In almost every Indian fruit market, you will see bright orange, ripe papayas. It is one of the most common fruits in our country. Many families grow a papaya tree right in their backyard. While we all know it tastes sweet and delicious, many of us do not realize how powerful this fruit is for our health.
Eating a bowl of ripe papaya for breakfast is one of the best habits you can start. It is light on the stomach, easy to prepare, and very cheap compared to “superfoods” from other countries.
Here are 6 detailed reasons why you should eat ripe papaya every day to start your morning.
1. It Solves Stomach Problems (Digestion)
Many people in India suffer from gas, acidity, or constipation because of our spicy and oily food. Papaya is the best natural medicine for this.
Papaya contains a special enzyme called papain. This enzyme helps your body break down proteins from the food you ate the night before. When you eat it on an empty stomach in the morning, it cleans your digestive track like a broom. It helps you have a smooth bowel movement every morning, which makes you feel light and energetic for the rest of the day.
2. It Helps You Lose Weight
If you are trying to lose weight or reduce your belly fat, papaya is your best friend.
- Low Calories: One big bowl of papaya has very few calories. You can eat a lot of it without worrying about getting fat.
- High Fiber: It is full of natural fiber. Fiber is important because it stays in your stomach for a long time. This means you will not feel hungry again at 11:00 AM. It stops you from eating unhealthy snacks like biscuits or samosas before lunch.
3. It Gives You Glowing Skin
We spend a lot of money on face creams and soaps, but beauty really starts from inside the body. Papaya is famous for making skin look young and bright.
It is loaded with Vitamin C and Vitamin A. These vitamins help to remove dead skin cells and clear up pimples or dark spots. The antioxidants in papaya also fight “free radicals,” which are things that make your skin look old and wrinkled. If you eat papaya every day for a month, you will see a natural “glow” on your face that no cream can give.
4. It Makes Your Body Strong (Immunity)
In the changing weather of India, it is very common to get a cold, cough, or flu. To stay healthy, your “Immune System” needs to be strong.
Most people think only lemons or oranges have Vitamin C. But did you know that a single papaya can provide more than 200% of your daily Vitamin C requirement? Eating it for breakfast acts like a shield for your body. It helps your white blood cells fight off germs and infections, keeping you and your family safe from falling sick frequently.
5. It Protects Your Eyesight
Today, most of us—including children—spend hours looking at mobile phones, televisions, or laptop screens. This puts a lot of stress on our eyes.
Papaya is rich in Vitamin A and Beta-carotene. These nutrients are essential for keeping your eyes healthy. They protect the “retina” (the back part of your eye) from damage. Regular consumption of papaya can prevent your eyesight from getting weak and may even protect older people from losing their vision as they age.
6. It Keeps Your Heart Healthy
Heart disease is becoming very common today. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are the main reasons for this.
Papaya contains fiber, potassium, and vitamins that keep the heart-healthy. The fiber in papaya helps to pull “bad cholesterol” out of your blood. Also, the potassium helps to keep your blood pressure under control. By eating a bowl of papaya every morning, you are making sure your heart pumps blood easily and stays strong for many years.
How to Pick the Best Papaya?
To get these benefits, you must pick the right fruit.
- Color: Look for a papaya that is mostly yellow or orange. A little bit of green is okay, but it should not be fully green.
- Touch: Press the skin gently. It should feel slightly soft, like a ripe mango. If it is very hard, it is not ready. If it is too mushy, it might be rotten.
- Smell: A good papaya has a sweet smell near the stem.
A Quick Breakfast Tip
You don’t need to do much. Just peel the skin, scoop out the black seeds, and cut the flesh into small cubes. You can squeeze a little bit of fresh lime juice on top and add a pinch of black salt (kala namak) to make it taste even better!
