Health Benefits - Vitamins and Minerals in Papaya

Papaya tree bears many spherical or pear-shaped fruits that can have about 6-20 inches in length and 4-12 inches in diameter. The average sized papaya weighs about a pound. The fruit is said to ripen when it feels soft to thumb pressure and its skin has attained an amber to orange hue. Inside, the fruit features numerous black seeds, encased in a mucin coat, in the hollow central cavity. The flesh is orange in color with either yellow or pink hues, soft in consistency and has deliciously sweet, musky taste with rich flavor.

Health Benefits of Papaya

• The fruit contains no cholesterol; but is a rich source of phyto-nutrients, minerals and vitamins.
  
• Papayas contain soft, easily digestible pulp/flesh with good amount of soluble dietary fiber that helps to have normal bowel movements; thereby reducing constipation.
  
• Papaya fruit is also rich in many essential B-complex vitamins such as Folic acid, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin, and thiamin (vitamin B-1). These vitamins are essential in the sense that body requires them from external sources to replenish and play vital role in metabolism.
  
• Fresh papaya also contains good amount of potassium (257 mg per 100 g) and calcium. Potassium in an important component of cell and body fluids and helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure countering effects of sodium.
  
• Papaya has been proven to be a natural remedy for many ailments. In traditional medicine, papaya seeds are anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, and analgesic, and they are used to treat stomach-ache and ringworm infections.
  

Amount -  One cup of cubed fresh papaya contains 2.5 grams of dietary fiber.

Proteins  -  0.85 grams

Calories - 55

Nutrition In Papaya

Minerals Contained

• Potassium - 360 mg
• Phosphorus - 7 mg
• Magnesium - 14 mg
• Calcium - 34 mg
• Sodium - 4 mg
• Iron - 0.14 mg
• Selenium 0.8 mcg
• Zinc - 0.1 mg
• Manganese - 0.015 mg
• Copper - 0.022 mg
• Also contains small amounts of other minerals.

Vitamins Contains

• Vitamin A - 1532 IU
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) - 0.038 mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) - 0.045 mg
• Niacin - 0.473 mg
• Folate - 53 mcg
• Pantothenic Acid - 0.305 mg
• Vitamin B6 - 0.027 mg
• Vitamin C - 86.5 mg
• Vitamin E - 1.02 mg
• Vitamin K - 3.6 mcg
• Contains some other vitamins in small amounts.