Papaya is rich in carotenoids, vitamins A, B, C, and minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc.
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The nutrients found in papaya are highly beneficial in preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancer, neutralizing harmful substances for the skin, preventing early wrinkles, combating toxins, and keeping the skin healthy; they also boost the body’s resistance and are a powerful weapon against gallbladder disease, which is prevalent among women.
Eating papaya every day helps you achieve a youthful complexion. A papaya milk smoothie (made with papaya, fresh milk or reconstituted milk powder, and a little honey) helps your skin become smooth and radiant. When peeling papaya, you can cut a slice and rub it evenly on your face for about 15 minutes; this will make your skin smoother thanks to the vitamins. Mashing papaya and applying it around the eyes can help eliminate crow’s feet. The papaya peel, when rubbed on the face, can effectively remove dead skin cells.
In addition, papaya contains protease, which helps break down proteins into amino acids, aids in digesting hard-to-digest proteins in the intestines, and quickly breaks down fats. It is particularly beneficial for conditions such as gallbladder fibrosis, digestive difficulties, stomach burning, and pancreatic insufficiency. In traditional medicine in several countries, papaya is valued for treating diabetes, asthma, and intestinal parasites.
Some applications of papaya include: eating ripe papaya on an empty stomach in the morning for 3-5 days helps treat pinworms; cooking green papaya with pig’s trotters is a well-known dish that promotes milk production for breastfeeding mothers; and using green papaya in cooking helps tenderize tough meats quickly. Green papaya is also used in salads to treat chronic gastritis (note: pregnant women should avoid eating it as it may induce miscarriage).
Fresh papaya roots (200g) can be boiled and the water consumed throughout the day to alleviate frequent and painful urination. Papaya seeds should be cleaned of their surrounding mucilage, crushed in a cloth bag, and applied to painful areas in patients with spinal osteophytes. This treatment should be done once a day for 20-30 days (note: each application should last a maximum of 30 minutes).
KIM NHUNG compiled
