Papaya tree is believed to be one such plant where all its parts like the fruit, leaves, flowers and the stem have immense benefits for the human being. Very less section of the society knows that not only papaya fruit but also its leaves and flowers are a beneficiary element for our body and health. Hence, we will discuss here some amazing papaya flower benefits.
It is interesting to know that most of us are aware of the health benefits of Papaya but have rarely heard about the flowers. Papaya is eaten as a fruit for healing purpose however the leaves and flowers are also consumed as part of curing several diseases.
Papaya was considered as an important fruit by the Mayans during the ancient times. It is a life-saving plant and hence the tree was worshiped by them as the ‘Tree of Life’. It has numerous amount of medicinal benefit. It is also said that papaya was the favourite fruit of great Christopher Columbus.
Origin Of Papaya Flowers
As mentioned it is termed as the tree of life for the Mayans, Papaya is native to the tropics of the Americans, mostly from the southern Mexico and that of Central America. It is considered to be first cultivated by Mexican even before the rise and emergence of Mesoamerican civilization.
The papaya flower is loaded with rich source essential vitamins and minerals which makes it ideal to be a part of our diet. Papaya flowers are also the rich source of antioxidant properties and folate which makes it a great curing and medicinal plant.
In India, papaya can be found all over however it is grown in abundance in the north eastern state of Manipur. They are white in color and grow in abundance on a papaya tree. There is no specific season for the plant to bear flowers and fruits. It can be found throughout the year all over the country.
How To Select The Flowers And Store?
It is important to select the right flowers for consumption. Select fresh and soft flowers which are not damaged or been trashed. Pluck the delicate, small off white flowers and collect the fresh products. The peer shaped flowers is said to be female flowers and cylindrical ones are said to be male.
It is advisable to store it in the refrigerator inside a polythene or closed container.
You may also like to learn about benefits of Papaya Leaves Juice.
Nutrients Present In Papaya Flower
Just like the papaya fruit, the flower is packed with a lot of vitamins and minerals along with fibers and vital compounds like folate and antioxidants.
The flowers are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Vitamin C which is required by the body. Also, the dietary fibers present in it are useful. The vital compounds serve as benefits to the body which include lowering cholesterol, blood pressure check, prevents strokes, etc.
Here is a wonderful video on how to cook Papaya flowers that helps fighting diabetes –
Let’s have a look at some important papaya flower benefits for health.
Papaya Flower Benefits for Overall Health
1. Improves Digestion
Papaya flowers are rich in tannins, which is an enzyme that facilitates digestion and prevents constipation.
In case you have difficulty in digesting the food or suffer from acute constipation, then papaya flowers are the best and are a liver friendly food.
Always remember to eat only cooked papaya flower. Do not opt for the raw ones as it is poisonous in nature and can cause serious health hazards.
2. Increases Appetite
Papaya flowers are best to increase your appetite. In case your child throws any tantrums and does not consume his food, if you are facing difficulty in eating and do not feel like taking food, then switch to papaya flowers.
Papaya flowers increase appetite tremendously. This method was used long back by the Indonesian people and is an age old remedy to boost appetite.
Eat cooked papaya flowers as the first thing in the morning and then you will definitely feel hungry.
3. Weight Loss
Papaya flower promotes weight loss. Papaya flowers have all the essential Vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin B and Vitamin C which is beneficial for the health and helps you to lose weight faster.
It also aids in digestion and helps to remove toxins from the body. Consuming Papaya flowers on a daily basis can be extremely advantageous for weight loss.
One of the best parts of papaya flower benefits is, it will help to reduce the weight gradually and hence does not lead to any side effect.
You may love to read about the benefits pf Queens Flower.
4. Prevents Stroke
Papaya flowers are rich in antioxidants and hence reduce free radicals in the body. The papaya flowers contain such enzymes which help to promote blood circulation in the body. This, in turn, helps to prevent the risk of heart stroke.
5. Controls Cholesterol
Cholesterol has emerged to be a big problem these days and more and more people are developing this in their body. The main reason behind this is the unhealthy eating habits and deposition of fats in the arteries.
Papaya flower is extremely useful to fight against cholesterol. The flower has a high content of Folate and antioxidants which help to lower the cholesterol levels in the body.
So next time you know someone who has high cholesterol, you know what needs to be given to the patient!!
Please click here to know more about Health Benefits of Papaya Flower…
6. Lowers Sugar Levels
Papaya flower benefits for diabetes patients. Although, the exact reason behind this is not known even doctors believe that consuming papaya flowers on a regular basis is very effective food for people suffering from diabetes.
As per a research, papaya flowers have all the essential vitamins and minerals in it. It is also known to produce insulin in the body which helps to break down the sugar naturally.
7. Checks Cancer
Although there is no substantial evidence as to what causes cancer, however, it is believed that excess free radical in the body is one of the main reasons behind it.
The free radicals stimulate the cells to multiply rapidly which causes cancer in the body. Therefore papaya flowers are extremely beneficial for our body. This is due to the fact that it is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids.
Both these compounds keep a check on the free radicals and block its entry into our body. They have the ability to fight against the free radicals in the body and help build a stronger immune system.
8. Improves Body Metabolism
Papaya flower has several important compounds present in it which help in body metabolism. Metabolism is important for the body as a lot of energy is consumed by the body to perform its daily functions.
The higher the body metabolism, the rapidly your food gets digested and energy is released in the body. This helps to prevent fat deposition as unused energy is mostly converted to fat and stored in the body.
Eat papaya flowers regularly if your body metabolism is low.
9. Improves Blood Circulation
Papaya flower helps to improve the blood circulation in the body. It has blood thinning properties which helps the heart to pump blood at its normal levels and indirectly improves blood circulation.
Eating this flower can keep you fit and healthy. It helps in blood circulation to all your organs.
10. Ideal For Liver
Papaya flowers are loaded with essential vitamins and fibers which are excellent for the liver. They help the liver to flush the toxins from the body and are believed to be a liver friendly food.
Therefore, consume papaya flowers regularly and eliminate the waste substances from the body. Papaya flower benefits keep your liver happy!!
11. Controls Blood Pressure
Papaya flower benefits to the people suffering from high blood pressure.
Usually, in high blood pressure, the blood thickens and your heart faces difficulty in pumping the blood. This can be an extreme condition and one of the few reasons for heart attack.
Consuming papaya flowers regularly helps in the thinning of the blood and indirectly helps the heart to pump blood at its normal rate. This helps to keep the blood pressure under check and promote proper blood circulation in the body.
It is a natural medicine for people suffering from heart disease.
How To Consume Papaya Flowers?
Papaya flowers are bitter is taste and that is the main reason why many people do not like consuming the flowers. However, as it is generally said that whichever food items are not palatable for the tongue are best for the body, the same holds good for papaya flowers as well.
These flowers can be consumed in many ways. In India, it is mostly served as a side dish along with rice. Its bitter taste can be marred by adding some tamarind to it; however, it is ideal to eat the cooked flowers the way it is rather than supplementing it with other ingredients.
You can also consume the flowers in the form of salads, soups etc. Just add some boiled flowers to the soups and salads and consume it on a daily basis. Unknowingly it will benefit your health internally.
Conclusion
We have discussed several papaya flower benefits in general. These flowers actually serve like a medicine and do not have any cosmetic impact on the skin or hair.
However, indirectly they do contribute to a glowing skin and healthy hair as it keeps free radicals away. It can be rightly said that it is indeed a life-saving flower and is a must in your diet.
Hope you have found this article useful. In the case of any suggestion or feedback, please share the same in the comments section below.
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