Are you ready for Papaya heaven??? Are you thinking, "I don't think that I have ever really had papaya before?"
Well my friends, if you haven't I am about to open the door to a new fruit that is going to blow you away. If you have, you are going to be delightfully surprised by how creative I have been with my love, papaya.
Of course, this wouldn't be a Heather post if I didn't tell you a little bit about the benefits of papaya. If you go to the store and say "I am not going to pay almost 6 dollars for this!"
You will after reading this.
Fruit of the Angels: Papaya and Benefits Papaya contains 'papain' which helps to digest food. The papaya, is the fruit of the Carica papaya tree. Papayas are spherical or pear-shaped fruits that can be as long as 20 inches. The ones commonly found in the market usually average about 7 inches and weigh about one pound. Their flesh is a rich orange color with either yellow or pink hues. Inside the inner cavity of the fruit are black, round seeds encased in a gelatinous-like substance. Papaya's seeds are edible, although their peppery flavor is somewhat bitter. Originally from southern Mexico and neighbouring countries, the papaya plant is now cultivated in most tropical countries. Christopher Columbus reportedly called it "the fruit of the angels" and not without reason! Papayas are rich sources of antioxidant nutrients, minerals and fibre. The fruit, as well as the other parts of the papaya tree, contains papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. This enzyme, which is used to treat sports injuries, other causes of trauma, and allergies, is especially concentrated in the fruit when it is unripe. Papain is extracted to make digestive enzyme dietary supplements and is also used as an ingredient in some chewing gums.
Health Benefits of Papaya Heart disease: Papayas may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Papayas are an excellent source of vitamin C as well as a very good source of vitamin E and beta-carotene, three very powerful antioxidants. These nutrients help prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. Only when cholesterol becomes oxidised is it able to stick to and build up in blood vessel walls, forming dangerous plaques that can eventually cause heart attacks or strokes. High cholesterol: Papayas are also a very good source of fibre, which has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels. The folic acid found in papayas is needed for the conversion of a substance called homo cysteine into benign amino acids. If unconverted, homo cysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls and is considered a significant risk factor for a heart attack or stroke. Cancer: Papaya's fibre is able to bind to cancer-causing toxins in the colon and keep them away from the healthy colon cells. In addition, papaya's folate, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E have each been associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer. These nutrients provide synergistic protection for colon cells from free radical damage to their DNA. Increasing your intake of these nutrients by enjoying papaya is an especially good idea for individuals at risk of colon cancer. Inflammation: The enzymes contained in papaya have been shown to help lower inflammation and to improve healing from burns. In addition, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya are also very good at reducing inflammation. This may explain why people with diseases that are worsened by inflammation, such as asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, find that the severity of their condition is reduced when they get more of these nutrients.
A July 2004 study indicates that vitamin C-rich foods, such as papaya, provide humans with protection against inflammatory poly arthritis, a form of rheumatoid arthritis involving two or more joints. The findings, presented in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases were drawn from a study of more than 20,000 subjects who kept diet diaries and were arthritis-free when the study began. Subjects who consumed the lowest amounts of vitamin C-rich foods were more than three times more likely to develop arthritis than those who consumed the highest amounts. Other benefits: The fibre found in papayas may also help with the symptoms of those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, vitamin C and vitamin A, which is made in the body from the beta-carotene in papaya, are both needed for the proper function of a healthy immune system. Papaya may therefore be a healthy fruit choice for preventing such illnesses as recurrent ear infections, colds and flu.
The Ayurveda experts have regarded papain as a remedy for abdominal disorders. It is a good medicine for dysentery, hyper acidity, dyspepsia and constipation. Pimples are removed by rubbing the white pulp of raw papaya on the face. It brings lustre to the face and removes wrinkles. With this being said my first Papaya recipe is not to eat....It is for your skin!!! I made a amazing papaya face mask and you have got to try this to believe it! Papaya is used as many skin care products today and provides a "natural" face lift and rejuvenation brings a wonderful and natural glow to the skin. It is commonly seen in soaps, lotions, toners, moisturizers, facial peels, and many more.I will share to you this skin care in which we apply real pulp of a papaya, a facial mask for all skin types and for all ages. This mask is good for dull, wrinkled, and darker complexion.
Step1 Wash the ripe papaya. Peel, remove seeds, and dice. Step 2 Simply mash the papaya in a bowl with a fork so it doesn't become too runny and easy to mash. Mix with a tablespoon of a natural honey. Step 3 Apply the mask into cleansed face in 15 minutes away from the eyes. Step 4 After 15 minutes use a clean-wet towel then wipe gently to exfoliate the skin then wash with warm water. Pat dry and see the wonder result. On to actually EATING papaya!
Next on the list :D
PAPAYA SALSA:
This is fantastic!
Ingredients:
3 cups diced fresh papaya 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (optional) 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 3 to 4 green onions, thinly sliced into rounds 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced 1 to 2 limes, juiced dash extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon sea salt Toss all ingredients together in a bowl. Let sit for about 10 minutes before serving to let the flavors mingle. Serve over mixed greens, beans and rice, or grilled fish.
Are you ready for the best one yet? Simple but divine!!!
Caramelized Papaya with Flan Ice Cream
this aint good for you...but as a special treat, what the heck!
INGREDIENTS: 1 can of coconut lite milk1 can (from coconut milk) of whole organic milk1 can sweetened condensed milk3 large organic eggs1 tsp Tahitian vanilla extract1 large papaya cut in rounds and de-seeded sprinkling of sugar juice of 1 lime dusting of cinnamon fresh mint leaves for garnish
METHOD:Peel papaya and cut the papaya into rounds, take the seeds of of the middles, sprinkle rounds with sugar and pop them under the broiler for a few minutes. Once they get caramelized, take them out, squeeze a fresh lime over top and sprinkle the papaya liberally with cinnamon. While the papaya is cooling, make the ice cream. In a large bowl blend 3 milks, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Pour into ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the ice cream is blended and getting frozen, yet still soft and creamy scoop a big dollop of ice cream and place it in the hole of each papaya slice. Garnish with a fresh mint leaf and serve.
WOW! I know.
I don't want to over load you too terribly much with papaya madness. There are so many other recipes to make and show you! Don't worry there will be more to come! See you tomorrow for more great things!
-Heather
