Eating Papaya Seeds: Healing Power and Application of the Peppery Seeds

Eating papaya seeds is very healthy for the body. The small seeds also taste delicious and can be used as a pepper substitute. In this article you can read why papaya seeds are so healthy and what else you should know about the seeds.

It’s so healthy to eat papaya seeds

Everyone knows that the papaya fruit is healthy. But the seeds of the fruit should not be neglected either and are at least as valuable as the pulp of the papaya.

• The seeds of the papaya fruit are particularly rich in papain. Although papain is also found in the pulp, there is much more of it in the edible seeds.
• Papain is a protein-splitting enzyme. By splitting the protein, the enzyme ensures that the proteins become usable and can be absorbed by our metabolism .
• In addition, papaya seeds contain mustard oils, which stimulate blood circulation and are said to have an antibacterial effect, and palmitic acid, which supports the skin in its moisture regulation.
• Flavonoids fight free radicals and are therefore said to help with inflammation and strengthen the immune system.
• When consuming papaya seeds, care should always be taken to ensure that the seeds come from a fully ripe fruit. Otherwise, they can even have a toxic effect.
• Incidentally, papaya seeds should not be consumed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Due to the anti-parasitic effect, the papain could have negative effects on the child’s gastrointestinal tract.

The healing properties of papaya seeds

Papaya seeds are said to have some healing powers. The cores are used more frequently, especially in alternative medicine.

• Due to the high content of papain, papaya seeds are often recommended for digestive problems. Due to the protein-splitting effect, the enzyme is said to help against flatulence and constipation .
• A 2007 study also found that papaya seeds may have anti-parasitic effects. In this study, 60 children whose intestines were infested with parasites were examined. Half of the children now got papaya seeds and the other half got a placebo. A parasite reduction of 71.4% to 100% could be determined in the children who had ingested the seeds.
• Papaya seeds are said to have an anti-inflammatory effect and inhibit the growth of pathogens. In 2008, a study was carried out at the Ethiopian University of Gondar, which showed that the black seeds have a killing effect on many bacteria.
• The immune system also benefits from the consumption of papaya seeds.
• According to a study published in the Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences in 2010, papain is said to have a positive effect on the wound healing process. Another study conducted in Portugal supports this assumption, but more research would be needed for scientific evidence.

This is how you can use papaya seeds

Papaya seeds can also be excellently incorporated into the diet.

• The papaya seeds have a peppery, hot taste and can therefore be used as a substitute for pepper. You can put dried seeds in the pepper mill.
• With it you can enhance the taste of almost every dish and do something good for your body.
• If you don’t buy the pits dried, but take them fresh out of the fruit, you can let them dry in the oven or in the sun afterwards.
• You can also eat the seeds raw. In order to achieve a therapeutic effect, you should consume five to six seeds daily. Be sure to chew the seeds thoroughly.
• The seeds are also good in salads or smoothies.