Can i eat papaya skin

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. More than just a delicious fruit, papaya is a source of nutrients with a number of health benefits. According to a paper , the many benefits of papaya can be attributed to the high content of vitamins A, B, and C.

Its proteolytic enzymes , such as papain and chymopapain also have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Papayas have gained popularity as a natural home treatment, and for their use in skin and hair products. Their benefits vary and are summarized in the table below. Papaya is rich in antioxidants, such as lycopene , that may defend against the visible signs of aging.

A study indicated that much of the skin damage and wrinkling that occurs with aging can be attributed to excessive free radical activity. According to a later study , these antioxidants can help fight free radical damage which may help your skin remain smooth and youthful.

Papaya may also help improve the elasticity of your skin according to research on rats. This improvement in skin elasticity could minimize the appearance of wrinkles. A study of older women who consumed a mixture of antioxidants including vitamin C and lycopene, had a measurable reduction in the depth of facial wrinkles.

The enzymes papain and chymopapain in papaya can decrease inflammation. Although papaya seeds have been associated with various health benefits, some potential health concerns surround them. Some animal studies have shown that papaya seeds may reduce fertility. For example, one study found that administering large doses of papaya seed extract to monkeys caused a condition called azoospermia, which is characterized by a lack of sperm in the semen A rat study observed similar findings, reporting that papaya seed extract reduced both sperm count and sperm motility.

Interestingly, researchers found that these changes were reversed within 45 days after stopping treatment Note that these studies use a much higher dosage of papaya seeds than most people typically consume. Human studies are needed to look at how consuming papaya in the amounts typically found in the diet may affect fertility. Papaya seeds contain benzyl isothiocyanate, a compound also found in many types of cruciferous vegetables In test-tube studies, this compound has been associated with a number of health benefits, especially when it comes to cancer prevention 20 , 21 , For instance, one test-tube study showed that administrating benzyl isothiocyanate directly onto individual cells caused significant damage to DNA.

However, the authors noted that administering benzyl isothiocyanate to live rats did not have the same effect Meanwhile, a rat study found that it had a toxic effect on healthy cells Notably, these were animal and cell studies looking at the effects of very concentrated doses of benzyl isothiocyanate.

More research is needed to understand how the benzyl isothiocyanate found in a single serving of papaya seeds could affect human health. Animal and test-tube studies have found that compounds in papaya seeds may reduce fertility and have toxic effects on cells and DNA when administered in concentrated amounts.

Human studies are lacking. The fruit of papaya tree can be consumed both raw and in dried form and it can also be cooked as a vegetable. Papaya is rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, dietary fiber and enzyme called papain. All of these elements make papaya a great natural immune booster and it also promotes digestion. It could tell a great deal on fruit condition. In case of papaya, skin should be yellow or reddish and smooth. However, when it comes to eating papaya fruit, the best advice is to remove it.

Some people do eat papaya skin with no side effects, but it is generally not recommended. Technically, you can eat it, but it is somewhat bitter and not considered edible in general. The plant itself produces latex which can be absorbed into fruit skin.

If you eat it, it could possibly lead to stomach problems. It is not particularly dangerous, but papaya skin does not taste that good at all, so you should enjoy its juicy flavorful flesh, rather than the skin. The papaya plant produces latex, and some of this substance can come in contact with the skin during harvest.

As such, eating the fruit's skin can lead to stomach irritation. Although you shouldn't eat the skin, you can safely eat the seeds of the fruit, which has a spicy flavor. Nutrition Nutrition Basics Healthy Eating. Can You Eat Papaya Skin?