Depending on where you come from, papaya or pawpaw is a tropical fruit with great nutritional value. The only difference between the two is in their appearance. Papaya has red flesh and an oval shape while pawpaw has yellow flesh and a round shape. The truth is, papaya isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s not the most favourite fruit and many people would skip it altogether. However, this underrated fruit packs some of the best health benefits in any fruit. Its one of those fruits whose seeds and leaves also contain health benefits proving that, indeed, papaya is a super fruit. Here are some of the health benefits that papaya has to offer.
Improves Eyesight
Poor eyesight is one of the most common illnesses. In the age of technology, more people are at risk of suffering from bad eyesight due to prolonged exposure to light. Papaya is rich in Vitamin A which is an essential vitamin for good eyesight. It prevents vision deterioration due to age, light and dust exposure or illnesses thus ensuring that you enjoy good eyesight even in your sunset days. Therefore, to prevent blurry vision, add papaya to your diet. Check out 7 Ways To Care For Your Eyes
Antioxidant Effects
Cancer has become a health catastrophe without any cure in sight. Therefore, it’s up to us to ensure that we protect our bodies against cancer-causing elements. Eating food and fruits rich in antioxidant properties like papaya keeps cancerous cells in check by neutralizing free radicals created during metabolism. It is especially instrumental in fighting breast cancer. Among 14 fruits and vegetables with known antioxidant properties, only papaya demonstrated anticancer activity in breast cancer cells.
Boosts Heart Health
Since papaya fights bad cholesterol, this leads to a healthier heart. When cholesterol oxides, it forms lumps on the walls of the arteries causing clogs which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Check out What Should You Do to Keep Your Heart Healthy? The seeds are also good in maintaining a healthy heart as they contain Vitamin A, C and E which prevent problems like diabetic heart diseases. Therefore, papayas are a great fruit to keep your heart young and healthy. Check out 10 Heart Friendy Food To Add To Your Diet
Protects Against Arthritis
This fruit protects against inflammatory arthritis thanks to its high content of Vitamin c which is an anti-inflammatory ingredient. In one study, they found that people who consumed less vitamin-c rich foods were three times more likely to develop arthritis than those who consumed higher amounts. Additionally, papaya can be used to ease the inflammation as a result of arthritis. So, you can recommend papayas to your relatives who might suffer from arthritis. The Health Benefits Of Vitamin C, Food Sources And Its Benefits In Fighting COVID-19
Treats Irritable Bowel Movement
Having a runny stomach can be embarrassing and uncomfortable especially when you are in a crowd. Unfortunately, it can be caused by anything from the water we drink, the food we eat or medication. To avoid such embarrassments, you can have a papaya fruit frequently. Papaya has a high fibre content that aid in digestion as well as promoting healthy bowel movements.
Lowers Blood Sugar
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death right now. Additionally, if not managed properly, it can lead to further complications such as blindness. It is, therefore, paramount that you lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent and manage diabetes. Studies have shown that papaya contains properties that have a hypoglycemic effect which lowers your sugar levels. How to live with diabetes
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