PAPAYA

Geek talk: Carica papaya But we talk: papītā (Hindi), pappāḷippaḻam (Tamil), Lechosa (Spanish) Description: Papaya was called as “The Fruit of the Angels” by Christopher Columbus, is a highly loved tropical fruit [1]. It grows as a giant plant but not woody. It has a hollow stem and could reach to the height of 20 to 30 ft. Both leaves and stems contain large amounts of white, milky latex [2]. Papaya is a rich source of antioxidant nutrients and is used as an ingredient in pharmaceuticals, beauty products, and cosmetics [3]. It has two main variants Hawaiian papayas weighing between 1.1 and 2.2 pounds per unit, and Mexican papayas, weighing up to 10.0 pounds per unit [4]. India is the leading papaya producer followed by Brazil and Indonesia. It contributed to 38.61 percent share of the world production during 2008–2010[4]. . Kitchen Pharmacy:  Papaya’s nutrients promote the health of the cardiovascular system and also provide protection against colon cancer. Papaya contains the digestive enzyme papain and therefore valuable for aiding digestion. Papayas may be very helpful for the prevention of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. Papayas are also a good source of fiber, which has been shown to lower high cholesterol levels. Nutrition: 1/2 Cup Contains

Origin: America

  References:

1. http://www.gurumaa.com/content/papaya-a-powerhouse-of-nutrients.html
2. http://eol.org/pages/585682/details
3. http://www.gurumaa.com/content/papaya-a-powerhouse-of-nutrients.html
4. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe913
5. http://www.gurumaa.com/content/papaya-a-powerhouse-of-nutrients.html