Papaya's powerful enzymes
Sometime ago I was making a list of my favorite fruits and funny enough I realized I pretty much like them all. Every fruit has its own benefits, as the old adage says an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but I truly love tropical fruits so when I am traveling to a tropical destination I am in heaven.
Top of my list is definitely Papaya, with its vibrant color and soft texture. I like to eat it on its own, make a smoothie with just some water or yogurt, or add it to my morning yogurt bowl. However I chose to eat it I simply can’t get enough of it.
I always knew it has many benefits for the gut and as a result for the skin, but digging deeper this is a truly wonderful fruit with so many benefits.
Deliciously and delicate papaya is a great fruit to improve digestion and gut health.
Let’s look at the science!
It is high in many important nutrients and vitamins, especially A, B and C.
Thanks to the abundance of proteolytic enzymes (which, among their many functions help your body break down food for energy), like papain and chymopapain, it has important antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties.
It helps reduce wrinkles thanks to the presence of lycopene (which is also in tomatoes) a powerful antioxidant which fights oxidative damage while improving the elasticity of your skin.
If you are prone to acne, the anti-inflammatory properties of the two enzymes help decrease acne caused by inflammation. It also helps your body detox from damaged keratin hence improving the appearance of your skin, hair and nails.
Another property of the two enzymes is to improve digestion and prevents stomach aches, which is why it is also commonly found in over-the-counter remedies to aid digestion.
Lastly, its powerful compounds (like lycopene) have regenerative properties for the hair making them grow faster and stronger.
If you can’t find papaya get your daily dose of pre and probiotic from Semaine: improving gut health will make your skin glow.
Try it and let us know how you feel!
