Papaya is an appealing tropical fruit with sweet-tasting, orange-hued flesh and edible black seeds that have a delicious, peppery flavor. Commonly grown in Mexico and Central America, this fruit is widely consumed by people who live in Southeast Asia and South America, as well as tourists vacationing in tropical locations.
“Like many tropical fruits, papaya has a great nutritional profile,” says Sarah Schlichter, M.P.H., RDN, a registered dietitian at Bucket List Tummy. “Papaya is high in immune-helper nutrients, like vitamins A and C, with one medium papaya providing more than the daily recommended amount of vitamin C and nearly one-third of the daily recommended amount of vitamin A. Papaya also offers a slew of antioxidants that can help manage oxidative stress in the body and promote overall health.”
The Bottom Line
Papaya is a mouthwatering tropical fruit you should include in your grocery cart whenever possible. It delivers more than just a burst of juicy flavor by packing a nutritional punch that can lower inflammation, enhance digestion, strengthen your immune system and reduce your risk of chronic disease, including cancer.
I – Word Understanding
Slew – a lot
Oxidative stress – the imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in our body
II – Have Your Say
1, Have you ever tasted papaya? If not, based on its photo, what do you think of papaya?
Can you think of another fruit that resembles or has similar nutrients to papaya?
2, What do you know about antioxidants? What foods are popular and available in your country that are rich in antioxidants?
3, Papaya may offer the following benefits. Share your opinion.
a, Strengthens your immune system (it is rich in Vit A & C
b, May lower cancer risk – lycopene has anti cancer properties
c, Improves your digestion – it is 88% water and has fiber content
d, May reduce inflammation
