Nutrition: What to remember about the nutritional values ​​of papaya

“I don’t remember when I took a product to treat constipation or the inability to pass stools easily. A ripe papaya is the solution to the problem that makes many people run to the pharmacy,” he confides, he who only has plants to treat the ailments from which he suffers.

“Nature has endowed us with everything in Africa,” he likes to say to anyone who will listen. He has two papaya trees at home and, according to him, he “uses the small black seeds of the papaya and the leaves to treat wounds and other things.”

Papaya is generally covered with a green skin that turns yellow when ripe. At this stage, you must consume the papaya to benefit from all its taste qualities. It has a deliciously fragrant taste.

Papaya is a fruit rich in fiber and highly vitaminized. According to nutritionists, it contains antioxidant substances that the body needs for its proper functioning.

According to Alfred Kanssou, dietitian-nutritionist in Cotonou, 100g of papaya contains 42.2g of calories, 0.75g of proteins, 8.53g of carbohydrates, 0.2g of lipids, 1.8g of dietary fiber. It also contains glycemic loads and antioxidants.

“I no longer need to buy vitamin C at the pharmacy. Papaya contains so much that its consumption, very often, can fill this need of the body. It’s a fruit that I have always recommended to those looking for vitamin C in foods,” says Uncle Charles.

Nutritionists claim that you can get the daily value of vitamin C just by eating a papaya.

It is a fruit that also contains vitamin A, especially for women. Papaya is also a source of vitamin E, B5, B9 and potassium.

Nutritionists have always been vocal about the health benefits of the presence of antioxidants in fruits. And naturally, papaya also contains these elements which are protective agents of the body against cancer cells.

According to Dr. Kanssou, it is best to consume papaya when it is very ripe to benefit from its antioxidant effect, in particular the vitamin E it contains.

“Eaten ripe papaya allows the constipated person to feel comfortable. And since I learned from my nutritionist that it can be an effective protector against cancer, I don’t miss the opportunity to consume it. This is also why I have always wanted to have this tree in my house,” underlines Charles.

However, specialists point out that it is especially among women that the regular consumption of papaya, perhaps associated with other fruits such as melon, that we observe a reduction in the risk of breast or cervical cancer. the uterus.

The orange color of papaya comes from the beta-carotene it contains. This element, which is an antioxidant, promotes the production of vitamin A thanks to the carotenoid (cryptoxanthin in particular) which are responsible for anti-carcinogenic activities, according to nutritionists.

“Papaya contains a type of carotenoid, cryptoxanthin, which could reduce the risk of atherosclerosis in humans,” says Dr. Alfred Kanssou, who also informs that this fruit also contains lycopene, especially when it is fully ripe.

He specifies that the consumption of foods and fruits containing lycopene can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Papaya also provides dietary fiber which is recommended for the human and animal body.

“There is a liquid called latex that sits between the flesh and skin of the papaya. It is found when the fruit is not yet too ripe. An enzyme can be obtained from this latex, called papain. It is this enzyme which eliminates, through its keratolytic effect, dead cells on the surface of the epidermis, without disturbing healthy cells,” underlines Dr Alfred who adds that papaya also has cosmetic properties.

According to him, the beta-carotenes contained in papaya are also good for the hair. They help with their regrowth and make them more supple and vigorous. Those who suffer from hair loss can use it.

“It was once recommended to me by my hairdresser to cure my baldness, but I didn’t find the need to do it. I recognize that a lot of things are said about papaya healing hair. I use the whole plant and fruit for treatments,” recognizes Charles.

Papaya also has antidiabetic effects, according to some specialists in this fruit. It is used as a stimulant in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The carotenoids which are polyphenols contained in papaya give it antioxidant properties which fight against diabetes.

Many people use the black seeds inside the papaya to cure certain health-related problems. The best known is the solution to the worm problem. “Papaya seeds are very effective in treating worms,” says Uncle Charles.

They are effective against fungi, worms, including roundworms, pinworms, and bacteria.

In addition to their use as a dewormer, papaya seeds can also be used to promote digestion.

“You can take 3 to 4 seeds, chew them well and swallow them. But I usually dry them, then crush them to get a powder that I put in porridge or in a glass of water to drink. This helps balance the intestinal flora and fights against certain digestive parasites,” confirms the nutritionist.

Thanks to the essential fatty acids they contain, these seeds help calm inflammation. They also relieve joint pain, osteoarthritis, etc.

They play a protective role against stress thanks to their richness in antioxidants. They also have virtues against premature cellular aging.

It is used by infusing a few grams of papaya leaves in hot water. A herbal tea which should be drunk three times a day, after passing the decoction under a filter.

Papaya as a plant has medicinal properties. It helps wounds heal, treats acne, insect bites, edema, irritation. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, etc.

Having a papaya tree at home, as many experts on this plant point out, is a treasure. From the leaves to the roots, including the stem and the fruits with their deliciously fragrant taste, the papaya tree has many recognized virtues.