Papaya
- The papaya is a melon like fruit with yellow-orange flesh enclosed in a thin skin that varies in colour from green to orange to rose.
- Papayas are a rich source of vitamin A and C. One half of a small papaya can provide 150% of the recommended dietary intake of Vitamin C.
- Papayas have 33% more vitamin C and 50% more potassium than oranges with fewer calories. Papayas have 13 times more vitamin C and more than twice the potassium than apples. Papayas have four times more vitamin E than both apples and oranges.
- Papayas vary in size, ranging from about 1 to 20 pounds and 7 to 20 inches long, depending on the variety. Eat about 2 cups of papaya daily.
- It is low in calories, fat free, cholesterol free, and a good source of potassium, folate, and fiber.
- The most common use for papaya is to aid digestion. Papayas are the only natural source of papain, an effective natural digestive aid, which breaks down protein and cleanses the digestive track.
- A ripe papaya has a golden-yellow outer skin. On the inside, its flesh is smooth and silky with a deep yellow-orange or pinkish-orange colour and a sweet-musky flavour. Its large centre cavity is packed with small, round, black seeds, which are edible. Their peppery flavour tastes great in a salad or salsa or blended into sauces or salad dressings.