Papaya Facts
Some Interesting Papaya Facts for You
• Papayas originated in Central America and southern Mexico. You can find them grown now in almost any tropical and subtropical country.
• Papaya facts say that this fruit is a bit more difficult to grow. It needs year-round warmth, and frosts will damage the fruit. Papayas exposed to cool temperatures will taste different than those grown in constant warmth.
• Ripe papaya fruit is generally eaten raw, with the seeds and skin removed. Papayas have a good amount of pectin in them, and thus are good to make jelly with.
• Green papaya, facts point out, has an enzyme within it that helps to tenderize meats. The enzyme is also made into tablets, which relieve problems in digestion.
• The black seeds of the papaya are edible and they are spicy. In some countries, these seeds are ground and used as a pepper substitute. In some parts of Asia, young tender leaves of the papaya are steamed and then eaten much as we eat spinach.
• Papaya is rich in vitamin C. One serving offers you over 100% of your daily recommended allowance. It is also a great source of Vitamin B6 and potassium. They are also full of flavonoids and carotene.
• The nutrients in a papaya aid in the overall health of your cardiovascular system. They also may provide some protection against colon cancer. Papayas are a good source of fiber and folic acid, as well. Eating three servings of fruit, including papaya, a day can help prevent age-related macular degeneration.
• Ripe papaya, facts – or claims - say, can cure ringworm, and the green fruit is used to help treat high blood pressure. It can also be used as an aphrodisiac.
• Papaya is very sweet and it has a soft consistency. They were once thought of as exotic, but they are more common now, and easier to find. Papaya trees generally produce fruit year-round.
• The average sized papaya found in a market is around seven inches long and weighs in at roughly a pound. The flesh of the papaya, facts point out, is orange in color, with a hue of either pink or yellow.
• If you plan to eat a papaya right after you purchase it, select one that is reddish orange and with a smooth skin. As a rule it's best not to purchase green papaya, facts state, unless you plan to cook it or use it in a salad, because it will never develop its full flavor if it is picked when very green.
• To prepare papaya for recipes or salads, peel it and then cut in into whatever sizes and shapes you want. If you put it into a fruit salad, drop it in right before serving, or it might cause the other fruits to get soft before eaten. Papayas also make a great finger food snack!