Papaya For Gut Health: Know Benefits & Uses

Blogs23 Oct 2024

Papaya, also known as Carica papaya, is a well-loved tropical fruit in India. It was first cultivated in Mexico but has been a staple in many tropical countries since. Every part of the papaya fruit, such as pulp, seeds, peel, latex, flower etc contains nutritional value and health benefits. It can be used in cooking and as medicine too. In India, we love adding pieces of papaya to our bowl of fruit salads or blending it with some milk for a sweet, refreshing and filling milkshake. As a fruit it contains immense nutrition which can be linked to various health benefits of papaya, mainly fighting inflammation, boosting skin health and aiding digestion.

Since digestion issues can be quite common among those in their midlife, in this article, we’ll specifically talk about Papaya and its possible benefits for the gut. So read on to know more!

Nutritional Profile of Papaya

Before we get into how papaya can give us a host of digestive benefits, let’s first understand the kind of nutrition this tropical fruit contains! Papayas have protein, fibre, and carbohydrates along with vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, and C and a variety of minerals like sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and calcium. Papaya also contains an enzyme called papain, that assists in the digestion of proteins. Other than vitamins and minerals, this fruit has a host of bioactive compounds like antioxidants, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, β-carotene, lycopene etc that provide additional benefits of eating papaya.

This impressive nutritional composition highlights the advantage of papaya as a part of a balanced diet.

Benefits of Papaya For Gut Health

Now let’s look at how papaya’s nutritional profile can help us with our digestion! Here are a few benefits of eating papaya for digestion that you should note:

1. Papaya and Gut Microflora Balance

Eating more papaya pulp can help introduce more diverse bacteria in your gut microbiome. They contain dietary fibres which promote a healthier gut through colonic fermentation. Why is this important? Having a thriving gut microbiome can help maintain the smooth functioning of our bodies. Since each kind of bacteria has a role to play, fruits like papaya may help in the modulation of gut microbiota and help with overall digestive health.

2. Papaya and Digestive Disorders

Papaya has been traditionally used for treating digestive and gastrointestinal diseases for a long time. Having papaya after a meal can prevent bloating and chronic indigestion. This tropical fruit contains the enzyme papain, which can not only help in protein digestion but treat indigestion as well. Papaya extracts have also been studied for aiding a healthy digestive system and papaya leaves too, when brewed into a tea can provide digestive benefits.

3.Papaya for Constipation and Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that affects many people, causing inflammation in the digestive tract. Papaya's benefits in helping constipation and managing symptoms of IBS lie in its anti-inflammatory properties. The antioxidants present in papaya, such as vitamin C and beta-carotene along with papain may help in reducing inflammation, aiding digestion and protecting the gut. For those suffering from IBD, incorporating papaya into their diet could help in managing symptoms and improving overall gut health.

Tips To Incorporate Papaya In Your Diet

Including papaya in your daily diet can be both delicious and easy. Here are a few simple recipes to get started:

1. Papaya Smoothie

A tasty and filling papaya smoothie is a great way to start your day. Just blend a cup of ripe papaya chunks, with milk and honey. You can even add other fruits like bananas to this and enjoy it between meals or with your breakfast!

2. Fruit Salad

Make a simple fruit bowl or fruit salad if you’re running short on time but need a quick fruity snack. Combine papaya cubes with fruits like apples and bananas. Top it with some nuts and seeds and mix some Greek Yoghurt in for a quick and easy papaya snack.

3. Papaya Dessert

For a delightful dessert, make a simple papaya parfait. Layer papaya chunks with Greek yoghurt and top with a sprinkle of granola and a drizzle of honey. This dessert is not only satisfying but also a healthy option that highlights the health benefits of papaya. You can add papaya if you’re baking or making sweets, jams and dips too.

Conclusion

Papaya is a wonderful fruit to consume not only for its sweet musky taste but also for its numerous health benefits. This tropical fruit is a treasure trove of nutrition all of which support many functions in our body, especially digestion. Papaya has been used for centuries in cultures for treating digestive issues and you can do the same by adding more papaya into your everyday meals. Not only does it have several important vitamins and minerals, but it contains dietary fibre, papain, phenolic compounds and antioxidants that can boost other aspects of your health too! So if you aim to add more fruits to help with healthy ageing, put papaya on the list now!

For more informational content on food, nutrition, health, and ageing, explore Right Shift. We’re a community of cheerleaders, here to help you navigate your 40s and beyond. If you are someone who wants to make health their top priority in your midlife, you must check out our free health tools right away. Our free health score calculator can help you understand where you’re currently at with your health and our free meal plan creator can craft the perfect plan for you, based on your needs and health goals such as digestive health, weight loss, etc. So, get started on these and make the right shift today!