Nutritionists recommend eating papaya in the morning, the time when the body needs to start the digestive system and metabolize energy.
Papaya contains papain - a typical digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins and reduces the burden on the stomach after a long night's rest.
According to research from the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the group of people who ate 150 g of ripe papaya before breakfast had a digestive rate increase of 21% and reduced bloating and indigestion compared to the group who did not eat.
Papain also helps maintain the balance of the intestinal microflora, supporting better nutrient absorption for the whole day.
Papaya is rich in pectin-soluble fiber, which helps increase bowel movements and supports detoxification through the digestive system. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that eating papaya for breakfast can reduce functional constipation by up to 35% after 4 weeks.
Papaya has a low glycemic index (GI ~ 60) but is rich in fiber, which helps slow down the absorption of glucose into the blood and reduce blood sugar fluctuations after eating.
Eating 100-150g of papaya before or at breakfast helps maintain stable insulin levels in 3-4 hours.
Papaya is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C and lycopene - three powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, reduce liver inflammation and inhibit fat accumulation in the liver.
Research by the World Liverpool Foundation shows that eating papaya 5 times a week helps reduce ALT liver enzymes by 18% and improves liver function in people at risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Papain and chymopapain in papaya also help clean toxins, promoting liver cell regeneration. When eaten in the morning - the time when the liver begins to work hard after the night detoxification process, these enzymes help increase lipid metabolism, supporting the liver to work more gently throughout the day.
A 150 g serving of papaya in the morning provides more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs.
Vitamin C not only strengthens the immune barrier but also increases collagen synthesis, helping to tone skin and slow down the rate of aging. The abundant amount of lycopene in papaya helps protect the skin from UV rays and reduce inflammation caused by oxidative stress.
When combined with foods containing healthy fats (such as yogurt, chia seeds or avocados), the absorption of beta-carotene in papaya can increase by 2.5 times.
