin discoloration.
• The peel of papaya can not only be used on the face, but it can also be used for whitening the legs.
• The use of raw papaya helps you treating the ringworm's as well. You just need to rub some slices of raw papaya on the ringworm patches and see reduced inflammation.
• Papaya helps the skin by reducing the aging signs on the face.

USES OF PAWPAW/PAPAYA

• The papaya peel helps in reducing and treating the signs of aging. Just rub the peel on the face after eating the papaya. Let it stay for 5 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. Regular use offers visible results. The most coveted ingredient, AHA’s or Alfa-Hydroxy Acid, are found in abundance in papaya to offer anti-aging properties, but this is the only reason which makes papaya an acidic fruit. So, do not apply it for more time as it may cause dryness and irritation to sensitive skin.

• Papaya is also fruitful for treating the dark spots.  The application of mashed and uneaten papaya with or without milk on your face can help in removing the dark spots and evens out the skin tone which results into a fairer and glowing skin.

• For getting hydrated skin, mix mashed papaya with honey and apply on your face.

• Papaya is also effective for treating dry skin. All you need to do is to mash a small section of papaya and mix it one tbsp of malai or milk cream. Apply on your face for 20 minutes and then wash it off.

• A very simple method for moisturizing the skin is applying papaya on it. Take a ripe papaya, clean it and blend it into a fine paste. Now apply this paste on your face for 15 minutes. Wash it off using a wash cloth and pat dry to get great results.

• For skin tightening, apply mashed papaya mixed with honey and rice-flour for 20 minutes, three times a week.

• Papaya is also suitable for using as a body scrub. It can be made by mashing raw papaya and mixing it with honey, salt spa and olive oil.

• For curing the skin tans and brightening the complexion, the simple face pack can be made. Just follow the steps mentioned below:
  • Make a paste of pulpy papaya
  • Add yogurt, honey, lemon juice and egg white into it
  • Mix all ingredients till the mixture becomes thick which can be applied on the face
  • Wash your face thoroughly so that it becomes clean and dirt free
  • Apply this facial mask on your face and leave it for 15 – 20 minutes
  • Wash off with the lukewarm water and pat dry

Papaya benefits for skin are truly endless. We will now proceed to the benefits of papaya on hair.

Hair Benefits Of Papaya:

Apart from amazing skin care benefits, papaya is also useful when it comes to hair care. According to hair care professionals, the benefits of papaya for hair can be gained by eating the fruit regularly or by the regular use of hair care products containing papaya as its major ingredients. Papaya can also help in creating the volume by nourishing the hair shaft. Other papaya benefits for hair are listed below:

•  Rich in nutrients, papaya may help prevent balding, thus helping boost growth and strength of the hair. 
• Papaya is also used for controlling dandruff.
• Add papaya to your daily diet to help reduce hair thinning. Although no scientific evidence has been derived with this theory, but still many people have tried and found it worthy. Results may vary from individual to individual.
• Papaya being rich in minerals, vitamins and enzymes also helps in removing the dirt, oil and chemical build up from the hair in a very safe way.
• Papaya leaf extracts can be used as a conditioner for adding shine to dull, unruly and lifeless hair.
• Using of papaya hair mask can result into thick, strong, shiny and healthy hair. 

How to Use:

This papaya hair mask will help you add thickness, strength and shine to your hair.

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup diced ripe papaya
• 1 cup diced ripe banana
• 1 tbsp molasses
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 cup yogurt

Directions:

• Blend all the ingredients together thoroughly. Take care that no chunks remain after blending
• Apply to damp hair
• Cover with a plastic cap or shower cap
• Allow it to stand for half an hour
• Now wrap a towel around your cap to generate heat
• Again leave it for another half an hour
• Now wash your hair in your  regular way
• It is optional to add your favorite deep conditioner to this recipe to get super soft hairs

Now that we have seen how Papaya is beneficial for the hair, lets discuss about the medicinal uses and how it helps cure many problems.

Health Benefits Of Papaya:

Papaya benefits are not just limited to skin and hair care. Several researches conducted on papaya also showed a lot of its medicinal properties. Many scientists have successfully concluded that papaya is beneficial for health related problems and some diseases too. Let’s find out what else papaya can do other than benefiting skin and hair.

• Papaya acts as an antidote for hypertension. This is one of the most popular health benefits of papaya. The rich amount of potassium in papaya helps keeping the blood pressure in check along with improving the mental alertness.
• Another of the most important papaya health benefit is that can help improve eyesight. Consuming 3 or more servings per day may keep your eyesight normal, along with improving and lowering the primary cause of vision loss in older adults.
• Papaya also helps in boosting the immunity system of our body. The presence of Beta-carotene in papaya is required for the proper functioning and boosting of the immune system.
• Papaya also prevents the body from recurrent ear infections, cold and flu.
• Papaya also provides protection against heart diseases. As it is rich in nutrients too, it helps in preventing the oxidation of cholesterol, which helps preventing the cause of heart attacks or strokes.
• Papaya can also heal external wounds. The pulp of this fruit can be applied directly on the wounds.
• Papaya is also able to cure chronic ulcers on skins. All you need to do is to take papaya juice and mix some butter in it. Apply it on the affected area for quick drying and healing of long standing ulcers.
• If one suffers from respiratory disorders like cough, bronchitis and breathlessness, then papaya can be helpful as it contains latex which is useful in the respiratory disorders.
• Papaya despite being sweet in taste is also good for diabetic patients.
• Papaya can also help you from cancer. Papaya’s fiber is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon, thus keeping them from harming healthy colon cells.
• So we saw how papaya is good for health too. Till now we were talking about the papaya fruit, ripe papaya, mashed papaya and papaya peels. Now we will discuss about the benefits of its juice and also find out how it is helpful to us.
• These are the numerous skin, hair and health benefits provided by papaya and its juice. Though the results are not instant, once they are achieved, they are permanent. Papaya indeed is a fruit of the angels, as it protects every possible body part and provides positive visible results.The uses of papaya are simple outstanding in number and efficacy!

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	39 Kcal	2%
Carbohydrates	9.81 g	7.5%
Protein	0.61 g	1%
Total Fat	0.14 g	0.5%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	1.80 g	4.5%
Vitamins
Folates	38 µg	9.5%
Niacin	0.338 mg	2%
Pantothenic acid	0.218 mg	4%
Pyridoxine	0.019 mg	1.5%
Riboflavin	0.032 mg	2.5%
Thiamin	0.027 mg	2%
Vitamin A	1094 IU	36%
Vitamin C	61.8 mg	103%
Vitamin E	0.73 mg	5%
Vitamin K	2.6 µg	2%
Electrolytes
Sodium	3 mg	0%
Potassium	257 mg	5%
Minerals
Calcium	24 mg	2.5%
Iron	0.10 mg	1%
Magnesium	10 mg	2.5%
Phosphorus	5 mg	1%
Zinc	0.07 mg	0.5%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß	276 µg	–
Crypto-xanthin-ß	761 µg	–
Lutein-zeaxanthin	75 µg	–

Nutrition chart
One cup of mangoes (225 gms contain) contains the following percentages that apply to daily value.
105 calories
76 percent vitamin C (antioxidant and immune booster)
25 percent vitamin A (antioxidant and vision)
11 percent vitamin B6 plus other B vitamins (hormone production in brain and heart disease prevention)
9 percent healthy probiotic fibre
9 percent copper (copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes plus production of red blood cells)
7 percent potassium (to balance out our high sodium intake)
4 percent magnesium
1. Fights cancer
Antioxidants like quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat present in mango protect the body against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.
2. Keeps cholesterol in check
Mango has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels. Fresh mango is a rich source of potassium, which is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control heart rate and blood pressure.
3. Skin cleanser
Mangoes help you unclog your pores and add freshness to the face. Mangoes are applicable to any skin type. They help clear clogged pores that cause acne. Just slice a mango into thin pieces and keep them on your face for 10 to 15 minutes and then take bath or wash your face and see the results.
4. Alkalizes the body
According to natural health school.com, mango is rich in tartaric acid, malic acid and traces of citric acid that primarily help in maintaining the alkali reserve of the body.
5. Weight loss
Mango has a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body feel fuller. Also, the fibrous fruit boosts the digestive function of the body by burning additional calories, helping in weight loss.
6. Regulates diabetes
Not only the fruit but the leaves of mangoes are healthy too. For people suffering from diabetes, just boil 5-6 mango leaves in a vessel, soak it through night and drink the filtered decoction in the morning. This is helps in regulating your insulin levels.
Mango has a low glycemic index (41-60) so going a little overboard will not increase your sugar levels.
7. Aphrodisiac
Mango has aphrodisiac qualities and is also called the ‘love fruit’. Mangoes increase the virility in men. Vitamin E, which is abundantly present in mangoes, helps to regulate sex hormones and boosts sex drive.
8. Eye care
Did you know that mango is rich in vitamin A. One cup of sliced mangoes equals 25% intake of your daily need of vitamin A. Mangoes help in promoting good eye sight, fights dry eyes and also prevent night blindness.
9. Helps in digestion
Mango contains enzymes that help in breaking down protein. The fibrous nature of mango helps in digestion and elimination. It is is rich in pre-biotic dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.
10. Heat stroke
When the sun is bogging you down this summer, just chop of a mango in a juicer; add a little water and a tbsp of sugar free or honey. This juice will instantly cool you down and prevent heat stroke.
11. Strengthens your immune
The deadly combination of vitamin C, vitamin A and 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy.
12. Body scrub
Make a paste of mashed mango, honey and milk and use as a body scrub, you will feel that your skin is tender and smooth.
13. Aids concentration and memory
Studying for exams? This fruit is rich in glutamine acid– an important protein for concentration and memory. Feed mangoes to children who find it difficult to concentrate on studies.
14. High iron for women
Mango is rich in iron, hence it is a great natural solution for people suffering from anemia. Menopausal and pregnant women can indulge in mangoes as this will increase their iron levels and calcium at the same time.
15. Reduces Kidney Stones 
In Chinese medicine, mangoes are considered sweet and sour with a cooling energy also capable of reducing the risk of kidney stone formation.
16. Perfect Snack
Instead of snacking on unhealthy chips and cookies, why not feast on slices of mangoes instead. They are perhaps one of the tastiest dehydrated fruits of all.
17. Stomach Tonic 
Before going to bed put some 10 or 15 mango leaves in warm water and close it with lid. The next day morning filter the water and drink it in empty stomach. Do this regularly.
Mae Chan holds degrees in both physiology and nutritional sciences. She is also blogger and and technology enthusiast with a passion for disseminating information about health.
- See more at: http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/17-reasons-why-you-need-a-mango-every-day/#sthash.sQ01GPnO.dpuf