Papaya can be eaten in Taiwan all year round, especially in summer and autumn, when it is particularly sweet and juicy. It is rich in nutritional value and even has the reputation of "fruit of hundreds of benefits" and "longevity frui...
Papaya can be eaten in Taiwan all year round, especially in summer and autumn, when it is particularly sweet and juicy. It is rich in nutritional value and even has the reputation of "fruit of hundreds of benefits" and "longevity fruit". "Youhuo Health Network" compiles practical knowledge about papaya, including types, effects, selection and storage, and common myths: How much papaya should be eaten in a day? Who is not suitable to eat papaya? You can eat papaya with peace of mind!
Types of PapayaPapaya is one of Taiwan's popular tropical fruits. Its pulp is soft, rich in juice, and has high nutritional value. It is rich in many vitamins and minerals and has many health benefits. Papayas are available almost all year round, but summer and autumn are the peak seasons. They are mainly distributed in Tainan, Pingtung, Chiayi and other areas.
{9 99}The following are the common types of papayas on the market:
. Tainong No. 2: The fruit is larger, the flesh is orange-red, and the taste is firm and juicy. It is currently the most important commercially cultivated variety.
． Hongfei: The fruit is huge and the flesh is thick and full of water. It is a new variety improved and bred in recent years.
． Risheng: The fruit is small, the flesh is delicate and sweet, and the smell is fragrant. It is a variety imported from abroad.
Papaya benefitsPapaya is rich in vitamins A, B complex, C, E, folic acid, β carotene, and various minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It is full of nutrients and healthy. It is worth mentioning that papaya also contains papain, which can help break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates, so it is an ideal fruit to promote digestion after meals.
Nutritionist Li Wanping shared the benefits of papaya on her personal blog:
. Improve skin and eye health: Papaya is rich in vitamin C, which helps produce collagen; vitamin A can promote the health of skin and mucous membranes, help maintain skin, prevent dry eye syndrome, cataracts and eye aging.
． Reduces the risk of heart disease: Papaya contains antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, as well as magnesium, potassium, and fiber, which help maintain healthy arteries, promote blood circulation, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The folic acid it contains can also reduce homocysteine in the body and is beneficial to cardiovascular health.
． Helps gastrointestinal digestion: The papain in papaya can break down protein and promote digestion, and is often used as a meat tenderizer. Consuming it in moderation after meals can help reduce gastrointestinal burden and maintain digestive function.
How much papaya should you eat a day?General recommendations are to eat about half a medium-sized papaya a day. Although papaya has high nutritional value and is rich in vitamins and enzymes, more is not always better. Its glycemic index (GI) is medium, about 60. Excessive intake may cause yellowing of the skin due to accumulation of carotene, so it is not advisable to consume it in excess.
Who is not suitable to eat papaya?There is usually no problem for ordinary people to eat papaya. However, due to its specific ingredients, some people may experience uncomfortable reactions after eating it. In particular, patients with diarrhea, people with low potassium diets, and people with allergies need to pay attention to the amount of intake. The public is reminded that before eating papaya, you should evaluate whether it is suitable based on your own health condition. If you have had any adverse reactions, you should avoid it or consult a doctor before you can enjoy it with peace of mind.
Nutritionist Fang Cisheng pointed out that three major groups should pay attention to their intake:
. Diarrhea patients: Papaya is cool in nature and has high water content, which can easily have adverse effects on people who are weak, susceptible to cold or have weak constitution, and may cause diarrhea or aggravate symptoms.
． People on a low-potassium diet: Papaya is rich in potassium ions. Therefore, people on a low-potassium diet are not recommended to eat too many potassium-containing foods, such as various fruits and vegetables, including papaya.
． People with allergies: Papaya contains natural latex. People who are allergic to latex may also be allergic to papaya. People with allergies should avoid eating it, otherwise they are prone to urticaria, itching, nasal congestion, asthma and other uncomfortable reactions.
Can I eat papaya during pregnancy?In fact, immature papayas are green in color, and the melon stems secrete milky white juice, called "papaya latex", which contains papain and chymopapain. Studies have shown that these enzymes can stimulate uterine contractions; animal experiments have also found that after ingestion by pregnant mothers, the fetus may suffer from edema and placental bleeding. However, as papaya matures, the latex content gradually decreases.
Therefore, mature papayas are safe for pregnant women and fetuses and can be eaten with confidence; however, immature papayas, because they are rich in papaya latex, can induce uterine contractions, affect fetal safety, and may lead to risks such as premature birth, low birth weight of live fetuses, and even stillbirth, so pregnant women should not eat them.
How to choose papaya?Around the Mid-Autumn Festival is the best time to taste papaya. At this time, the pulp of papaya is sweet, delicious and full of flavor. However, if the papaya is not fully ripe, it will often have a bitter taste. So, how to choose a delicious papaya that is just right? It is recommended to observe the following aspects: fruit shape, color, fruit base and skin condition.
Fruit shape: First check whether the fruit shape is uniform and plump. Basically, papayas are divided into male papayas and female papayas; the former has thicker flesh, fewer seeds, and is more expensive, while the latter has thin flesh and more seeds. You can choose according to your preference.
Color: Papaya grooves are a sign of maturity. You should choose papayas with 4 to 5 sunken grooves on the peel and part of the color turning yellow.
Fruit pedicle: The area around the pedicle has turned yellow, and the surrounding area is soft to the touch, which means it is mature.
Skin: The white powdery substance on the papaya skin is pectin, which represents freshness and sweetness. If spots appear, it usually means the papaya is ripe and ready to enjoy, but you should also pay attention to the density of the spots to avoid choosing a rotten papaya.
How to preserve papaya?Generally, it can be stored at room temperature.. It should be noted that you do not need to put the papaya in the refrigerator when you buy it home. You can just place it in a cool place indoors to let it mature, and try to finish eating it before the peel turns red. If you can't finish it in time, you must wrap the melon body with newspaper and refrigerate it before it is fully mature. It can be stored for about 4 to 5 days at most.
Recommended papaya cuisineThere are many types of papaya cuisine, which can be divided into ripe papaya and green papaya cuisine. Commonly cooked papaya cuisines include papaya milk, papaya stew, papaya salad, etc.; green papaya cuisine mainly includes cold papaya shreds, green papaya meat and bone soup, etc. The following "Papaya and Peach Gum Sweet Soup" has the effect of nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, and nourishing the skin.
【Papaya and Peach Gum Sweet Soup】Ingredients
0.5 papaya
10 grams of peach gum
10 grams of almonds
10 grams of peeled lotus seeds
5 grams of wolfberry Gram
35 grams of rock bee sugar
600 ml of water
Method
After washing the peach gum, soak it in water for 12 hours, rinse, remove impurities, and cut into small pieces.
Wash the papaya, peel and seed it, and cut into pieces.
Wash the lotus seeds and soak them for 1 hour.
Boil 600 ml of water, add almonds and lotus seeds and cook for 15 minutes.
Add papaya, peach gum and wolfberry and cook for 5 minutes.
Add rock bee sugar and cook for another 5 minutes, taste test and adjust.
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