Papaya fruit juice is one of the most delicious and nourishing preparations. Ripe papaya is also among the most important natural treatments for both internal and external ailments.
How to Make Papaya Juice
Compared with some other fruits, like melon and carambola, the juice yield of papayas is actually quite low. Therefore, while an electronic juicer will ensure a thin, even consistency, food processors and blenders are better to prepare papaya juice, because the nutrients and the soluble fiber are efficiently preserved.
This is the easiest way for making fresh, raw papaya juice at home:
Prepare the papaya fruit by washing and peeling its outer skin.
Cut the papaya lengthwise with a sharp knife, scooping out the seeds from both halves.
Cut the papaya fruit into appropriately-sized chunks and blend for two to three minutes.
Use water to thin out the mixture and continue blending until the desired texture and consistency are achieved.
Add honey or other natural sweeteners, if desired, and serve over ice.
It should be cautioned that while green papaya juice holds important health benefits of its own, it contains high levels of latex, a milky substance that may be harmful for human consumption.
Papaya Juice Combinations
Research indicates that adding other fruits enhances papaya nutrition. In fact, some of the best combinations include strawberry, pineapple, mango, and banana. To include these fruits simply remove any unwanted skin and cut them into small cubes before incorporating them into the blender.
Also, to explore the depth of flavors in raw papaya juice, try adding lemon juice, or freshly-chopped spearmint and basil leaves.
Health Benefits of Papaya Juice
Papaya benefits in juice form are diverse and plentiful. Regularly consuming it has been linked to reduced pain and inflammation, protection from cardiovascular disease, and enhanced immunity against cellular damage. Because it contains rich sources of calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and E, drinking papaya juice is a great way to provide the body with the diverse set of nutrients it needs for carrying out daily functions.
Papaya fruit juice contains the all-natural enzymes papain and chymopapain, which eliminate constipation and indigestion by breaking down inactive proteins. Also, thanks to its powerful antioxidant action, the chilled papaya juice is often spread over skin abrasions to speed up the process of wound healing and cellular regeneration.
Recent studies even highlight the anti-obesity effects of raw papaya juice, suggesting its ability to promote healthy weight management by reducing the relative weights of fat in the liver, kidney, and spleen. Furthermore, proteins and fibers in papaya juice steady the appetite and help to keep cravings at bay.
Of the many culinary preparations developed from the raw papaya, fruit juice is undoubtedly one of the most satisfying. The mouth-watering beverage not only boasts an impressive array of essential vitamins and nutrients, but also carries out powerful medicinal actions in the body. So start enjoying the health benefits of papaya juice in your diet today!
Sources
- Fresh vegetable and fruit juices, pp. 47 – 48
- Handbook of Functional Beverages and Human Health, pp. 442 – 448
- Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, Traditional and medicinal uses of Carica papaya, 2013
- Nutrients, The role of phytonutrients in skin health, 2010
- Pick Your Way to Better Health, p. 166
- The Big Book of Healthy Smoothies and Juices, pp. 221, 274, 383
- The Complete Book of Enzyme Therapy, p. 441
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Wound healing properties of Carica papaya latex: in vivo evaluation in mice burn model, 2009