Papaya is a fruit from tropical tree (Carica papaya) pandanus. It is coming from flowering plants Caricaceae family in the order Brassicales class Dicotyledonous.
It is assumed that homeland of papaya is South America, presumably Mexico. The tree grows up to 10 meters. Miracle fruits mature to spherical oval shape up to 50 centimeters length. In ancient times, the tree itself was more valued because of very strong timber. Nowadays the wonderful fruits are much more appreciated.
Papaya fruits could be selected ripe just for eating it. They also could be selected unripe because of enzyme which is concentrated inside the fruit before it comes ripe.
For eating of course the best is the ripe fruit. When you buy it in the supermarket it should be slight soft when you touch it and the skin must be green to orange shades.
Once you’ve got papaya remove peel and seeds. The flesh of ripe fruit is deep orange or yellow color with pink hues.
Juice of unripe flesh is rich with enzyme. It could be used for meat marinades and to soften and tenderize tough meats.
Health Benefits of Papaya
Papaya contains almost all vitamins B, vitamin A, C, D (extremely rare in the products), beta-carotene, and trace elements such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, and a lot of iron.
Unripe fruits contain a large amount of unique enzyme well known as papain or chymopapain. These enzymes are used for medicine production to improve digestion, healing from burns and treatment of intervertebral hernia.
Nutrition of papaya helps to:
- Improve the appearance of the skin (vitamins A, E and C)
- Ameliorate cardiac function (magnesium, potassium)
- Activate antibacterial and antifungal properties (zinc, papain)
- Enhance digestion process (papain)
- Promote weight loss (papain has the ability to break down proteins and fats) due to low calorie intake
- Normalize the level of blood sugar (manganese)
- Vitamins and beta-carotene found in papaya fruits increase the proper function of healthy immune system.
That is good and tasty choice for preventing such illnesses like colds and flu.
Papaya benefits for women are that fruit improve premenstrual syndrome relief due to high content of iron found inside the fruit. By the same token many women like this fruit for its favorable effects onto the skin.
Papaya Benefits for Skin
- Papaya is good for the skin due to the content of vitamins A, E and C. The use of natural product in food and papaya mask improves the state and increase skin elasticity.
- Also can be referred to the papaya skin bleaching products
- Vitamin A helps the healing of minor skin wounds.
- Vitamin E promotes regeneration new cells.
- Vitamin C participates in formation of collagen, which is responsible for skin elasticity.
- All of these vitamins are powerful antioxidants and prevent premature aging of the skin.
- Juice containing papain is used for skin whitening, freckles removal, hair removal and reduces age spots.
Homemade Papaya Face Mask Recipe
Mask with papaya capable not only nourish the skin but also has a peeling effect due to acids contained in papaya. This effect can be enhanced by adding additional ingredients. So you’ll get a mask and scrub all in one.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp of papaya puree
- ½ tsp of olive oil
- 1 Tbsp of oatmeal
- 1 Tbsp of brown sugar
Wash papaya. Cut it in half and remove the seeds. Extract the pulp with a spoon and mash into a puree.
Grind oatmeal and sugar in a coffee grinder to powder.
Put papaya, ground oatmeal, sugar and olive oil in a bowl.
Mix the ingredients until smooth. Spread the mask onto the face with circular massage by your fingertips.
Keep the mask for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse it off with cool water.
Papaya Mask for Skin Whitening
As I mentioned above the papaya is the skin bleaching product and therefore it is good for lightening the face skin.
Whitening mask recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp of papaya puree
- 1 Tbsp of natural yogurt
- 1 tsp of lemon juice
- ½ tsp of olive oil
Make mashed papaya as was described in the previous mask.
Mix all ingredients.
Apply the mixture on your face and leave it for 20 minutes.
Wash your face with cool water.
Warning:
If you feel a tingling sensation on the skin, wash off the mask earlier.
If you have oily skin, or may be you wish to make whitening mask with lifting effect, try this recipe.