Green papaya useful properties. Green papaya salad with lime: recipe with photo. Hazardous properties and contraindications

Exotic fruit has earned a reputation as the most effective fat and protein burner. Cleavage is due to the high papain content. The enzyme seems to be ready to break even the concrete masonry. Papain is used in traditional medicine to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal system, external and internal damage to the dermis.

To get to the main goal - the fragrant pulp, you have to clean the dense inedible skin and properly cut the product. Sunflower seeds, abundantly hidden inside the fruit, can be used as a sweet-spicy spice.

The market presents not only traditional ripe papaya. In cooking, green, barely ripe fruits are used. They have a neutral taste, but the skin, like a ripe fruit, is just as tender and juicy. Green papaya is perfect for any salads (fish, vegetable, meat). Exotic fruit diversifies the taste palette and does not interrupt the perception of the dish with a specific smell.

general characteristics

Papaya is a woody plant, the size of which does not exceed 10 meters in length. At the top of the tree are dissected leaves on long petioles, in which flowers develop, and then fruits. Average fruit size: 20-50 cm in length and 10-30 cm in diameter. Fruits develop unevenly and can differ significantly from each other.

There are male and female papaya trees. The male type pollinates flowers, and the female gives fruit. Papaya ripens quickly enough - after 6 months you can already harvest the first crop. Most of the fruits grown are exported. The average shelf life of a ripe fruit is 1 week.

The chemical composition of the fruit

Useful properties of papaya

Fruit can be a real salvation for the sweet tooth and losing weight. Papaya combines a sweet rich taste and low calorie content. The best way to give up white sugar is to replace it with fruit. No need to kill the urge to eat a bar of milk porous chocolate - so you expose yourself to a breakdown and a bad mood. Replace harmful trans fats with plant-based foods. Morning oatmeal with papaya will be much tastier than 100 grams of chocolate.

The main beneficial substance is papain. Why is it so good and how will it help the human body?

The enzyme helps to release the benefits of food and fully, but not partially, absorb it. Papain serves as a specific conductor, thanks to which a person receives more energy, moves faster, gets tired less and feels a general increase in tone.
Scientists have proven that the fruit improves the functioning of the organs of vision. If carrots are already fed up, and you want to pamper your eyes with something useful, choose a papaya.
Fruit juice plays the role of antioxidant and antiseptic. Our ancestors used papaya juice to relieve swelling and pain after an insect bite or poor contact with fire. The then healers "prescribed" the juice of an exotic fruit to heal from diseases, pain and all kinds of ailments.
Papaya enzymes have an amazing effect on the skin. Fruit components are introduced into cosmetics to achieve an exfoliating effect. Such cosmetics are indicated for people with sensitive skin, to combat acne and post-acne. In order for the treatment to be comprehensive, let the whole body, and not just the injured person, get enough of the beneficial properties of papaya. After the next grooming procedure, treat yourself to a piece of fruit. The result, oddly enough, will be "obvious".
Papaya is indicated for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, bronchial asthma, impaired liver function and the fight against abnormal blood sugar. The fruit perfectly cleanses the intestines, which instantly gives vigor to the body, makes a person healthier and more active.
The fruit regulates the level of acidity of the body. Suffer from heartburn? Consult a doctor and find out - is it possible to replace hated pills with a few pieces of papaya? If heartburn is rarely a phenomenon for you, and the doctor gave the green light to experiments - try it. Substitution of plant-based chemicals will be appreciated by the body.

The child will receive many useful substances and begin to join the exotic from a very young age. When the baby has already been transferred to complementary foods, mashed the papaya and give it to the child in small quantities. It is recommended to give vegetables first, and then gradually introduce fruits. The kid can refuse tasteless vegetables after sweet fruits and berries.

Scientists claim that the fruit is useful in diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Enzymes have a beneficial effect on the condition of bones and joints.
Papaya juice has an anthelmintic effect. Juice will be ineffective in the presence of serious infectious pathologies. Do not get carried away with self-medication, but seek qualified help.
Special medicines are made from fruit that can cure eczema. Our ancestors dried papaya skin and applied to the affected areas. Today, such methods are not in demand. If there is a problem, you need to undergo an examination, coordinate with the doctor the therapeutic course and further nutrition recommendations. If the specialist does not see a threat to the current state, enter the papaya without fear for the integrity of the dermis.

The use of fruit in cosmetology

To create skincare cosmetics use extract, pulp, papaya oil. In particular, the enzyme papain secreted from the fruits of an exotic fruit is appreciated. What papaya will be useful for dermis:

Fruit acids do a great job with pigmentation, skin damage, and acne and post-acne.
Increased skin tone.
Normalization of the skin's water balance. Stable water balance (maintaining a constant level of moisture).
Gentle cleaning of contaminants, no risk of clogging of pores.
Whitening the skin, creating a radiant glow.
Anti-aging effect. A cream with papaya will help delay the appearance of unwanted wrinkles for a long time.
Increased elasticity of the dermis.
Removal of toxins, poisons, pollution.
Normalization of the sebaceous glands. The fruit will help to cope with enlarged pores, and with the constant need to wipe your face with something. Using and eating fruit will provide a smooth matte face without rashes and imperfections.
Correction and removal of freckles.

To improve the condition of not only the skin, but also the hair, you can "without leaving the cash register." Papaya juice and oil nourishes hair, restores structure, restores shine, health and softness.

With the help of papaya, you can not only grow beautiful hair, but also get rid of them. Fruit enzymes are added to various hair removal products (creams, serums, foams, gels). The substance provides several positive effects:

removal of unwanted vegetation;
additional skin hydration;
blocking the possibility of ingrown hairs;
maximum distance from the appearance of new hairs. The enzyme weakens the hair and dulls the performance of the hair follicle.

Cooking use

Milk Jelly Papaya Recipe

We will need:

papaya - 1 kg;
milk (optimal fat content - 3, 2%) - 400 ml;
gelatin - 30 g;
sugar (can be replaced with any sweetener) - 50 g.

Cooking

Prepare the papaya: cut the fruit along, remove the seeds with a tablespoon.

Tip: there is no need to remove the peel first. It can be easily removed after the dish is ready.

Soak gelatin for 10 minutes at room temperature. Take the stewpan, pour in gelatin, milk, sugar / sweetener and keep on low heat. Stir the mixture constantly until sugar and gelatin are completely dissolved. Pour the finished mixture into peeled papaya (the jelly should be located in the recess in which the seeds of the fruit were). Wrap with cling film, send for several hours in the refrigerator until completely solidified. Remove the finished dessert from the refrigerator, cut into portion slices, remove the skin with a knife and serve it to the table.

Duck with honey and papaya recipe

We will need:

papaya - 650 g;
crushed cilantro - 50 g;
unrefined olive oil - 50 ml;
vegetable oil - 20 ml;
honey to taste - 4 tablespoons;
ducklings (it is recommended to take a breast) - 4 pieces;
sesame (both fried and raw) - 2 tablespoons;
soy sauce without additives - 1 tablespoon;
lemon juice - 1 tablespoon;
lime juice - 1 tablespoon;
lemon peel to taste.

Cooking

Take the duck breast, make a few deep longitudinal cuts on the skin. Do not get carried away with incisions, 3-4 will be enough. Prepare the pan: put on a fire, pour in a drop of vegetable oil, spread over the surface. Put the duck breast in the pan (with the skin down) until it reaches a golden color.

Preparing the sauce: mix olive oil, lime and lemon juice, zest, soy sauce, honey, sesame seeds and cilantro. Peel the papaya, remove the seeds, cut into small cubes. Grate a small portion of the fruit and mix with the prepared sauce.

Remove the duck from the pan, duck fat (formed on the surface) must be drained and cleaned kitchen utensils. Lubricate the lightly fried duck with the sauce and place on a freshly prepared stove. Now the duck must be put with the skin up. Fry until tender, add sauce as needed. Serve the finished breast with chopped papaya and your favorite side dish.

Contraindications to the use of fruit

The only contraindication is individual intolerance to the product and the components that make up the composition.

It is forbidden to eat green unripe fruits. They contain concentrated juice with a high content of toxic substances. Among them is the alkaloid caripain (better known as “latex juice”). The ingress of juice provokes a severe allergic reaction, intoxication, irritation of the skin, malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract.

To protect your own body - responsibly choose an exotic fruit.

How to choose the right papaya

Ripe fruit has a bright yellow or yellow-orange skin. Small spots of red or green are allowed. Read the information about the specific type of papaya that you want to purchase, pay attention to the specific structure and color. The peel of an exotic fruit should be smooth, even and holistic. Damage, dents, the presence of putrefactive formations, black dots and dark spots indicate improper transportation and non-compliance with the rules of storage of the product.

The aroma of papaya, depending on the variety, is vaguely reminiscent of raspberries, chocolate, melon, apricot. Use the familiar gustatory spectrum to find the most ripe and tasty fruit.

Perform a traditional test: lightly press on the surface of the fruit. The peel should not be deformed. Ripe fruit will choke under pressure, but will gradually return to its previous shape. Elasticity is the key to papaya quality.

The peel should be clean, dry, with a characteristic shine. A damp surface indicates chemical treatment to extend shelf life.

If there is even the slightest doubt about the freshness and quality of the product - refuse to purchase and find a more bona fide seller / supplier. Your health is worth the extra minutes of questioning about the shelf life of the fruit and the provision of a certificate of quality.

Most of the fruits you will meet in Thailand are wild-growing. However, there are also purposefully grown crops (for example,), which are crops. Among them papaya fruitoccupies a special place, it is an indispensable ingredient in many national dishes, although it came to the Kingdom of Siam from the other side of the Pacific Ocean. In the wild, a melon-like papaya fruit is found in Mexico, Central and Latin America. Its juicy flesh is pierced by chains of closed tubes filled with white milky juice.

Miracle fruit: both fruit and vegetable all rolled into one

It grows on low (not higher than 10 meters) palm trees. So it’s rather a fruit. If you've never seen what does papaya fruit look likein its natural form, you can easily confuse its unripe fruits with a coconut bunch.

Papaya Plantation

It is not necessary to wait until the fruits turn yellow-orange. Many recipes, the ingredients of which are unripe, green fruits. Papaya Fruit Flavor resembles a melon, but about the smell, most experts are inclined to believe that it is most like raspberries.

You can even eat this fruit as an independent dish, which is often seasoned with grated Parmesan. But this is a European invention, and they like to pour slices of this fruit with the juice of green lemon (lime) and use it as a hearty breakfast (there are a lot of proteins and carbohydrates in the fruits). Som Tam, a hot and invigorating salad served in many of Thailand's national restaurants, is prepared using slices of green papaya and dried shrimp. Chili pepper and garlic are added to it for piquancy.

Each has its own unique recipes for using papaya. In the northeast, it is consumed along with sticky rice. On the coast, this fruit is added to fish soups, seafood and meat. Cut it into salads, using as a flavoring between the egg and garlic. Also, green fruits are stuffed with meat, rice seasoned with spices and stew. The price of papaya in Thailand averages 25 baht per kilogram.

In general, there is one general rule: if papaya is unripe, then it is used as a vegetable. Ripe fruits are used as fruits, added even to ice cream. Therefore, to the question “ papaya is a fruit or vegetable? " there is still no single answer. Moreover, according to the scientific classification, it belongs to the genus of cruciferous plants, the most famous of which is cabbage.

The benefits of papaya

Exotic Papaya Fruit remarkable, first of all, by the content in it of a special enzyme, which is not found in any other fruit. They called him that - papain. It helps improve digestion. Especially in cases where the menu is dominated by meat dishes. Latin American Indians, these properties have been known for several thousand years. It is worth noting that it is also used for the manufacture of medicines that treat osteochondrosis.

Health Benefits of Papaya Fruit so numerous that they deserve a separate treatise. Fruits contain proteins, carbohydrates and fiber, but at the same time remain low-calorie - 100 grams of pulp only 39 calories. They contain a complete set of vitamins and minerals.

Virologist Luc Montagnier, who discovered the HIV virus, believes that it can stop the development of pathogenic microflora.

The juice of the fruits of this plant has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, facilitating well-being, and in some cases, curing gastritis and peptic ulcer. It helps with burns.

It uses not only papaya fruits, but also leaves and roots. They make anthelmintic and birth control drugs, drugs that relieve asthma patients.

Possible harm to papaya

Papaya fruit contraindicationsprimarily concern those who suffer from allergic reactions. Latex juice, contained not only in the fruit, but also in all other parts of the plant, can be irritating, in severe cases leading to burns. Especially a lot of it in fresh, just removed, from a branch of unripe fruits.

In addition, the fruits contain the alkaloid Karpain. In fact, this is a weak poison, due to which the plant is attributed anthelmintic properties. Excessive consumption of papaya can lead to severe poisoning.

Bread tree, angel fruit, impatient gardener tree, fruit bomb - the tropical papaya has many names, and this is no coincidence. The noble taste, bright color and unique properties have long given papaya a well-deserved love on all continents, although in Russia they are still wary of it.

Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of a melon tree (this is what papaya is officially called) - look for this South American beauty in stores, bring from vacations or just buy candied fruit from papaya. Overseas fruit slices with a bite to give you a piece of the tropical sun and the undoubted benefit to the body.

Native American fruit for the legendary conqueror

The birthplace of papaya is Mexico and South America. The Indians have long appreciated this fruit for its healing power, the bark of a tree as material for ropes and ropes, and the leaves were used on the farm to wash clothes. Perhaps the universal fruit would remain a treasure of the American natives for a long time if Christopher Columbus had not once stepped into the southern lands (although sometimes it seems that it would be better if herds of bison and happy Indians instead of these arrogant capitalists would have flocked to the USA).

The captain and his team, after a severe journey, made a merry feast, and when they began to suffer from overeating, compassionate Indians took them to the forest and fed them papaya fruits to alleviate the fate of the northerners. Delighted with the taste and healing effect of the melon tree, Columbus christened it “the fruit of the angels."

Papaya - palm tree or breadfruit?

Today, papaya is grown in South and Central America, in Cuba, India, Indonesia - in many countries where it is warm and humid. If you search the Papaya tree on the net, the photos will show a very unusual palm with a smooth trunk, sprawling leaves at the top and fruits that look like, sticking out in different directions - green, yellow, orange ...

Exotic papaya resembles a native melon culture not only externally, but also to taste - moreover, the aroma of ripe fruits is associated with many with. However, the real transformations begin if you bake or fry the papaya - it exudes a warm smell of fresh bread, for which it was nicknamed the bread tree.

Papaya grows very quickly and begins to bear fruit in the first year, although the bread tree has a lifespan of only a few years. For such activity, with the light hand of scientists, they began to call the fruit an impatient gardener's tree: there are 1-2 “melons” on each leaf of this wonderful palm, and papaya propagates, as in a fairy tale. A seed fell on fertile tropical land - and soon a tree grew with fragrant fruits!

Doctor from South America

For the distant resemblance to an explosive device, the papaya received another name - a fruit bomb. And it's really a real bomb - but only a vitamin!

Papaya is a unique fruit: medicine uses the healing properties of all its parts: fruits, seeds, bark, leaves ... In the pulp of papaya - the optimal set of vital vitamins and elements: C, groups B, A and D, calcium and potassium, magnesium and iron. The “fruit of the angels” has long been valued for its antipyretic and antiviral effects, and its ability to reduce and relieve inflammation.

And also a tropical melon - a recognized mood improver! Although the pleasant aroma and sweet taste of the fruit alone can relieve any spleen, in southern countries, experts often recommend that patients regularly eat papaya for a month. As part of the treatment course for depression.

So, papaya - the beneficial properties of this fruit are largely known for its magic enzyme - papain. In its effect, the enzyme is similar to gastric juice - it breaks down proteins, speeds up digestion, removes constipation and relieves heaviness in the stomach. It was papain who at one time saved Columbus and his sailors from gluttony, today thanks to this substance the melon tree cures gastritis and heartburn, neutralizes excess acid in the stomach and helps with liver problems.

Papaya also successfully removes toxins from the body, moreover, it is a tasty and effective treatment for worms, safe even for babies. And recent studies in Illinois have shown that the extract of the bark and pulp of papaya can be quite successfully used in the treatment of cancer.

Papaya for female beauty and health.

Like many fruits, papaya is simply an indispensable product for the beautiful half of humanity. This fruit is recommended to eat in the period before menstruation - papaya not only alleviates the symptoms of PMS, relieving irritability and mood swings, but also saturates the female body with iron, so necessary these days.

Despite the sweet taste, the fruits of the melon tree are traditionally used for weight loss. Calorie papaya - no more than 40 kcal per 100 grams, this allows you to include it in any diet.

And in the case when it is not possible to find fresh fruits, there is dried papaya - its useful properties are almost the same as with fresh fruits. If in the pursuit of an ideal figure you count every candy eaten, candied papaya will be your salvation: in combination with tea and coffee this is a truly healing dessert.

Papaya is also appreciated in cosmetology - extracts from colorful pulp treat skin diseases (eczema, fungus, acne) and burns, remove age spots and freckles from the face and neck, narrow pores and reduce swelling, and increase the elasticity of female skin. The legendary papain actively slows hair growth, so papaya is often part of the means for depilation.

To whom papaya can harm

The main contraindication for the use of papaya is individual intolerance. If you are trying this exotic fruit for the first time, be careful - to check the reaction of the body, just one slice of South American melon is enough.

In addition, under the ban - immature papaya, such a fruit can easily harm. It is no coincidence that in ancient times the Indians mixed the juice of green papaya into the food of the enemies so that they would suffer colic in the stomach. Therefore, always carefully choose papaya and make sure that you are not allergic to angelic fruit - then the breadfruit will give you all its benefits. And do not quarrel with the Indians, who can mix the juice of immature papaya with you.

Papaya in cooking

Fragrant papaya is actively used in cooking - it makes desserts, cocktails, ice cream, fruit and regular salads ... The papain enzyme perfectly softens hard meat, so papaya dishes with meat are an important part of exotic cuisine. And if you go on vacation to one of the countries where papaya is grown, be sure to bring home large leaves of the “melon palm” - the meat baked in such leaves acquires an unearthly taste.

The classic papaya recipe is Tom Sam salad, which should include several flavors: sweet, sour, salty and spicy. Here is one of the options for Thai dishes:

You will need:

Papaya - 200-250 grams, small, - 2 pods, a small tomato, - 1 tablespoon (boiled in extreme cases), crushed in a blender - 2 tablespoons, chili peppers - 1 pc., A couple of cloves. For the sauce: palm sugar - 2 tablespoons, - 2-3 tablespoons, lime juice - 3 tablespoons.

Push garlic and chili pepper in a mortar, add the beans, torn into pieces, the liquid components, mix well to get a uniform sauce.

Three carrots and papaya on a roco grater or cut into thin long slices, add finely chopped tomato. Mix with sauce, spread on a plate and sprinkle with peanuts.

How to choose and eat papaya

If you want to know what papaya looks like - the photos will show a large oval or pear-shaped fruit. The peel can be green, yellow or reddish, inside - a bright flesh of color and a lot of black seeds, similar to peas of pepper.

Fresh papaya fruit should have a rich “skin” color without scratches and dark spots, slightly soft to the touch. The fruit may smell good, but too harsh aroma is a signal that the product has started to ferment.

Another question that arises for every lover of exotic fruits: papaya - how is it right? The easiest option is to cut the fruit along, remove all the seeds and eat with a spoon from the peel, as from a plate. Or you can just peel the fruit and cut it into slices, like the usual and more familiar to us “collective farmer” or “torpedo”. This is described in more detail in this video:

Another papaya lover shares his experience in the second video:

And here a man talks about how to grow this fruit at home.

Papaya benefits and harms the body

Papaya contains a special digestive enzyme called, therefore, these fruits are known for their high ability to improve digestion. But improving digestion, which helps the body flush out toxins, is not the only beneficial property of papaya. These tropical fruits, when eaten, can also help the body accelerate wound healing, reduce inflammation, cleanse the blood and much more. Papaya, like other types of tropical fruits, also contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals, flavonoids and antioxidants, and is used throughout the world to improve overall health in a variety of ways.

Papaya Nutrition Facts

Calories: 39 kcal (2%).
Carbohydrates: 9.8 g (3%).
Fiber: 1.8 g (7%).
Vitamin C: 61.8 mg (103%).
Folic Acid: 38 mcg (10%).
Vitamin A: 1094 IU (22%).
Vitamin E: 0.7 mg (4%).
Potassium: 257 mg (7%).

Papaya is replete with vitamin C - when you consume only 100 grams of this fruit, your body receives more than 100% of the recommended daily intake of this important vitamin. This makes papaya a highly antioxidant food, as well as an excellent tool for the prevention of colds or flu in the autumn-spring season. As with most orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, it also contains a lot of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A commonly found in plants.

Beta-carotene has been found to help prevent cancer of the mouth and lungs. Papaya contains a considerable amount of folic acid (vitamin B9), which is necessary for the formation of DNA, which is especially important for pregnant women. It also contains many others, such as pantothenic acid, which are crucial for the efficient use of calories by our bodies.

Papaya also provides the body with important minerals such as potassium and which help maintain healthy bones, regulate fluids, and control blood pressure. Magnesium also helps reduce stress.

Papaya contains flavonoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthin. All of them are antioxidants that help fight free radicals and can help reduce the effects of aging. especially important to reduce the risk of macular degeneration, which is the main cause of age-related vision loss.

The benefits of papaya for the human body

1. Helps digestion

Compounds found in papaya help break down and properly utilize proteins; in particular, papain helps break the bonds between amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Papain is similar to other types of enzymes produced in the pancreas that help our body digest meat. But for these enzymes, acid is needed for activation, and papain can work even without the presence of acid.

Therefore, due to the ability to break the bonds between amino acids, this digestive enzyme can be useful for people suffering from low acidity of the stomach, who cannot tolerate the consumption of certain types of meat. It can also help to better absorb protein for people with nutrient absorption problems.

People with digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, or autoimmune and inflammatory bowel disease can benefit from adding papaya to their diet or taking papain supplements. Because papain helps improve digestion, eating papaya in the morning can help reduce the symptoms of morning sickness in pregnant women. If you are pregnant, eat a slice of papaya for breakfast to soothe your stomach for the whole day.

Eating papaya can help prevent constipation due to the significant amount of fiber it contains and can be especially useful if you eat any kind of processed meat or if you overeat. Papain can be purchased as dietary supplements, but since the use of papaya is useful not only in relation to digestion, why not just enjoy this delicious exotic fruit without resorting to the supplements.

2. Anti-inflammatory property of papaya

2011 study published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research showed that inflammatory markers decreased when subjects were given papaya. Researchers suggest that papaya may help reduce inflammation in people with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, although more research is needed ().

Papain has also been found to help reduce inflammation in people with diseases like asthma and arthritis, and can help reduce inflammation in the prostate gland. Lower levels of inflammation in the body are often associated with a natural slowdown in aging.

3. Improves blood coagulation

There is great interest in using papaya as a blood clotting aid to help people with a condition called thrombocytopenia (a decrease in platelet count in the blood). This is a dangerous condition that can reduce the ability to clot and potentially lead to internal bleeding ().

A study in mice showed that those taking papaya leaf extracts had significantly higher platelet and red blood cell counts after 72 hours than subjects who did not take this supplement. Researchers believe that papaya extract may ultimately become a cure for people with blood diseases (,).

4. The benefits of papaya for the cardiovascular system

Vitamin C also protects against other types of inflammatory diseases, such as gout. It was found that this powerful vitamin reduces C-reactive protein - a marker of inflammation (,).

8. Prevents asthma

Beta-carotene has been found to help reduce the risk of asthma. Adequate intake of vitamin A is especially important for children, as it helps reduce airway inflammation ().

Traditional Polynesian cultures in Hawaii and Tahiti make poultice peel poultices to help heal wounds (the peel of the papaya fruit is especially rich in papain). They applied these poultices directly to the skin to treat burns, rashes, or bites (). Papain can be used to treat fungal and viral skin infections such as warts or ringworm. It helps destroy a layer of protein that protects viruses and fungi from attacks, which helps reduce their ability to reproduce.

Papaya story

Papaya is thought to have grown for the first time in southern Mexico and the Central American regions, where Spanish researchers first encountered seeds and edible sweet fruits and distributed them while traveling in Central America, India, and other Pacific islands.

It is believed that around 1626, seeds were brought to Italy, and then distributed throughout Europe. Today, papaya is used in many types of cuisines - it is common in Pacific island dishes, Thai, Hawaiian, Indian, Malaysian and Filipino recipes, etc.

Papaya: how to choose and cook

Papaya is part of the Karik family of plants. Papaya fruits grow on a woody plant called Papaya or Melon Tree (Carica papaya) in tropical climates. Papaya is a very interesting fruit in that their trees actually come in three “sexes”: male, female, and hermaphrodite. Only a hermaphroditic plant produces papaya fruits, while the other two species produce trees, leaves, and seeds. For this reason, today almost all commercial papaya growers grow papaya hermaphrodite plants, because they contain all the parts necessary for the germination and reproduction of new seeds.

Today, papaya is grown worldwide in different tropical areas: India, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, some US states (Hawaii, Florida and Southern California), and many countries of Central America are the largest producers. The popularity of using papaya in recipes around the world has only continued to grow over the past few decades, and India now produces more than 38% of papaya grown worldwide.

It used to be hard to find papaya outside the tropics, but now it can be found seasonally in most supermarkets. There are two main varieties of papaya: Mexican and Hawaiian. The fruits of the Mexican variety can grow up to 4.5 kg, while the Hawaiian variety is usually less.

Both have sweet orange pulp and dark, gelatinous seeds inside (). When the papaya is not ripe (green), it can only be eaten after cooking. Green papaya is fried, chopped into small pieces and used in the preparation of curry in many Asian dishes. As the papaya ripens, it acquires its yellow-orange color and becomes sweet.

If you buy papaya to eat that day, give preference to one that has a reddish-orange peel and softer to the touch. If there are several black spots on it, this is normal. If the papaya is yellow, ripening will take several days on the counter. Papaya is best eaten at room temperature to make its sweet taste more intense. If you plan to chop it, be sure to eat it right away for a better taste.

Avoid GMO Papaya

The papaya tree is vulnerable to several widespread viruses and fungi that destroy the fruits of the plant, so researchers examined papaya seeds to find out if their genetic change can provide greater protection against viruses.

Researchers have been successful in creating genetically modified (GMO) papaya seeds, making them more resistant to pests and bacteria. They created papaya varieties such as Rainbow Papaya ( Rainbow papaya) and Sunup papaya, which now make up 80% of the papaya grown in Hawaii is one of the world's largest producers.

Due to the fact that you can still find non-GMO papaya, you will need to make sure that you are buying a natural organic version, having learned that papaya has not been changed in any way. GMO crops are often the cause of unwanted allergies and digestive upsets, in addition to more serious problems, so organic non-GMO papaya should always be your priority.

Possible harm to papaya for the body

Papaya can cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to latex. Papaya and other fruits contain a substance called chitinase, which is associated with cross-reactions between latex and fruits. Green papaya contains the greatest potential for allergic reactions, so it should not be eaten raw.

If you consume excess papaya, you may experience the following side effects:

Skin color change

Papaya gets its orange hue from beta-carotene, a nutrient that is converted into Vitamin A when ingested. Average papaya supplies about 15% of Vitamin A's daily intake. Eating too many yellow, green, or orange vegetables and fruits (such as papaya), which contain beta-carotene, can cause skin discoloration - a condition called carotinemia. The palms of the hands and soles of the feet are the most visible areas of the body that are affected by carotenemia, but other areas of the body can also be yellow or orange. Carotinemia should not be confused with jaundice, in which not only the skin turns yellow, but also the whites of the eyes. Jaundice is a sign of a high level of bilirubin in the blood; carotemia is harmless. Reducing papaya intake will help eliminate skin discoloration.

Respiratory distress

Papaya harm can also be associated with the potential likelihood of allergies to papain, which is used to alleviate the symptoms associated with gastrointestinal problems and counteract sore throat. According to scientists at Purdue University, papain is also a potential allergen. People who eat too much papaya and consume too much papain can experience symptoms associated with hay fever or asthma, including wheezing, shortness of breath, and nasal congestion.

Possible kidney stones

One papaya 13 cm long with a diameter of 8 cm contains up to 310% of the daily value of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that can help protect against the development of blood vessel diseases, cancer and high blood pressure. Consuming more than 1,200 mg of vitamin C per day for children or more than 2,000 mg per day for adults can cause toxic symptoms, including oxalate kidney stones. Oxalate is a byproduct of vitamin C when the nutrient is metabolized.

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Gastrointestinal symptoms can be a side effect of eating too much papaya. Ironically, the same papain that soothes your stomach can cause upset stomachs in large numbers. The high fiber content in papaya can also contribute to an upset digestive system when you consume it in excess, and latex in the skin of the fetus can cause stomach irritation.