Papaya
* Calorie value is measured per serving weight shown
Nutrition (per 100g)
Common Serving Sizes
How long to burn 43 kcal
Approximate exercise time to burn the 43 kcal in each 100g:
About Papaya
Low in calories; a good summer fruit reference.
Health Benefits of Papaya
Papain helps digestion - how
Papaya contains papain, a protein-digesting enzyme like bromelain - it cuts peptide bonds to break proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. Hence papaya is used to tenderise meat stews or eaten after meals to aid protein digestion. Enzyme activity is highest in green papaya and falls as it ripens.
Low in both calories and sugar
Papaya is only 37 kcal and 7.0g carbs per 100g - among the lowest for tropical fruit (compare mango 35, mangosteen 72). A medium papaya (~300g edible) is just 111 kcal, so you can eat plenty in summer without much calorie load.
Beta-carotene - flesh colour tells the amount
Ripe papaya's orange-red comes from beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin carotenoids, converted to vitamin A in the body. Varieties differ several-fold in beta-carotene - deeper red means more. Pick ripe fruit with even orange-red flesh for more nutrition.