When managing reproductive health for both men and women, the only fruit that comes to mind to avoid is papaya. Generally, people negatively connect papaya fruit with fertility. Does it affect your fertility? No.
On the other hand, it will increase your fertility potential and support a healthy pregnancy. Let us explore more beneficial things about papaya and the risks associated with this tropical fruit in detail in this article.
Papaya Fruit And Their Health Benefits
Papaya fruit is known for its magical benefits when you consume it regularly. These ripened orange coloured fruits are grown in tropical regions. They are very sweet and make your tummy full easily. Some nutritional benefits of papaya fruit:
| Nutrient | Benefit |
|---|---|
|
Vitamins (A, B1, B2, C, E)
|
Keep your body healthy, if you consume regularly. |
|
Minerals (Potassium, Iron, Calcium, Phosphorus)
|
It makes your bones stronger and improves blood flow.
|
|
Fiber (Soluble & Insoluble)
|
Its rich fibre helps for easy digestion.
|
|
Natural Acids (Citric, Malic, Succinic, etc.)
|
Helps digest food.
|
|
Antioxidants & Plant Compounds
|
Protects from diseases. |
|
Ripening Process
|
Changes color, taste, and texture. |
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Shelf Life
|
Papaya spoils fast. |
How Does It Support Male Fertility?
Enhances Sperm Quality
The strong antioxidant lycopene enhances sperm motility and shields them from harm.
Boosts Sperm Count
Increased sperm production and decreased oxidative stress are two benefits of high vitamin C levels.
Encourages Hormonal Balance
Potassium and folate enhance reproductive function and help produce testosterone.Lowers Inflammation
Reproduction requires both improved blood flow and decreased inflammation, which are both facilitated by the papain enzyme.Enhances General Health
Digestive enzymes and fibre improve nutrient absorption, which indirectly aids sperm production.
Raw Papaya And Their Health Benefits
Like ripened papaya, raw papaya also have their benefits. You can consume them to balance your body weight and to improve your overall health. Their nutritional benefits are as follows:
| Nutrient/Property | Benefit |
|---|---|
|
Digestive Enzymes (Papain, Chymopapain)
|
Papaya help with digestion. |
|
Vitamins (A, C, E)
|
Keep your skin healthy and glowing.
|
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Anti-inflammatory Compounds (Flavonoids, Beta-Carotene)
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Reduce swelling and pain. |
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Rich in Vitamin C
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Increases immunity and improves skin.
|
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Papain Enzyme
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Helps with regular periods. |
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High Fiber & Low Calories
|
Its rich fibre helps in weight loss.
|
How Does It Support Male Fertility?
- In unripe papaya, you may find latex, which contains the enzyme papain.
- The high amount of taking these enzyme may affect reproductive hormones.
- Take them in moderate amounts to avoid the adverse effects of raw papaya.
Papaya Seeds And Their Health Benefits
Generally, many online videos and shares suggest taking papaya seed and their extract. Papaya seeds are incredibly nutritious and may help prevent renal issues and cancer.
Eating them in tiny quantities, just a few servings each day, will help you avoid experiencing adverse consequences from eating too much. Consult with your healthcare provider if you notice any changes while taking papaya seeds. Try to consume only the minimum quantity at an initial stage.
Possible Health Concerns of Papaya Seed
Might Lower Fertility
- Based on some animal studies, excessive consumption of papaya seeds can lower sperm motility and number.
- In one study, a high papaya seed extract dose induced azoospermia (the absence of sperm in semen) in the test animals.
- The rats in a comparable study showed decreased motility and sperm numbers, but these returned to normal after 45 days of discontinuing the seeds.
- The doses used in these studies were very high—far higher than those in a typical diet.
- To determine if eating small quantities of papaya seeds has an impact on human fertility, further studies are needed.
Could Be Harmful in Large Quantities
- Benzyl isothiocyanate, a compound also found in a number of vegetables, is found in papaya seeds.
- At very high levels, the compound could harm normal cells, but it could also prevent cancer.
- Large quantities damaged DNA in isolated cells, as per a laboratory study, but the impact was not the same in living rats.
- High levels of this compound could be toxic to normal cells, a separate study on rats suggests.
- The amounts used in the experiments were very high and many times greater than those contained in a normal meal.
- To understand its impact in trace amounts, further human studies are needed.
Indian Recipes Made With Papaya
Papaya can be utilised to cook several Indian recipes. Here are a few mouth-watering methods to employ papaya in your recipes:
1. Papaya Chaat:
Just slice the ripe papaya and sprinkle some salt, pepper, chaat masala or lemon juice. If you do not prefer these extras, you can carry plain fruit to get the authentic taste.
2. Raw papaya sabzi in North Indian style
Raw papaya can be grated and fried in oil along with other spices such as mustard, curry leaves, onion, tomato, and some hot masalas. Your sabzi is now ready to be served with roti, paratha, or rice.
3. Papaya Paratha
Take a dough of wheat flour and mash raw papaya. Take small balls of the dough and roll the balls into flat parathas. Cook them in tawa and serve hot with sabzi.
Like the above, you can include papaya in your food menu as a smoothie or slices to get the benefits.
Other Ways to Improve Sperm Health
A few other lifestyle changes will assist in promoting sperm health further, but the intake of healthy fruits such as papaya is an excellent place to begin:
Regular Exercise:
It aids blood circulation, which supports the formation of healthy sperm and ensures a good body weight.Reduce Stress:
As too much stress may lead to poor quality of sperm, practice yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to unwind.Avoid Smoking and Alcohol :
Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption because these habits may harm sperm and lower fertility.Get Sufficient Sleep:
Good sleep keeps the body healthy and regulates hormones.
You can naturally encourage better sperm health by following these habits along with a healthy diet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adding papaya to your daily food menu is a great way to increase your sperm health. But try to consume raw papaya in moderate levels and avoid eating papaya seeds if you are more concerned about your fertility potential. Try to ask your healthcare provider if you can add papaya seeds to your diet.
Ripened papaya is a powerhouse of all nutrients, vitamins and minerals. You need not worry about consuming ripened papaya, even though women can also include papaya fruit in their diet if they are pregnant.
It supports pregnancy as well. However, women must avoid eating raw papaya during pregnancy because of uterine contractions. Men can enjoy papaya fruit and raw papaya in moderate levels.
