Posted on 06/22/2009 2:34:18 AM PDT by JoeProBono
If you live here in Central Florida, I’m sure you’ve seen this plant growing in a friend or neighbor’s yard. Papaya needs very little to grow well here, it thrives in warm weather with plenty of rainfall -- pretty much the exact description of Central Florida most of the time. If you want to try growing some yourself be sure to provide support for the plant as the fruit grows from the stem of the “tree”. The papaya plant in the above picture was planted next to a large porch where it could be tied to help keep it from falling over. I took this picture last March while visiting some friends.
Papaya has many health benefits, not to mention being a tasty addition to meal times. You can eat the fruit, drink the juice, or even use the skin of the fruit. If you don’t like the taste of papaya, like me, you can get papaya tablets at the local health food store. Here are some of the things that papaya can do for you:
* Aids in the digestion of proteins * Good against digestive disorders * Contains carpain, an enzyme believed to be good for the heart * Is an excellent source of vitamin C * Is an excellent source of carotene * The skin and pulp can be used as a treatment for skin wounds either as a covering to aid in healing or as a poultice.
Here’s what I’ve personally found to be papaya’s biggest benefits:
* Relieves acid stomach and heartburn * Helps settle an upset stomach * Eases stomach bloating and gas * Chew several tablets after a big meal; it relieves the “I can’t believe I ate all of that” feeling
I didn’t know all that info.
This fruit will come in handy for the 4th of July picnic.
No more gas........:)
Papaya - ping
Green papaya such as those shown in your picture are also tasty. Pitted sliced into pieces and cooked similarly to summer squash or zucchini.
I love the red fleshed papaya ... can’t stand the yellow ones though.
Got any lime to go with that? Yum!
Great looking fruit. and the papaya looks good too.
What is that, papaya, granola and yogurt? It looks like Al Gore’s lunch.
Hummm interesting....
I love the taste of papaya. But, that’s some gigantic fruit!
Can it grow indoors? Can it Grow in Georgia?
Papain is a cysteine protease (EC 3.4.22.2) hydrolase enzyme present in papaya (Carica papaya) and mountain papaya (Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis).
Main ingredient of Adolf’s Meat Tenderizer.
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