Although most of us focus on the papaya itself, the seeds have some unexpected benefits for your health! In the summertime, adding fruits to your diet is lots of fun since everything is so fresh. But did you know that there are so many amazing benefits of eating papaya seeds?
Papaya seeds have been used to help treat a variety of health conditions, such as worms, liver disease, and gut health issues.
5 Benefits of Eating Papaya Seeds
Papayas are tropical fruits with bright orange, sweet flesh. They have small, edible seeds that have a pepper-like flavor. There are lots of ways to take advantage of the benefits of eating papaya, like slicing up the whole fruit, drinking papaya juice, and even eating the seeds.
Papayas can be found growing all over the world, in places like Mexico, Hawaii, Asia, and in Caribbean islands. It acts as a digestive aid, which is why it’s the perfect fruit for those with sensitive stomachs.
There are lots of benefits of eating papaya, and the seeds are actually powerful in their own way. Let’s dive in and explore five of the biggest benefits of eating papaya seeds, and how they can support your gut health and overall health!
Related: How to Improve Your Gut Health with Probiotic Foods
1. They Benefit Your Liver
Papaya seeds are rich with vital nutrients. That’s why papayas are a powerful food to treat liver cirrhosis and avoid permanent liver damage! Cirrhosis occurs when healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, and luckily, papaya can help reduce that impact.
Eating a few crushed papaya seeds as a snack, adding to your meals, or even mixing them with juice can give your liver an incredible boost.
When we damage our liver, finding a natural solution is rare. Although papaya seeds haven’t been proven by doctors to solve liver problems, lots of people have experienced these benefits.
2. They Help Out Our Kidneys
According to recent research, papaya seeds can help protect the health of your kidneys. Preventing renal failure and kidney disease is one of the best new benefits of eating papaya seeds.
Papaya seeds can even prevent other diseases that affect your kidneys.
3. Papaya Seeds Have Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial, and Anti-Viral Properties
Another reason to consider eating papaya seeds is that they’re highly anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral!
The anti-inflammatory properties mean that papaya seeds can help treat arthritis, swelling, joint pain, and redness.
And the antibacterial properties make papaya seeds effective in helping you fight bacterial infections like E.Coli, staph infections, and salmonella. SImilarly, they can help you fight infections and heal from viral diseases.
Eating papaya seeds, drinking papaya juice, and eating papaya leaves are all ways to take advantage of these powerful benefits.
4. Boosts Digestion
Unripe papayas and papaya seeds have a powerful enzyme called papain.
This enzyme helps boost the digestion of proteins in your body!
Especially for those of us struggling with gut health issues, natural support for digestion is amazing.
But there’s one caveat to this—couples trying to conceive should avoid eating papaya seeds. They can lower the amount of sperm cells in men, but only short-term.
If you’re struggling with digestive health issues, papaya seeds will help give you extra support. Plus, they’re healthy and full of delicious nutrients, which makes them an easy addition to any diet!
Add papaya to your summer diet in creative ways. Aside from eating the seeds, use the fruit in breakfast, salads, or even dinner recipes for a delicious, nutritious solution to your gut health problems.
5. Helps Prevent A Number Of Issues
Clearly, there are many benefits of eating papaya seeds. But they can help prevent lots of other health concerns, like cancer.
Papaya seeds contain a chemical agent called isothiocyanate, which helps stop the growth of cancer cells and tumors. In some trials, this powerful plant-based chemical has slowed the spread of many different types of cancers, including leukemia, breast cancer, and lung cancer.
Beyond preventing the spread of cancer cells, papaya seeds have been effective in helping with gut health issues. They contain carpaine, which helps eliminate intestinal worms and other parasites by helping your body metabolize protein faster.
Papaya seeds and papaya juice alike are helpful for both the immune system and gut!
Ways To Take Advantage of The Benefits Of Eating Papaya
Now that you know all of the benefits of eating papaya, here are some of the easiest ways to incorporate it into your diet.
Related: 3 Easy-to-Make Gut Health Recipes You’ll Love
Make Some Papaya Juice
To make papaya juice, you’ll need papaya leaves. Wash them and slice them up, and then pound them to squeeze out the pulp.
You’ll only get about two tablespoons, but that’s a perfect daily serving!
Eat Papaya Seeds
Of course, eating papaya seeds is a great way to get these health benefits. Crush the seeds and mix them into salad dressings, food, or even milk and honey.
Avoid eating papaya seeds raw and on their own—it’s safe, but they have a bitter taste.
There are so many benefits of eating papaya seeds. Just be sure to speak with your doctor about whether papaya seeds are a good choice for your body and your unique gut health needs!