Papaya seeds are edible, you know. what are the benefits?

Many people love papaya because of its sweet and fresh taste. Unfortunately, not a few people who only eat the pulp and miss the good properties of papaya seeds. Are these small, round, jet-black seeds edible? What are the benefits of eating papaya seeds? Here's the explanation.

Is it safe to eat papaya seeds?

Source: Wikihow

Just like the pulp, papaya seeds are also safe for consumption. In fact, the seeds of this digestive fruit contain a variety of essential micronutrients that are high in polyphenols and flavonoids. Both are natural phytochemical compounds in plants that act as antioxidants.

Not only that, papaya seeds are also packed with large amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids which are certainly healthy and safe to eat. Most importantly, there is no doubt that the fiber content is useful for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol in the body.

There are several ways to eat papaya seeds. You can eat the fruit seeds along with the flesh at the same time so that they are easy to swallow. You can also crush the seeds until they are crushed to make it smoother.

What are the other benefits of eating papaya seeds?

Source: Dr. Fitness

Not only a variety of nutrients that enrich the content of papaya seeds. There are various good benefits that you can get from the fruit seeds with this attractive orange color:

1. Protect kidney function

The kidneys are the organs of the body whose job it is to filter out fluids that are still and are no longer needed from the body. Uniquely, it turns out that papaya seeds are believed to be able to protect and maintain the health and function of your kidneys.

This is evidenced by a study tested on mice. According to research published in African Health Sciences, mice given papaya seed extract have kidneys that are protected from damage caused by paracetamol.

The results of this study are also supported by another study in the Journal Molecules, which states that the high content of antioxidants in papaya seeds can inhibit damage to kidney cells so that they maintain their health.

2. Maintain digestive health

Not much different from the pulp, papaya seeds are also a good source of fiber. As you probably already know, fiber intake plays an important role in maintaining digestive health. On the other hand, it will be easier for you to defecate and avoid constipation (difficulty defecating).

Fiber-rich foods are also believed to prevent inflammatory bowel disease, prevent intestinal injury, and reduce the symptoms of hemorrhoids.

3. Reducing the risk of cancer

Another benefit of eating papaya seeds is that they can reduce the risk of developing cancer cells. A 2014 study published in Nutrition and Cancer proves this. In fact, papaya seeds have anticancer properties thanks to the myriad of nutrients and antioxidants in them.

4. Fight infection

Last but not least, papaya seeds are believed to fight infections caused by certain fungi and parasites. Drinking dried papaya seed extract along with honey is also effective in killing parasites that are lodged in the intestines so that the intestines work smoothly.

However, avoid eating too many papaya seeds

Anything in excess is bad, including eating papaya seeds. Although it is considered to contain various nutrients and is rich in benefits, papaya seeds have a benzyl isothiocyanate compound. This compound is more often found in plants resulting from crosses, which is good for preventing cancer.

However, if eaten without limits, it is feared that it could backfire on your health. Includes damage to the structure of DNA disrupting the work of healthy cells in the body, to reduce sperm quality, which has been proven in animal cells.

In fact, further research is still needed to determine the adverse effects on human health. You are still allowed to eat papaya seeds, but it doesn't hurt to limit the amount of consumption.