Papaya

I always thought that if I had to put a fruit in prose it would the succulent mango or the aromatic pineapple. My own favorite Anona family of fruits with either the tempting Custard apple or the simply delectable Soursop were also close contenders as subjects.
Here I am, writing about the wonder fruit that was the most unlikeliest of candidates but has emerged the surprise winner of the ‘fruit I enjoy the most’ contest.
The Papaya isn’t just refreshing to eat (even more so as it is served here on ice with prune powder) it is packed with a whole host of benefits.
At home we used to eat Papaya after meals as it was considered good for the digestive system. And I recently have again started having a slice of Papaya after every meal which I believe has contributed greatly to my steady weight loss and toning up.
As a fruit it is low on calories and is always easy to eat. It is high in Vitamin A and C and is a great source of fiber and potassium. Papaya contains papain, which is often used to tenderize meat, this helps with digestion and breaks down protein.
Here is a list of things I found its good for in general:

• The mature (ripe) fruit treats ringworm, green fruits treat high blood pressure, and is used as an aphrodisiac.
• The fruit can be directly applied topically to skin sores.
• The juice of the fruit (specifically the enzymes within it) are used to reduce gastrointestinal gas, useful to sufferers of IBS.
• The seeds are anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and analgesic, and they are used to treat stomachache and fungal infections.
• The leaves are used as a heart tonic, analgesic, and to treat stomachache. The roots are used as an analgesic.
• Current research is examining the potential for fertility effects due to the strong spermicidal properties of the seeds.