WHAT IS A PAPAYA?
Papaya is an edible, highly nutritious tropical fruit, grown in the Caribbean , Hawaii, and Asia.
Hawaiian papayas are smaller and pear-shaped.
The Caribbean and Asian papayas are long and large with green skin, and small spicy black seeds.
HOW TO BUY PAPAYAS
Buy papayas when the green skin starts to turn yellow, and the skin is soft to the touch, but not mushy.
While papayas can grow as much as 20 inches, the average length of papayas sold in supermarkets are around 7 inches long, and weigh about one pound.
WHY SHOULD YOU EAT PAPAYAS?
Papayas contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins. Eating this tropical fruit is a great way to improve your digestion, get your antioxidant vitamins C, E and A, and boost your immune system. Papayas prevent the development of prostate cancer, colon cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and macular degeneration.
WHAT DOES A PAPAYA TASTE LIKE?
Ripe papayas taste very sweet, and have a soft, buttery consistency. They make a great tropical smoothie. To prepare a papaya for eating, just slice it in half, scoop out and discard the seeds. The papaya is now ready to eat. Ripe papayas are so soft, all you’ll need is a spoon to enjoy the fruit.
Copyright 2013 Irene Pastore and Blue Moon Personal Training
Irene Pastore Fitness 