Is there really one fruit that can give you fresh glowing skin, regular periods, and a flattened tum? Yep. You better believe it. Papaya, AKA ‘the fruit of the angels’ is well known to provide a TON of life-changing benefits. So if you’re looking to start getting healthy and beautiful, consider this delicious fruit.
It protects your heart.
When cholesterol becomes oxidized it clogs and narrows your arteries, but thanks to papaya’s amazing benefits it can do lots for your cholesterol. Its rich source of vitamins B, C, E, beta-carotene, and lycopene helps reduce the oxidation of cholesterol within your body’s arteries, which can only be a good thing!
So by increasing your intake of foods like papaya, you can improve the blood flow to your heart, thereby reducing your chances of heart attack and stroke! Don’t know about you, but we are all over this.
It gives you glowing skin.
Papaya has special enzymes called papain which act as an exfoliation agent by breaking down the surface of the skin cells, lock in moisture, reduce pore size, and keep the wrinkles at bay.
Director of natural skincare range, Rhodes to Heaven, Annabel Rhodes says, “It has an incredibly high amount of antioxidants making it amazingly effective at removing dead skin cells as a natural exfoliator and also aids skin repair.”
This not only means it can give you radiant skin but its exfoliating benefits can also do wonders for dandruff, blemishes, and dry cracked heels too! For a quick natural pick-me-up apply fresh thin slices of papaya on your face for 25 minutes. Failing that, try this papaya resurfacing peel from Ling Skincare. We’re totally in love!
It aids digestion.
Papaya is great for aiding poor digestion. Its healing powers help take the stress off your digestive system helping you metabolize and break down foods faster than ever before!
Nutritionist at The Nutri Centre, Lorna Driver-Davies explains further, “Papaya is well-known to support healthy digestion as it contains natural enzymes for general digestion but in particular protein digestion.
It’s a great food source for diabetics.
This mouth-watering fruit can be eaten without having to fret over high natural sugar content which makes it a no-brainer for diabetics! What’s more, papaya is also a fantastic source of antioxidants, making it a practical and affordable choice for anyone seeking a guilt-free treat.
It’s anti-aging.
Ladies, it’s time to eat your way to younger-looking skin and papaya’s abundance of natural alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) will help make your skin look brighter, plumper, and smoother (without the dizzying price tag).
Furthermore, the “low sodium quality of papaya means it’s amazing for hydrating the skin and increasing the elasticity and suppleness,” says Annabel. Sounds like a winner to us!
It helps reduce cholesterol levels.
This orange fleshy fruit is an ideal option to help reduce your cholesterol level, which has proven to abate with a fiber-rich diet.
For a heart-healthy breakie, add sliced papaya to a bowl of natural porridge first thing in the morning. Both foods contain cholesterol-fighting fibers which help eliminate low-density lipoprotein (LDL), ‘the bad cholesterol’ from the body.
It’s a tasty way to fight cancer.
Nutrient-rich foods are known to help protect the body’s natural defense. Like many fruits, papaya is rich in antioxidants. But it’s pretty hard to compete with since it’s combined with cancer-fighting lycopene and another (less well known) carotenoid called beta-cryptoxanthin, which proves to protect against lung cancer.
Annabel says, “Research has shown that Papaya is a potent cancer fighter that is highly effective against hormone-related cancers as well as other cancers. It can help to stop the growth of breast cancer cells, halt metastasis, and normalize the cell cycle.”
As a natural cancer-fighting remedy try papaya extract with green tea. Evidence suggests that the two help slow tumor growth and kill cancer cells.
It’s an anti-inflammatory.
It might be a hell of a long time ago but in 1492, Christopher Columbus coined the papaya as the ‘fruit of the angels’ for its amazing anti-inflammatory powers. He was obviously onto something as research found that the fruit’s proteolytic enzymes can be JUST as effective as many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. While papaya’s soothing properties can also help relieve pain from ailments such as arthritis, edema, and osteoporosis.
it helps to control menstrual Irregularities.
Papaya is another period-loving food we’re obsessed with. Just take it from women around the world who regularly use pawpaw to help regulate their menstrual cycles, especially during menopause.
And because papaya’s a natural anti-inflammatory, it’s also a great way to help alleviate painful period cramps too!
It can help flatten your stomach.
Want to shed that last bit of blubber? Papaya’s super enzyme, papain helps to promote faster digestion, relieve constipation, and promote healthy waterworks which ALL aid efficient weight loss.
Furthermore, one cup is only 55 calories so you’re hardly compromising your summer beach bod, are we right?
Boost your eye health.
Papaya is the ultimate eye insurance! Much like carrots, papaya provides us with carotenoids. Being rich in beta-carotene, carotenoids lutein, AND zeaxanthin make it a fab way to help against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.
Tip: Try to eat at least three or more fresh fruits per day as studies have proven that it can greatly reduce your risk of AMD.
Source: sofeminine.co.uk
