Unfortunately, many people often discard its seeds and don’t realize that these seeds are not only edible but also highly nutritious. However, some side effects may need to be considered before eating them. In this article, we will take a closer look at the benefits of papaya seeds and how they can affect our health!
Table Of Contents
Papaya seeds
Papaya seeds are black and have a shiny, wet and slimy covering. If you remove this covering, you can feel the rough black seeds. They are slightly bitter and peppery in taste. These tiny, round seeds are actually edible and are good for our health if consumed in a limited quantity. You can even use them as a substitute for black pepper.
How to harvest papaya seeds?
You will need a ripe papaya
If you grow papaya as I do, you can take one of your own fruits or one bought from a store.
You can read How To Grow Papaya From Seeds indoors
Always choose a nice, healthy fruit.
- Wash the fruit well.
- Cut the fruit in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scrape the seeds out. Don’t worry if you get a bit of fruit with them.
- Separate the seeds from the papaya and wash them properly to get rid of the fruit’s stickiness.
- Once your seeds are clean, it’s time to dry them. Ideal drying temperatures are between 60–100 degrees, and your seeds should be spread out on a plate.
- Place them in a well-ventilated place.
- Stir them every day or two to ensure that they dry evenly.
- Let them dry for a weeks or 10 days.
Dry papaya seeds at home and enjoy all their benefits.
How to dry papaya seeds in the oven
- Once you have your papaya seeds, rinse them well and remove any fruit sticking to them.
- Let the seeds dry well to allow for faster drying in the oven.
- Preheat your oven to 120 degrees.
- Use a baking sheet and place the seeds on the tray and spread them out evenly.
- Bake the seeds in the oven for about 90 minutes.150 °F (66 °C) oven for 3 to 4 hours.
- Stir them occasionally to allow for even browning.
- Allow the seeds to cool before using.
- Once the seeds are dried, they’re best enjoyed by being ground into a powder. You can use a food processor for easy grinding. Once you grind the seeds, you can use them as a seasoning for meat and salads.
How to store dried papaya seeds
Papaya seeds can be stored in the same way as you store any other spice. They store well in a mason jars.
Tip
In order to keep the flavor of the seeds, it’s best to store the seed whole and then grind what you need along the way. The seeds can last for several years if kept in a cool, dry place!
Potential health benefits of papaya seeds
Papaya seeds are highly nutritious, with a number of health benefits. They are a good source of fiber and may improve overall gut function. They help in weight management, relieve menstrual pain, kidney protection and possess anti-cancer properties. Not only that, but they also boost our cardiovascular health and thus are considered as one of the best heart-healthy foods.
Did you know hat 100 grams of dried papaya seeds provide around 558 calories of energy. They are rich in proteins, fat and fiber, and also contain vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc!
Improve digestive health
Papaya seeds are a good source of fiber. Fiber moves through your gastrointestinal tract undigested, adding bulk to your stools to promote regularity. Studies show that dietary fiber may protect against inflammatory bowel disease, relieve symptoms of hemorrhoids, and prevent the formation of intestinal ulcers.
Could have anticancer properties
Due to their impressive nutrient and antioxidant profile, some studies show that papaya seeds could have anticancer properties.
Papaya seed extract helped reduce inflammation and protect against cancer development, and decrease the growth of prostate cancer cells.
While many studies results are promising, additional studies are needed to evaluate the effects of papaya seeds on cancer growth in humans.
May protect kidney function
Papaya seeds could be harmful went consumed in high amounts
High doses may cause side effects, but these issues can easily be avoided by moderating your intake and sticking to a few servings per day.
Papaya seeds benefits for weight loss
Eating papaya seeds regularly can help with weight management. The seeds can burn body fat. As they work on the digestive system, the papaya seeds work on excess fats and sugars present in the food so that they bypass the digestive process and don’t get deposited.
Guide to follow to start eating papaya seeds safely
first, start eating papaya seeds slowly. While they are safe to eat in small doses, they are quite powerful and too much at once can cause digestive upsets.
The first time you eat papaya seeds, try just two seeds taken with a based meal dish.
If these are well-tolerated, then add another 2 seeds each time until you reach about a quarter of a teaspoon.
After at least some days of taking a quarter of a teaspoon without side effects, you can move up to half a teaspoon.
If you experience some side effects, then stop eating for a day and start again at half dose.
Papaya seeds are indeed quite potent with multiple advantages when consumed regularly.
Watch Unlocking the Superpowers of Papaya Seeds Top 10 Health Benefits You Need to Know!
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