Papaya is a wonderful and popular fruit because of its sweet taste and extraordinary nutritional profile. While many people eat this fruit and reap many health benefits, they often throw away papaya seeds and miss out on a wealth of hidden advantages.

As great as the juicy flesh of the papaya is, the seeds hold exceptional value to your health and are entirely edible. You really should think twice before throwing them out.

The Seed With All the Power

Papaya seeds contain a multitude of essential micronutrients that can benefit your health. The seeds of the papaya are high in polyphenols and flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants beneficial to promoting overall well-being by preventing disease-causing free radicals from acting on healthy tissues.

These seeds also contain healthy amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids, which help to decrease dangerous triglyceride levels.

Apart from delivering nutritional value, papaya seeds can help to prevent certain diseases and promote better health.

1. Fight Infections

Studies have found that papaya seeds contain compounds that can destroy certain species of fungi and parasites. One specific study found that papaya seeds were effective against the pathogen that causes yeast infections. When you drink elixirs made from papaya seed extracts, you can even benefit from the elimination of intestinal parasites.

2. Boost Digestive Health

As is the case with most seeds, papaya seeds are a great source of fiber. Fiber is an essential factor for digestive health as it helps to promote healthy bowel movements and support healthy digestion. Not only can these seeds help prevent constipation, but regular consumption can help protect against common digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome.

They can even prevent the formation of intestinal ulcers and bring relief from hemorrhoid symptoms.

3. Protect Your Kidney

Your kidneys are important organs responsible for filtering and removing waste from your body. Papaya seeds can help to promote kidney health and work to protect these vital organs from disease. The rich antioxidant content in the seeds helps to protect your kidneys from oxidative damage and prevent kidney damage in cases where high levels of toxicity may develop.

Consuming papaya seeds has also been linked to a reduced risk of renal failure and cirrhosis.

4. Anti-Cancer Agent

The combined nutritional value and antioxidant content make papaya seeds excellent tools in the fight against cancer. Papaya seeds have been found to reduce inflammation and prevent the development of cancerous cells. Specifically, they have been shown to reduce the growth and development of prostate cancer cells.

5. Natural Detox

Most fruits are known to detoxify the body as a result of the high antioxidant content. Papaya is no different, and it's the seeds in particular that contain the powerful compounds.

Papaya seeds provide the same amount of antioxidant detoxification as green tea, so they're a great natural way to detox your body of harmful toxins and substances.

6. Healthier Skin

Ward off the signs of aging by eating the papaya seeds each time you eat the fruit. The nutrients that are hidden in the seed promote the glow you see in the movies, without the expensive beauty products. Papain is an active enzyme in the seed which also works as a topical ointment for minor skin irritations.

Adding Papaya Seeds to Your Diet

As beneficial as papaya seeds are, there are some concerns that you should be aware of. In animal studies, the seeds have been shown to reduce fertility. The studies have found that papaya seeds reduce both sperm count and motility.

It’s important to note, however, that high doses were used in these studies. More research is needed as to whether they genuinely threaten human fertility or not.

Apart from potentially damaging fertility, large doses of papaya seeds have been found to cause damage to your DNA. Benzyl isothiocyanate is a compound found in high amounts in papaya seeds and is known to damage DNA and healthy cells. These studies were also conducted using animals and in concentrated doses, but they still point to possible danger with papaya seeds. More research is needed, but for now, eating small quantities seems to be safe.

Adding papaya seeds to your life is easy. You can grab this delicious fruit all year round and eat them as a snack a few days a week, just remember to keep the seeds. You can also incorporate the seeds themselves in dressings like the one below and garnish your salads.

The best part about eating seeds this way is that you get small doses, which mean significant benefits without the potential risks.

Green Salad With Papaya Seed Dressing

Ingredients:

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup canola oil

1/2 small sweet onion (such as Maui), chopped,

1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced into rings and rinsed with cold water

1.5 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1.5 tablespoons fresh papaya seeds

1 pound mixed salad greens

2 avocados, pitted, peeled, and sliced

Directions:

In a blender, mix the vinegar, oil, chopped onion, sugar, salt, and mustard until smooth. Add the papaya seeds and pulse until the seeds look like coarsely ground peppercorns. In a large bowl, combine the onion rings, salad greens, and 3/4 of the avocado slices. Pour the dressing over salad and toss gently to coat. Arrange salad on a large platter and top with remaining slices of avocado and serve.

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The Bottom Line

The benefit of papaya seeds may far outweigh the potential harm, but it is still important to understand all sides when it comes to your health. The problems with papaya seeds have only been found with concentrated or very high doses, so eating a few pieces of the fruit with seeds each week is recommended.

With all that papaya seeds can do for your health, it certainly is a waste to throw them out.

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