Papayas & Cholesterol

According to folklore, Christopher Columbus called papayas the “fruit of the angels." Papayas are one of the healthiest fruits to eat to fight cholesterol. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) eating two to four servings of any fruit every day is essential to maintaining good health. If you are going to select a fruit, choose to eat a papaya along with a balanced diet to keep your cholesterol in check.

Description

• The papaya is a pear-shaped, golden yellow fruit that tastes sweet and tart. The flesh of a papaya is a deep orange color with either yellow or pink coloring. Papayas are rich in disease fighting, cholesterol lowering carotenes, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, flavonoids, B vitamins, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, magnesium and fiber.

Significance

• Papayas are one of many fruits that contain plant sterols, which helps fight cholesterol. Cholesterol is naturally produced in the liver and is also obtained from certain foods. Cholesterol contains low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which is bad cholesterol and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which is good cholesterol. The plant sterols in papayas carry the LDL (bad cholesterol) out of the blood vessels and though the liver, which removes it from the body.

Protection

• Papayas also contain vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E, which are three powerful antioxidants that help reduce cholesterol.

  As cholesterol collects in the blood vessels and forms plaque, over time the plaque builds up and blocks the blood flow through the blood vessels. This eventually causes a heart attack or stroke.The antioxidants in the papaya help prevents the LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and attaching itself to the walls of the blood vessels. It does this with the help of an enzyme called paraoxonase.

  Additionally, papayas are an excellent source of soluble fiber, which has been shown to lower cholesterol levels, particularly the "bad," LDL cholesterol.

Selections

• Hawaiian and Mexican papayas are two types of papaya typically sold in the U.S. Papayas that are fully ripened contain the most cholesterol-fighting antioxidants. To select a fully ripened papaya, choose one that has a yellow skin color and is a little soft. The meat of a fully ripened papaya should be juicy and sweet tasting, similar to a cantaloupe.

Side Effects

• While papayas are filled with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help reduce cholesterol, you should not eat them if you are allergic to latex. Unripe papayas contain a milky latex called papain and a digestive enzyme called chitinase. These are associated with the latex-fruit allergy syndrome.

  Additionally, do not eat an excess of papayas or the palms of your hands and soles of your feet may turn a yellow-orange color. This is a condition called Carotenmia. it is not a permanent condition, but it can take several months to resolve.