Perfect Papaya

The glowing yellow skin of the papaya makes it a mouth-watering sight to see. It's delicious and loaded with nutrients.

The succulent flesh can be a salmon or dark orangish color and it has a sweet yet tart taste.

The center of this fruit is packed with peppery seeds. You can eat these, but they're generally thrown away. They do add flavor to sauces and dressings.

This fruit contains an enzyme, papain, which makes a great meat tenderizer. Meats have been wrapped with the leaves for tenderization.

Choose one with a rich colored skin and gives slightly under palm pressure. Green ones will ripen fast at room temperature. Keep the ripe fruit refrigerated and it should be used right away.

Maturation brings on the sweetness that works so well in desserts.

It is used in pies, salads, juices, and sherbets. Similar to the texture of squash, it can be cooked in the same way.

Nutritional Value

It contains Vitamins C and A, potassium, high ascorb acid content, thiamine. iron, calcium, niacin and riboflavin.

Health Benefits of Papaya

The vitamin C acts as an antihistamine, which reduces swelling in the mucous lining of the nose. This helps reduce the risk to allergies.

It has concentrated Vitamin A and beta carotene, antioxidants that maintain healthy cells in eyes. This reduces the risk of diseases that cause blindness.

They are the only source of papain, an enzyme that breaks down hard to digest protein into small components. It prevents the build up of bloating, heartburn and acid reflux.

It contains chymopapain, an enzyme that reduces inflammation and strengthens blood vessels. This accelerates recovery time for wounds and bruises.