I’ll never forget the first time I tried papaya. I was in Hawaii, in my mid-twenties, and was upset with myself for not trying this amazing fruit sooner. I was immediately hooked. My body literally craves papaya – telling me that this is something I actually need to consume.

Benefits of Papaya

The skin and health benefits of papaya are a long list. Papaya is great for moisturizing your skin, clearing pigmentation, reducing wrinkles, reducing dark under-eye circles, treating melasma, controlling acne breakouts, and helps with eczema and psoriasis. When consumed, papayas work from the inside out to support healthy skin function. Rich in lycopene, papayas can help reduce damage to the skin cells typically caused by free radicals. The enzyme papain, the active enzyme found just below the unripe papaya peel, is my go-to ingredient for peels; it leaves your skin glowing and skin tone even and hydrated. (Please do not apply papaya to your skin; we carry the O Cosmedics 3-in-1 Fruit Peel, which includes papaya.)

Vitamins and Antioxidants

The aroma from fresh papaya alone lets us know that it is chocked full of vitamins. Papayas are antioxidant-rich, making them an amazing choice for healthy skin. Did you know that a small papaya contains 224% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C? Vitamin C is one of our favorite skin vitamins because it reduces oxidative stress and supports UV protection. The benefits don’t end with vitamin C; papayas also contain vitamins A, B, E and K, pantothenic acid, folate, magnesium, copper, potassium, alpha and beta-carotene, and lutein and zeaxanthin. The choline found in papaya is great for reducing inflammation. The papaya is a great source of dietary fiber. Its rich fiber content aids in digestion, and its enzymes give your skin a beautiful glow.

Latex Allergies and Papaya

My list of reasons to eat papaya is long. In fact, the only reason I wouldn’t recommend papaya is if you have a latex allergy. People with a latex allergy may also be allergic to papaya because they contain enzymes called chitinases. They can cause a cross-reaction between latex and the foods that contain them.

Add this juicy delicious fruit to your diet, your skin will thank you. And join us in the spa this June for our papaya forward facial.

Good For

Anti-aging, acne, skin brightening, sun-seekers.

Recipe

I prefer my papaya ripe to nearing overripe. This recipe is not fancy . . .

Cut and cube your ripe papaya and sprinkle with fresh lime juice. Enjoy!

For more papaya recipes, check out our Eating Beautiful Facebook group.