Papaya

When I was little, my mother always gave me papaya when I had a stomachache. I didn't like it so much, but it always worked. Now, I enjoy the taste much better, but I am far from home, and it is hard to find good papaya in Pittsburgh. It is always green when I find it, so, as my mom taught me, I put it in a brown bag to ripe it, and then... it is great. If you haven't tried papaya before, please make sure it is ripe. It will taste bad if it is green.

Papaya is one of those foods that can be used as medicine. The ripe fruit is used for digestive issues such as constipation and indigestion. Also, helps a sluggish liver, high blood pressure and can be taken as a diuretic.

Another traditional use is to heal wounds, cuts, and infections. You can also find papaya in some cosmetic products. It will sting when you put it in your face, but it will feel good afterward.

If you are planning to get pregnant, be careful. In The Earthwise Herbal, Volume 1 book, Matthew Wood writes that "papain, a powerful protein breaking enzyme, attacks progesterone, a hormone essential for conception."

My dad will use papaya to tenderized meat. It is great for "carne asada."

It contains calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and C.

Papaya can be one of those fruits that you love or you hate. My son loves it, my daughter refuses to eat it. Stay healthy!