Papaya is known as the "King of a Hundred Benefits." According to Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica," papaya is warm in nature and sour in taste. It pacifies the liver and harmonizes the stomach, relaxes muscles and tendons, invigorates the bones, and lowers blood pressure.
Modern medicine has proven that the fruit contains carpaine, papain, rennin, carotene, and more than seventeen amino acids along with various other nutrients. The compound oleanolic acid it contains is known for its liver-protective and enzyme-lowering, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, and blood lipid-lowering effects.
Research has also found that papaya has the ability to prevent the synthesis of carcinogenic nitrosamines in the human body. The vitamin C content in papaya is an incredible 48 times that of an apple! Regular consumption of papaya has health benefits such as pacifying the liver and harmonizing the stomach, relaxing muscles and activating blood circulation, softening blood vessels, providing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, anti-aging and beauty enhancement, cancer prevention, and strengthening the body. Papaya is a nutritious treasure of a fruit with a hundred benefits and no harm.
The Wonderful Uses of Papain
The milky latex found in papaya contains an enzyme called "papain," with the content in unripe green papaya being about twice that of ripe red papaya. It is the best protein-digesting enzyme and can help the human body break down meat protein. Therefore, consuming it after a meal can regulate the intestines and aid digestion, and it has effects on treating gastritis, indigestion, and other digestive ailments. In cooking, it is what we often call "tenderizer." Its function is to break down the connective tissue of meat, making it more tender and succulent. Therefore, when papaya is used to stew meat, the meat will also be more tender. Additionally, papain helps to break down and remove old, dead skin cells from the surface, so it is also commonly used in cosmetics and skincare products.
Rich in Various Nutrients
Papaya is sweet, fragrant, and juicy, and it contains a variety of nutrients, including vitamins A, B, B1, B2, C, and proteins, iron, calcium, papain, organic acids, and high fiber. Its richness in nutrients makes it almost the king among all fruits. The content of vitamins A and C is particularly high, five times that of watermelon and banana. The vitamin C it contains has the function of preventing colds. Generally, the darker the color of a fruit or vegetable, the higher its nutritional value. The flesh of papaya is bright red and contains a large amount of beta-carotene, a natural antioxidant that can effectively fight free radicals that damage body cells and accelerate aging. Therefore, it also has anti-cancer effects, earning it the title "Longevity Melon."
In beverages, papaya stewed with snow fungus and papaya milk are considered holy grails for moisturizing the skin, enhancing beauty, and promoting regularity due to their high content of vitamins A, C, and fiber. Furthermore, papaya is also a holy grail for breast enhancement and can stimulate mammary glands to secrete milk, increasing the amount of milk a mother can produce. There is a folk remedy that is quite effective: stewing papaya and pig's trotter together. If you don't like pig's trotter, you can use grass carp instead. First, fry the fish tail until fragrant, then stew it with green papaya, and the effect is just as good. Additionally, "Green Papago and Pork Rib Soup" and "Papaya Stewed with Snow Clams" are also well-known folk remedies for promoting lactation.
However, it should be reminded that most melons are considered cooling in nature. Therefore, people with a cold stomach or a weak constitution should not eat too much, as it is easy to cause diarrhea or a feeling of nausea and wanting to vomit. This is a point to pay special attention to when consuming it.