Papayas

There are many varieties of papayas, all of which are different colors. Look for fruit with smooth unblemished skin, avoid those with soft spots or bruises. Papayas are ripe when they emit a soft, fruit aroma and are generally 3/4 yellow/orange in color, again depending on variety.

Wash papayas carefully in cool water before using. Papayas should be peeled and seeded before eating. Green papaya can be used in salsa and added to stews or soups like a vegetable. Papaya seeds are peppery and can be pulverized for salad dressing and marinade. Peel, seed and blend a papaya with milk, yogurt or orange juice for a breakfast meal or rum for exotic tropical drinks.

Store unripe papayas at room temperature away from sunlight. To ripen a papaya quickly, place it in a brown bag with an apple. Another way is to score the outer skin into quarters and place with narrow end up in a glass container. Leave for one or two days. To store a ripe papaya, keep it in the crisper bin of your refrigerator, away from other fruits and vegetables for a day or two.

Papaya contains the digestive enzyme papain, which helps your body break down and digest proteins.

Papaya

Nutritional Facts:

  • Papayas are fat-free
  • Papayas are saturated fat-free
  • Papayas are very low in sodium
  • Papayas are cholesterol-free
  • Papayas are a good source of fiber
  • Papayas are high in vitamin C
  • Papayas are a good source of folate

Papaya Supplement

Papaya Enzyme Papaya (Carica papaya) has long been enjoyed as a delicious food, but now it is also recognized as a safe and natural digestive aid. For thousands of years, natives in South America have used papaya because of its ability to break down tough meat fibers. This is due to an enzyme called papain. Papain is used today in commercially available powdered meat tenderizers.

Unlike other papaya products on the market for a similar price - or more - Vitabase Papaya chewable includes Alpha amylase enzyme. Amylase is the name given for enzymes that break down dietary starch. While papain works to break down meat in your digestive track, amylase helps digest starch and carbohydrates like those found in potatoes, rice, beans and cereals.

Papaya Enzyme is a powerful combination for aiding digestive problems and getting more nutrients from the foods you eat every day. And it's very inexpensive. As a dietary supplement, adults chew one (1) tablet with meals, or as directed by a health care professional. Store in a cool, dry place and away from direct light.

See also:
Clobber the Common Cold -- with Food!

Printable Recipe

Papaya Salsa (New window)

See also:
Papaya Gorp
Citrus and Papaya Salad
Orange Papaya Shake Break

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