i love papaya...

Health Benefits of Papaya

VITAMINS
o Vitamin A : 1,750 I.U
o Vitamin B : Thiamine 0.03 mg.
o Riboflavin : 0.04 mg.
o Niacin : 0.3 mg.
o Vitamin C : 56 mg.
o Also contains Vitamin E and K.

MINERALS
o Calcium : 20 mg.
o Iron : 0.3 mg.
o Phosphorus: 16 mg.
o Potassium : 470 mg.

FAT : 0.1 gm.

CAROHYDRATES : 10gm.

PROTEIN : 0.6gm.

CALORIES : 39

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 homocysteine into benign amino acids. If unconverted, homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls and is considered a significant risk factor for a heart attackor 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...