For the last ten weeks, I have been handling one superfruit at a time of the 20 (mango, fig, orange, strawberry, goji (wolfberry), red grape, cranberry, kiwifruit, papaya, blueberry, sweet and sour cherries, red raspberry, seaberry, guava, blackberry, black currant, date, pomegranate, acai (assai), prune) recommended by Dr. Paul Gross in his book Superfruits. I am following the order he put them in, which is according to nutrient and phytochemical contents, scientific researches, and human trials.

Papaya, Carica papaya, is a delicious fruit with smooth texture. It is grown in tropical regions worldwide. The fruit is appreciated for its taste, texture, and refreshing effect. The pulp and seeds are valued for their medicinal and healing actions on bacteria, amebas, parasites (intestinal worms), and fungi. The dried seed infusion is used as an effective remedy to eliminate intestinal parasites.

An important nutrient in the papaya fruit is papain, an enzyme that has digestive action on proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. The enzyme helps break up protein in the digestive tract. When papain is applied on warts, it makes them disintegrate. It has multiple medicinal, cosmetic, and industrial uses. In the beauty product arena, it is included as an active component in shampoos to nourish the hair and in toothpastes to whiten teeth and remove plaque. Among all the superfruits, papaya has the most diverse medicinal and industrial uses.

The food industry uses papain as meat-tenderizer for cooking and in chewing gum and candy for its digestive effect. In South America, papaya is employed as a natural remedy to treat jellyfish, bee, wasp, and mosquito stings and snake bites. It works by deactivating toxic proteins in the poisons. The meat-tenderizing powder can also be made into paste with water and applied to the area of the sting. Creams with papain exist to heal infected wounds.

Papaya’s orange pigment offers an abundance of beta-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A. The fruit is also rich in B vitamins and C, soluble fiber, potassium, and other essential minerals. The little black seeds in the cavity of the fruit have potent medicinal value because of their richness in micronutrients, essential fatty acids, and phytocompounds like isothiocyanates and glucosinolates similar to broccoli’s and cauliflower’s brassica chemical.

Due to papaya’s powerful carotenoids coming from the orange pigment and the enzyme papain, the fruit is getting more attention in research and for therapeutic uses. Brazilian scientists discovered that papain is not only effective on the human level, but also as an active component in the development, ripeness, and lifespan of the papaya and the plant itself. Papain affects them in a similar way as it is thought to behave in the human body. Like naturally-occurring human enzymes, it influences the digestion, blood clotting, wound healing, and tumor growths.

Papaya in research demonstrated multiple actions on different diseases such as diabetes, inflammation, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. The dried papaya seeds are found to provide antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-parasitic properties. In clinical trials, papain, showed effectiveness in healing ulcers and wounds in diabetic patients, thus preventing gangrene as well as amputation. A medication made of papain, under testing, appears to help treat irritated skin and speed healing in skin grafting.

According to John Pitchford’s book “Healing with Whole Foods,” carpaine in the papaya fruit has active chemicals that act on cervical tumors, prompting their reduction. Such anti-tumor activity can be good news to patients with malignant growths.

A recent 2010 research from the University of Florida and Japan indicated that papaya leaf extract and its tea showed anti-cancer activity on tumors of the cervix, breast, lungs, liver, and pancreas. The finding supports Asian and Vietnamese traditional healing beliefs. When a large amount of papaya leaf extract was applied on cancer cells, it increased a substance called Th1-type cytokines, which was found to stimulate the immune system responses to selectively attack cancer cells, resulting in tumor regression.

In Indian therapy, it is believed that papaya flesh has dual effects on the digestive system. With constipation, it eases bowel movement and with diarrhea, it corrects the condition.

To tenderize tough meat and add nutrients, marinate it with chunks of papaya or use the readymade meat-tenderizer.

Because of their peppery flavor, papaya’s dried seeds are sometimes employed as a pepper substitute. Try chewing a few fresh papaya seeds. They do have an interesting peppery flavor. They also detoxify the body and provide health benefits.

In Hawaii, papaya is served with lime. The tartness of lime adds an interesting flavor to the sweetish fruit. Whether you have papaya as a fruit, juice, smoothie, milk shake, ice-cream, sorbet, for breakfast or snacks, you can be sure you are taking a good amount of nutrients and phytochemicals with addition to a delectable taste, exquisite aroma, smooth texture, and refreshing effect. Your intestines are also benefiting from the soluble and insoluble fiber to prevent constipation, diarrhea, and digestive problems. One third of the fruit makes a very healthy helping. Don’t miss all this goodness!

N.B. Individuals with medical conditions or on medication should consult their physicians when they decide to introduce anything new in their diet even if it is natural.