Find out what are the most common health benefits of eating dried papaya.
A tropical fruit, papaya is blessed with a sweet, unique, and exotic taste. It is rich in natural dietary fiber, beta-carotene, and antioxidants. When dried, the papaya spears offer a perfect way to satisfy your sweet craving. At the same time, it provides your body with a generous source of energizing nutrients.
SEE ALSO: 3 Easy Methods of Drying Papaya
The following are the main health benefits of dried papaya.
The Amazing Health Benefits of Dried Papaya
Dried papaya promotes heart health
The rich vitamins A and C content in dried papaya helps promote a healthy heart. The vitamins prevent cholesterol oxidation, keeping the blood from clotting in the blood vessels. Papaya also strengthens the blood vessels, in the process lowering the pressure. The risk of having a cardiac arrest and other heart-related ailments is thus reduced significantly. For heart health, it is best to consume papaya during breakfast or snacks. While many heart patients find it hard to maintain a healthy diet while attending to their regular activities, adding papaya to the regular fare will help.
Lowers blood pressure and stress levels
Dried papaya consumption can help reduce both blood pressure and stress levels. The high potassium content helps counterbalance the blood sodium, thus preventing blood pressure spikes. High blood pressure can sometimes increase or create stress in the body. Dried papaya can serve as a stress reducer.
The fruit regulates the body’s hormones while it boosts the function of the adrenal gland in producing cortisol. The hormone is essential in lowering the levels of stress caused by emotions, as well as the physical or mental state. The vitamin C in dried papaya helps in restoring the energy you need to perform your regular tasks.
Dried papaya helps you lose unwanted weight
Consuming dried papaya helps you lose unwanted weight. It comes with an enormous fat-burning potential if consumed on a regular basis, ideally every 2 days in a week, for a period of 2 – 3 months. Papaya burns fat by cleansing the walls of the intestines with an enzyme known as Papain. This helps increase the body’s metabolic rate for a more effective fat-burning process. Eat dried papaya with any meal.
Boosts energy
Dried papaya is a rich source of fiber and vitamin C that helps boost energy. It makes your tummy feel full for a longer period of time. The dried fruit can help you perform tasks for hours – without easily getting tired, depending on your food intake and your physical condition.
The increased vitamin C level, together with potassium, can help balance blood pressure, build healthy muscles, and maintain a heartbeat. It is best consumed during the day such as lunch or breakfast as this is the time when people need the energy to sustain them throughout the day.
Improves vision
There are various benefits of dried papaya for the eyes. This includes the prevention of glaucoma, cataracts, and other similar eye conditions. It also protects the eyes from harmful radioactive rays that can damage the retina. An increased intake of dried papaya can help keep your eyes energized and ailment-free. Mainly responsible for the fruit’s eye-protection properties is its nutrient content including beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin A.
Improves skin health
Dried papaya’s enzymes help improve the skin in both men and women. These active enzymes make the skin soft, smooth, and lithe. They replace old skin with rejuvenated new skin by getting rid of dirt traces on the skin. The dried fruit also helps minimize pigmentation by clearing the skin’s dark spots using papaya’s skin lightening contents like beta-carotene, as well as phytochemicals. This results in fairer skin.
The nutrients likewise flake dead skin cells off and remove the excess protein that blemishes the skin. Because of its ability to eliminate dead skin, dried papaya is considered an anti-aging treatment. It also helps remove age spots and wrinkles.
Improves hair condition
Dried papaya’s folic acid helps in proper hair follicle circulation. This results in continuous hair growth. Including dried papaya in your regular diet will help your hair grow healthy and strong. With its antifungal properties, dried papaya can also prevent or control dandruff. In addition, the fruit can likewise act as a hair conditioner that helps lengthen your hair’s life cycle, while making it hydrated and soft. It also provides a generous amount of vitamin A that triggers the formation of sebum to keep your hair conditioned at all times.
Enhances the immune system
If you often get sick due to exposure to viruses and bacteria in the environment, regular consumption of dried papaya can help you fight these disease carriers. With its antioxidants, papaya gets rid of the radical waste that wreaks havoc on your immune system.
Its folic acid content also helps improve your immune system’s overall function. The vitamin C in papaya improves the body’s ability to absorb iron from food intake. Dried papaya is also ideal for breastfeeding and pregnant women as it helps the body fight off various ailments that are common to nursing and expectant mothers.
May kill cancer cells
The ability of dried papaya to combat cancerous cells isn’t widely publicized, although the fruits chemotherapeutic benefits have been documented in various cancer studies and research. Its rich flavonoid content is responsible for papaya’s ability to reduce various types of cancer like prostate, breast, and colon cancer. Papaya contains different flavonoid groups, with each group having a distinct function in fighting cancerous cells in the body.
Treats gout
Gout results from excess uric acid accumulation in the body that ultimately gets crystallized. Gout causes joint pain, redness, and inflammation. These can keep you from performing your normal activities. Papaya has anti-inflammatory agents that help reduce swelling due to gout. The fruit also prevents gout by neutralizing the body’s uric acid level. This is possible because of the alkaline level in papaya. Papaya also helps in proper digestion, and in getting rid of excess acids in the body.
Delicious and tasty papaya is a generous source of essential nutrients. It contains potent antioxidants such as lycopene that lower your risk of various diseases, in particular, those that are age-related like cancer and heart disease.
Dried papaya also protects the body from visible aging signs. It also helps your skin remain youthful and smooth. Adding the fruit into your regular diet will help you enjoy the many benefits of dried papaya.
NB! Eating dried papaya is not a substitute for traditional medicine. Consult your doctor!
READ ALSO: Health Benefits of Dried Fruits: More Than Just A Yummy Snack
