Discover 5 Incredible Health Benefits of Papaya

AHA Publisher — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 07:00:49 +0000

Stephanie Woods via NaturalHealth365 – Papaya is a wonderful tropical fruit that is so deliciously versatile. Chop it up with some mango and sweet onion to serve over grilled (pasture raised) chicken, or drop some in the blender with coconut water, pineapple, and mango for a healthy smoothie. Of course, you can always enjoy it on its own, ice cold and juicy. What might surprise you is that this tasty tropical treat actually has a number of pretty incredible health benefits. Papaya is quite good for you. It is chock full of vitamins like vitamins A and C as well as B1, B3, B5, K, and magnesium! In fact, several studies have found that papaya can be used topically and consumed to heal the body naturally. It has been shown to help manage diabetes as well as improve cardiovascular health. Here are five excellent reasons to start incorporating papaya into your diet today. Studies Find Papaya Can Help With Wound Healing Several studies have found that topical application of papaya is very effective in treating wounds. One study used papaya on chronic ulcers and found that it was more effective than other topical treatments used for ulcers. Another study found that it was very effective in treating wounds in diabetic rats. Yet another study found that it works well on burns. There was a preparation process in several of the treatments that some subjects found to be tedious or difficult. However, the power the fruit has to facilitate wound healing makes it well worth the work. But wait, that’s not all! This tropical fruit is beneficial in treating fungal infections, according to studies Papaya latex sap has gained some popularity in recent years due to its usefulness in several areas. One of the most notable was a study published in 1997 that examined how the substance, when combined with a synthetic antifungal, can treat fungal infections, specifically those from Candida albicans. The study found that the substance successfully inhibited candida growth. Here Is What Makes Papaya a Powerful Cancer-Fighting Food When you enjoy a juicy, delicious papaya, you just might be reducing your risk of certain cancers. The fruit is rich in lycopene as well as the leaf, making it a powerful cancer-fighting food. Many studies have shown its effectiveness against breast cancer. In fact, one study found that its antioxidant properties were much higher than in other foods. When it is stacked against foods like mango, tomato, avocado, grapes, and guava, papaya still comes out on top. Fight Bloating and Constipation With This Delicious Fruit Papaya is rich in papain, an enzyme that researchers believe makes it easier for the body to digest protein. Some cultures use the fruit to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation. One study found that subjects who took a papaya-based formula every day for 40 days reported dramatic improvement in bloating and constipation. While it is mainly the flesh of the papaya used to treat these issues, the leaves, roots, and seeds of the plant have been shown to be very effective in treating ulcers all along the digestive tract. Do You Want Healthy, Younger-Looking Skin? Here Is How Papaya Can Help Just as the lycopene and vitamin C in papaya can help heal wounds and fight cancer, they can also make your skin look younger. It protects skin, smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines, and helps to reduce the signs of aging. Its antioxidant properties fight against free radical activity like sagging skin, wrinkles, and other types of skin damage. Eating raw papaya or applying it to your skin can help you become healthier. Try incorporating the fruit into your own daily diet so you too can reap the numerous benefits of the tasty, tropical papaya. Of course, buy organic – whenever possible. Sources for this article include: GreenMedInfo.com NIH.gov NIH.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

The post Discover 5 Incredible Health Benefits of Papaya appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe

AHA Publisher — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 07:00:06 +0000

Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DNM, CN – There are few fruits that scream summer the way watermelons do. These juicy melons often appear at barbecues and in frozen drinks, but they’re not often featured in salads, until now. This watermelon feta salad has ingredients that, at first glance, might not seem like they go together. Watermelon and pistachios? Kale and feta? Trust me when I say that this watermelon salad is about to become a new favorite! Sweet and Salty: Why It Works You might already enjoy sweet and salty food combos, like caramel popcorn or chocolate-covered pretzels. But why is it that these two flavors get our taste buds so excited? Like most awesome duos, when sweet and salty are paired together, they bring out the best in each other. Sweet tastes are actually enhanced by salt; by layering the two flavors in the same bite, you’re getting maximum deliciousness. The sweet and salty combination also keeps your taste buds guessing. If you only ate sweet foods, eventually you’d get tired of them — same with salty stuff. When you eat them together, though, instead of flavor fatigue, you get a unique combination that your brain just can’t get enough of. In this watermelon feta salad, we’ll take advantage of contrasting flavors by joining together sweet, ripe watermelon with salty, tangy feta cheese. Topping it all off is a maple sugar and coconut vinegar homemade dressing. Drooling is acceptable. Nutrition Facts Not only is this watermelon and feta salad really darn tasty, but it’s also good for you. One serving contains approximately: (1) 387 calories 5.92 grams protein 34.93 grams fat 15.55 grams carbohydrates 10.67 grams sugar 2.4 grams fiber 98.6 micograms vitamin K (110 percent DV) 2359 IUs vitamin A (101 percent DV) 4.53 milligrams vitamin E (30 percent DV) 0.254 milligrams copper (28 percent DV) 140 milligrams phosphorus (20 percent DV) 0.315 milligrams manganese (18 percent DV) 262 milligrams sodium This watermelon salad is loaded with good-for-you ingredients. Watermelonis an antioxidant-rich food that helps boost immunity and protect cells from free radicals. It’s also a good option if you have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease. Because it has a high water content, it keeps skin looking good, while also helping you lose weight, since it’s low in calories, too. And it’s also super refreshing during the hot summer months! Kale is a powerful leafy green that’s full of vitamins, especially vitamin K and vitamin A. As an anti-inflammatory food, kale helps protect the body from one of the main causes of disease. It’s also a cancer-fighting food and good for your heart, as it’s been proven to lower bad cholesterol levels. Arugula is another leafy green and makes up the bulk of this salad. The slightly bitter taste is a nice contrast from the sweet watermelon, but this vegetable has more than just good taste going for it. Arugula is excellent for keeping your eyes and heart healthy and aids in digestion by balancing pH levels. Finally, feta cheese pulls this whole salad together. It’s one of the healthiest cheeses, and it’s more easily digestible than those made from cow’s milk. It’s time to put this salad together! How to Make Watermelon Feta Salad Start by combining the salad dressing ingredients and setting them aside. If you don’t have coconut vinegar, apple cider vinegar can be substituted. Split the arugula and kale over three to four plates. Let’s dress up these leafy greens. Add the watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, goat cheese and pistachios, making sure to combine them well on the plate. Top each plate with fresh mint and green onion. Drizzle the dressing over the watermelon feta salad and chow down. Enjoy this fresh watermelon salad all summer long for lunch or dinner. Make it heartier by pairing it with grilled chicken or fish. Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe DESCRIPTION This watermelon feta salad has ingredients that, at first glance, might not seem like they go together. Watermelon and pistachios? Kale and feta? Trust me when I say that this watermelon salad is about to become a new favorite! INGREDIENTS SALAD: 3 cups arugula 3 lacinato kale leaves, stems removed, chopped/massaged 2 cups watermelon, cubed and seeds removed ½ cup cucumber, halved and sliced 1 cup mini kumato tomatoes, halved ½ cup goat feta ¼ cup pistachios, crushed 3 sprigs mint, stems removed and chopped 1 green onion, finely chopped DRESSING: 3 tablespoons coconut vinegar juice of 1 lime 1 tablespoon maple sugar ½ cup olive oil ⅛ teaspoon sea salt ⅛ teaspoon pepper INSTRUCTIONS Mix together the dressing ingredients and set aside. On 3–4 plates, add the arugula and kale. Add the watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, goat feta and pistachios. Top with mint and green onion. Drizzle on dressing and serve. NOTES Enjoy this fresh watermelon salad all summer long for lunch or dinner. Make it heartier by pairing it with grilled chicken or fish. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Axe click here.

The post Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

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Discover 5 Incredible Health Benefits of Papaya

Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe