Papaya Diet

In This Article

Facts—How Papaya Aids Weight Loss

“Is papaya good for weight loss?” Rest your worries and keep reading to learn some science-backed facts on how this tasty tropical fruit can help you achieve your fitness goals.

• Papaya improves digestion and promotes proper bowel movement. A study was conducted by Austrian scientists on volunteers battling indigestion and gastrointestinal tract dysfunction. They were given papaya. It was found that the typical symptoms of dysfunctional digestion such as bloating, constipation, and heartburn i Burning pain or discomfort in the stomach that may be a result of consuming highly acidic or fat-rich foods. were reduced significantly ( 1 ).
• Papaya contains papain, a digestive enzyme that helps to digest proteins and clean the intestinal walls. When your digestive system starts functioning better, the body’s metabolic rate increases and helps in fat burning.
• Papaya is low in calories (43 calories in 100 grams of papaya) and is rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, folate i A type of vitamin B that helps the body make red blood cells, and supports healthy cell function and tissue growth. , calcium, magnesium, and potassium ( 2 ). Besides, papaya contains a good amount of water and is loaded with fiber. Fiber helps to hold water in the intestine, softens the stool, thereby preventing constipation. It also binds to the fat molecules and prevents the absorption of fats.
• Papaya is a good source of antioxidants. It has high levels of the antioxidant beta-carotene that helps flush out the toxins in the body. By eliminating the toxins, it boosts metabolism and prevents heart disease ( 3 ).

To lose weight, you need to maintain a calorie deficit. You can do this by changing your calorie consumption or expenditure. In a recent survey conducted on 5067 GB adults, 49% respondents said that they would rather change what they eat as opposed to the 41% who preferred to exercise. If you are among the former group, papaya is great food to include in your diet.

Wondering how to eat papaya for weight loss? Worry not, here are the best ways to consume papaya and include it in your diet.

Key Takeaways

• Papaya, rich in papain, aids digestion by breaking down proteins, and promotes bowel movement.
• It is low in calories, rich in nutrients such as vitamin A and folate, and is a good source of antioxidants.
• You can cook raw papaya, make a smoothie with it, or make a fruit salad with ripe papaya.
• Papaya is rich in vitamin C which boosts the immune system and protects against rheumatoid arthritis.

How To Consume Papaya For Weight Loss

• Papaya can be eaten raw. You just need to slice it into small cubes. It is recommended to consume papaya along with some other food as it works best when taken with fat.

• Your breakfast can become more delicious and at the same time nutritious if you prepare a papaya smoothie. Preparation of the smoothie is very easy and time-saving. Just mix the mashed papaya with milk, yogurt or juice. You can also add your favorite fruit to it. If you wish to thicken the smoothie, you can add a banana too.

• You may try out something new by preparing a fruit salad with ripe papaya. Cut cubes of papaya and other preferred fruits of your choice along with some powdered spices.

You will better understand why eating papaya in various forms is important once you understand what nutrients it contains. Let’s check it out quickly.

Nutritional Profile Of Papaya

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 100 grams of papaya contains ( 2 ):

• Calories: 43 kcal
• Protein: 0.47 g
• Fat: 0.26 g
• Carbs: 10.8 g
• Fiber: 1.7 g
• Total sugars: 7.82 g
• Calcium: 20 mg
• Potassium: 182 mg
• Magnesium: 21 mg
• Iron: 0.25 mg
• Vitamin C: 60.9 mg

Papaya Diet Plan—The Right Way To Shed Fat

Follow this diet chart 3 days a week for 4 weeks. If you want to tweak this diet chart, make sure to have2 servings (1 serving = 1 cup = 140 g) of papayaper day, include nutritious veggies, fruits, natural drinks, and avoid junk food. Here is a sample papaya diet plan.

Why This Works

Green tea promotes weight loss by suppressing appetite and increasing the metabolic rate. You can also flush out the toxins by drinking warm water and lime juice in the morning. Include papaya in your breakfast along with a good source of protein and healthy fat. Have a healthy lunch containing protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats. Yogurt and buttermilk are loaded with good gut bacteria that ensure proper digestion. Have a cup of papaya post lunch; it will keep you full until dinner. Grilled chicken, salmon, and lentil soup are rich in protein, veggies and multigrain toast is loaded with complex carbs and dietary fiber.

Substitutes

Green tea – Herbal/ black tea Lime juice – Apple cider vinegar Boiled egg- Scrambled egg or 1 cup milk Multigrain bread- Wheat bread Peanut butter – Sunflower seed butter Mushroom- Tofu Chicken- Ground turkey Tuna- Mackerel Yogurt – Sour cream Kidney bean – Garbanzo beans Cucumber – Carrot Tomato – Beetroot Buttermilk – Coconut water Salmon – Tuna Cabbage soup – Tomato soup Lentil soup – Mushroom clear soup

Apart from the above-listed foods, you can eat the foods mentioned below.

Foods To Eat

Veggies –

Broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, spinach, swiss chard, zucchini, bell pepper, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, green chili, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, snake gourd, okra, eggplant, radish, turnip, beetroot, carrot, sweet potato, radish greens, collard greens, and green beans.

Fruits – Papaya, apple, grapes, grapefruit, lime, lemon, orange, plum, pear, peach, pluot, figs, blueberry, strawberry, starfruit, green apple, watermelon, and muskmelon. Fats & Oils – Olive oil, rice bran oil, hemp seed oil, and ghee (clarified butter). Seeds & Nuts – Macadamia nuts, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and hazelnuts. Control your portions ( not more than 30 g) if on a weight loss diet. Beverages – Coconut water, buttermilk, fresh fruit juice, and vegetable juice. Herbs & Spices – Cilantro, oregano, dill, rosemary, thyme, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, nutmeg, black pepper, star anise, cayenne pepper, saffron, cumin powder, coriander powder, fennel seeds, and fenugreek seeds.

Steer clear from the foods mentioned below.

Foods To Avoid

Veggies –

Potato and pumpkin Fruits – Mango and jackfruit Fats & Oils – Animal fat, butter, mayonnaise, ranch, canola oil, and vegetable oil Seeds & Nuts – Cashew nuts Beverages – Aerated drinks, artificially sweetened drinks, packaged fruit juices, and alcohol

Now, though you will make the right food choices and eat a substantial amount of papaya to improve your metabolism, you have to use the calories you consume as usable energy in order to lose weight. Therefore, exercising is highly recommended. Without this, your metabolism will stall again. So, here is a sample workout routine for you.

Exercise Plan

This is a very simple exercise plan. To achieve maximum benefits, combine your papaya diet with regular exercise to improve metabolic activities, burn calories, and support general health. If you don’t get the time to workout daily, make sure you walk to and from office/school, take the stairs, and keep moving you burn a few calories.

How Will You Feel After Completing Papaya Diet?

Adhering to this diet and exercise plan for two weeks will help you in slimming down and lose water weight. You will feel less bloated and constipated. Your mood will improve, and you will be more active and productive. You will be more confident and love your new lifestyle.

Here are few more reasons for you to eat papaya.

Health Benefits Of Papaya

• The antioxidant property of papaya helps to prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals. The lycopene in papaya not only scavenges free radicals but also protects the heart from oxidative damage( 4 ).
• Enzymes i Proteins that help accelerate chemical reactions in the body essential for digestion, and muscle and nerve functions. present in papayas such as chymopapain and papain has anti-inflammatory properties and supports healing wounds and burns.
• Vitamins A and C present in papaya helps in boosting the immune system.
• Papaya also protects against macular degeneration.
• Vitamin C rich papaya helps protect against rheumatoid arthritis.
• Papaya reduces the risk of colon and prostate cancer.

While papaya has several benefits , excessive intake may result in adverse reactions discussed below.

Disadvantages Of Eating Papaya

Papaya contains an enzyme called papain that may cause allergic reactions in some individuals and lead to side effects such as itching, swelling, and hives ( 5 ). People who are sensitive to papaya and have latex allergy can be at an even higher risk of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which could be potentially life-threatening ( 6 ).

According to a study conducted on pregnant rats, eating unripe or half-ripe papaya might not be safe during pregnancy as the presence of latex can cause strong contractions in the uterus ( 7 ).

Hence, it is necessary to consume papaya in moderation and consult with a healthcare professional, especially if you have allergies or are taking specific medications.

Infographic: 3 Ways Papaya Supports Weight Loss & Tips To Consume It

Papaya is touted as one of the best fruits to consume for weight loss. As you might have learned by now, it’s packed with dietary fibers and antioxidants, and is low in calories, making it a great fruit to include in your diet for weight loss. Check out the infographic below to get an idea about how papaya works to promote weight loss and tips to add it to your diet.

Can papaya seeds help with weight loss?

Yes, papaya seeds may help with weight loss, as they are rich in fiber, which promotes satiety and a feeling of fullness ( 9 ). This may help reduce hunger pangs and help you with portion control, which is important for weight management.

Is papaya better than bananas for weight loss?

Yes, papaya is a better choice because it contains fewer calories than bananas. A hundred grams of raw papaya contains only 43 calories, while the same amount of raw bananas contains 98 calories. Also, the sugar content of papayas is much lower than bananas ( 2 ), ( 10 ). Hence, papayas may also help reduce sugar cravings and help with calorie control and weight loss.

Can I eat papaya during intermittent fasting for weight loss?

Yes, you can eat papaya during intermittent fasting. This fruit is relatively low in calories and contains fiber, which can help keep you feeling full for longer, thus supporting weight loss ( 2 ). However, consume it within the eating window to avoid breaking your fast.

Illustration: Papaya Diet - How Papaya Aids Weight Loss

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

References

1. Papaya preparation (Caricol®) in digestive disorders. NeuroEndocrinology Letters, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23524622/
2. Nutritive value of Papaya. U.S. Department of Agriculture, FoodData Central. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169926/nutrients
3. Traditional and Medicinal uses of Carica papaya . Journal of Medicinal Plant Studies. https://www.plantsjournal.com/vol1Issue1/Issue_jan_2013/2.pdf
4. Lycopene – antioxidant with radioprotective and anticancer properties. A review, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25526570/
5. Comparative Analysis of the Immune Response and the Clinical Allergic Reaction to Papain-like Cysteine Proteases from Fig, Kiwifruit, Papaya, Pineapple and Mites in an Italian Population https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10417190/
6. Latex-papaya syndrome: an infrequent association https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29723936/
7. Papaya (Carica papaya) consumption is unsafe in pregnancy: fact or fable? Scientific evaluation of a common belief in some parts of Asia using a rat model https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12144723/
8. Papayas raw https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169926/nutrients
9. Nutraceutical Potential of Carica papaya in Metabolic Syndrome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6682863/
10. Bananas, ripe and slightly ripe, raw https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1105314/nutrients

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