HOW NUTRITIOUS IS A PAPAYA
HOW NUTRITIOUS IS A PAPAYA? Rated as the fifth-most nutritious fruit by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, papayas are low-calorie sources of fiber and antioxidants. Never eat a green papaya, as the unripe fruit contains an enzyme -- papain -- that may trigger a reaction in people who are allergic to latex. kijana endelevu group CAROTENOIDS. The carotenoids are a group of plant-based substances responsible for the yellow, orange and red colors in fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids function as antioxidants, and some convert into vitamin A. Papayas contain a carotenoid called beta-cryptoxanthin that serves both roles. One small papaya has 50 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A. In addition to protecting cells as an antioxidant, beta-cryptoxanthin inhibits the growth of lung cancer cells, according to the International Journal of Cancer. VITAMIN C. Papayas are packed with vitamin C with one small fruit providing 96 milligrams, or 106 percent of th...