Find out the amazing weight loss benefits of papaya, how to best prepare it, and how much you should eat to get the most out of papayas, one of the amazing natural fat burning foods.
Papayas grow on a tree that is actually a herb.
Eaten as a fruit, papaya is sweet and flavorful, and a great way to get your recommended daily serving of fruit!
There are two varieties of papaya that most people prefer to eat. The two types are the Hawaiian papaya and the Mexican papaya. You will often notice the Hawaiian variety in your grocery store.
This is known as the Solo papaya, and it is similar in shape to a pear, with a yellow skin tone and bright orange or pink flesh. Mexican papayas sometimes weigh up to 20 pounds each, more than Hawaiian papayas. They don’t have as strong a flavor as the Hawaiian variety, but they are quite delicious.
Papaya tastes similar to mixed peaches and melons, a very delicious fruit!
Benefits of papaya to burn fat
Papaya contains a large amount of vitamins C and A. It is not high in calories, has no fat, has no cholesterol, and is rich in potassium, fiber, and folic acid; therefore, it is a nutritious fruit to eat on a daily basis.
The main health benefit of papaya is to aid digestion.
The proteolytic enzyme papain found in papaya is helpful in breaking down proteins, fats, and starches in the body and is also helpful in cleansing the digestive tract by removing unnecessary protein byproducts.
This is an additional food to add to your diet to burn fat, because it indicates that there is not as much food in your metabolism that is being converted to fat. Also, papaya is good for your entire endocrine system.
The fruit is also considered a nutritional powerhouse, rich in the aforementioned vitamins A and C, folic acid, fiber, and potassium, as well as eye-essential vitamin E, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene.
Some health researchers indicate that papaya belongs in the top three fruit list of all people who regularly eat different kinds of fruits.
Compared to oranges, they have 50% more potassium and 13 times more vitamin C, plus they have fewer calories. Also, papayas have a higher vitamin E content than oranges or apples.
Papaya also aids the body in the production of the amino acid arginine, which activates the growth hormone that causes rejuvenation of muscle, liver and bone cells. Papaya juice helps make your skin softer and more supple.
It is especially good for people with light complexions, and is often made into moisturizing creams that are helpful in protecting the skin and preventing premature skin aging.
You really have a nutritional powerhouse when you drink pineapple juice with papayas, because pineapple juice is high in an essential enzyme called bromelain.
It is believed that papaya can decrease the possibility of colon and cervical cancer.
Preparation of the Papaya
You can try eating a few slices of papaya raw or dicing it (about one cup per serving). However, it is better to take it with a meal (such as fruits and additional foods) rather than eating it on its own. The reason is that it has beta-cryptozanthin, which is better absorbed by the body if you consume it with some fat.
Papaya can be mashed up or used as an ingredient in a fiery hot sauce. For a delicious breakfast smoothie, mix it with yogurt, milk, or orange juice.
Blend papaya to use as a sorbet or ice cream base. Alternatively, you can puree papaya and use it as a healthy salad dressing to mix into your green salads.
Sliced or diced papaya is a great ingredient to add to a fruit salad – throw in molasses, strawberries or other delicious fruits for a bright, healthy and flavorful treat!
When you want to buy a papaya, try to find fruit that is partially or fully yellow in color.
It should give a little when you press on it, but it shouldn’t be too soft where the end of the stem meets. Don’t buy fruit that has bruises, cuts, mold, wrinkles, or soft spots. If you don’t cut a papaya, they won’t have any smell. The aroma is produced after small, sweet papayas are opened.
Place unripe green papayas in a paper bag at room temperature to ripen. Check frequently, as the fruit will ripen quickly. When ripe, place the papayas in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator for about a week. Once the papayas are ripe, it’s a good idea to eat them immediately or at least within a couple of days.
There is an enzyme known as papain found in papaya. This is the reason why papaya is known for its ability to tenderize meat.
Papaya seeds are also quite edible. They taste similar to pepper, and some people use the seeds as a substitute for peppercorns.
How much to consume
One cup of sliced papaya equals approximately 140 grams.