Can Pregnant Women Eat Papaya?

Can pregnant women eat papaya? If you were one of those women who used to consume this fruit before pregnancy, then this is a question for which you want an answer for sure.

Papaya, a fruit that has the shape of a pear, belongs to the Caricaceae family and has a particular name for different areas. For instance, in the East Indies and southern Asia is known as kepaya, while in Australia and the West Indies is known as lapaya, pawpaw or tapaya. In Brazil is known as mamao, while in Spain as papayero.

It`s a fruit rich in fibers, vitamin A, C, E and folic acid. Papaya has a lot of health benefits. For instance, it`s rich in flavonoids, carotene and riboflavin, and is poor in sodium and calories. It also contains iron, magnesium and potassium. Due to its content of minerals and vitamins, it can prevent cancer and aids digestion. The papaya enzyme (papain) helps with the weight management.

Can Pregnant Women Eat Papaya?

If you are trying to conceive or already are pregnant, you may want to avoid consuming unripe papaya, as they contain a latex substance which might cause uterine contractions. Although a completely ripe papaya isn`t believed to be an issue, it`s not really known if papaya is really safe while expecting a baby or not. There`s no real evidence or studies to back up the idea that the consumption of papaya is safe while pregnant. – Check this!

On the other hand, well-baked papaya is rich in nutrients and can be consumed in moderate amounts. Papaya is rich in vitamin C, which is efficient in preventing and controlling constipation and heartburn. Slices of papaya mixed with honey and milk are considered an excellent tonic while pregnant and breastfeeding.

What Is Papaya Enzyme Used For?

Papaya is on occasion recommended to sooth indigestion, a common issues while expecting. The papaya enzyme which aids in soothing indigestion is known as papain (vegetable pepsin. It can be found in the fruit`s leaves and latex. Unripe papaya latex might act like oxytocin and prostaglandin, making the organism beginning labor. Synthetic oxytocin and prostaglandin are quite commonly used to strengthen uterine contractions. – Click here!

How Much Papaya Can Cause Abortion or Infertility?

In South and Southeast Asia, raw papaya is used to prevent or interrupt a pregnancy. Still, once it`s ripe, this fruit loses its phytochemicals that interfere with progesterone and, therefore, its contraceptive and abortion properties. In fact, papaya seeds can serve as a very efficient male contraceptive. If they are taken on a daily basis, they may reduce the sperm production to zero and is a sure long-term contraceptive method. The greatest advantage is that sterility is reversible: if the man stops taking the seeds, his number of sperm returns to normal.

Although it has the high content of folic acid, fibers, minerals and vitamins, papaya should be avoided especially in early pregnancy, or if you are trying to conceive. Papaya has contraceptive effects by cancelling the effects of progesterone, and papaya seeds contain a combination of vegetal oxytocin and prostaglandin that can cause the occurrence of contractions, making the implantation impossible and leading to miscarriage. As mentioned above, it`s only recommended to eat ripped papaya (the fruit`s bark has the highest concentration of aggressive substances), without seeds. You can consume papaya with confidence if you have exceeded your term.

Is Papaya Good for Health Wise?

Although this exotic fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals, in large amounts it actually causes more problems than good. – More info!

Is Papaya Good for Your Digestive System?

The irony is that the same papain enzyme which calms the stomach may cause disturbances for it as well, if it`s taken in high amounts. The high content of fiber that can be found in papaya also upsets the digestive system when you forget to stop from eating this delicious fruit. Also, the latex from it`s skin might cause irritation to the stomach.

Kidneys Stones

One single fruit of papaya has around 5 inches and a diameter of 3 inches. It contains up to 60 mg of vitamin C and around 310% of the DV. Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant which might aid you against high blood pressure, blood vessel disorders and cancer. Consuming over 1,200 mg of vitamin C on a daily basis for children or over 2,000 mg for adults may induce signs of toxicity, which include oxalate kidney stones as well. Oxalate is considered a byproduct of this vitamin after the nutrient is metabolized.

Skin Discoloration

The fruit obtains its orange color from bête-carotene, which is a nutrient that also offer vitamin A. A papaya of medium size provides around 15% of the DV for this vitamin. If you eat a more than necessary of a orange, yellow or green-colored food which includes beta-carotene may cause carotenemia, which is a benign form of skin discoloration. This condition isn`t the same as jaundice!

Respiratory Distress

The fruit`s enzyme is used to counter throat inflammation and soothe digestive issues. The fruit is a potential allergen as well. Person who consume too much of this fruit and, therefore ingesting too much of the fruit`s enzyme, may develop consistent signs of asthma and fever, which include nasal congestion, wheezing or difficulties in breathing.

Is Papaya Good for Constipation?

As already mentioned, this fruit is a nutritional powerhouse, making it great for many digestive issues, including constipation. Due to the fact that the fruit has a high content of vitamin C (it contains even more of this vitamin than oranges), it helps in softening the stool. – Click this page!

Is Papaya Good for Peptic Ulcer?

Some experts claim that the papaya`s enzyme may prevent or even cure various disease, which include stomach ulcers, arthritis or gastric reflux. Practically, there is no evidence that supports this, and if you suffer from stomach ulcer, it`s recommended to talk to a doctor and receive medical treatment.

Is Papaya Good for Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

This fruit aids with a number of signs of irritable bowel syndrome, like constipation, mucus in the gut or bloating. All these are embarrassing symptoms to experience and, on top of that, they are also painful. For example, papain, the papaya`s enzyme, along with a few other enzymes of the fruit, is able to break down fibrin protein, being one of the reasons for which many people experience blood clots.