Papaya has a fame for such a trove of well being advantages it’s been known as the “fruit of lengthy life.”It’s listed as one of many “longevity superfoods” eaten within the Blue Zones — locations around the globe the place individuals stay terribly lengthy and wholesome lives.Headlines have dubbed it “The #1 Fruit Eaten by the World’s Oldest Residing Folks.”Pearl Taylor, a 103-year-old girl who lives independently in Dayton, Ohio, and dishes out life recommendation on TikTok, says she’s been consuming papaya each morning for years.“Extra individuals must find out about papaya,” she instructed TODAY.com. “Papaya is a superb fruit.”What’s papaya?Papaya is a tropical fruit with a vibrant yellow or orange flesh, and black seeds. It’s “fragrant and juicy with a pleasing, candy taste,” notes the Florida Division of Agriculture. It has a buttery, milky texture best for smoothies, the American Coronary heart Affiliation provides.Within the U.S., papayas are grown in Hawaii, California, Texas and Florida, however a lot of the fruit offered in shops is imported from Mexico, in line with the Western Institute for Meals Security and Safety.Papaya nutritionOne cup of papaya reduce into small items accommodates the next, in line with the U.S. Division of Agriculture:62 calories15 grams of carbohydrates2.5 grams of fiber11 grams of sugarPapaya has no ldl cholesterol and accommodates lower than 1 gram of fats or protein per serving. It’s full of vitamins together with magnesium, potassium, folate, lycopene, and nutritional vitamins A, C, E and Ok. It additionally accommodates a little bit of iron and calcium.What are the advantages of consuming a papaya?Papaya a “unbelievable selection when it comes to fruits,” says registered dietitian Maya Feller of Brooklyn-based Maya Feller Vitamin and writer of “Consuming from Our Roots: 80+ Wholesome Dwelling-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Across the World.”“Papaya is a superb supply of varied phenolic compounds, flavonoids,” Feller tells TODAY.com, referring to the bioactive molecules present in vegetation which might be anti-inflammatory and regarded helpful for human well being.“They’ve antioxidant exercise that’s fairly nice… Antioxidants actually assist to blunt the impact of free radical harm.”Free radicals are damaging particles generated when the physique performs common processes wanted for all times. This harm can result in irritation and should improve the danger of most cancers and different illnesses, the Nationwide Most cancers Institute notes, however antioxidants can shield cells from it.Papaya’s hallmark vivid yellow or orange coloration is the results of carotenoids, similar to beta carotene, a chemical that helps kind Vitamin A, which act as antioxidants, Feller notes.One other carotenoid in papaya is lycopene, which can cut back the danger of coronary heart illness and stroke, in line with the American Coronary heart Affiliation.Carotenoids may be protecting in opposition to most cancers, too, research have discovered. They’re extra bioavailable — higher capable of be absorbed and utilized by the physique — from papaya than from tomatoes and carrots in people, a research discovered.RecommendedThe fruit accommodates fiber, which helps intestine well being and can assist decrease ldl cholesterol.It’s excessive in potassium, which may decrease blood strain and might “actually have a helpful impression on cardiovascular well being,” Feller provides.There’s additionally considered some potential for anti-diabetic exercise in individuals who eat papaya due to how the fruit impacts glucose and insulin response, she notes.Is papaya thought-about a superfood?Feller says she doesn’t name something a superfood.“All items of produce have fantastic properties and so they actually work finest in synergy and when consumed throughout a broad spectrum, which means there’s plenty of number of vegetation within the individual’s sample of consuming,” she notes.“If we inform individuals papaya is a superfood and so they all change to consuming it, however they have been consuming oranges, lemons, limes, kiwis, bananas, pineapples earlier than, and so they solely eat papaya, they’re going to overlook out on the opposite vitamins which might be in these different meals.”Is it OK to eat papaya day-after-day?Sure, Feller says. Her household is Afro-Caribbean — they eat it day-after-day and so they all have wonderful labs, she provides.However, she notes, it additionally will depend on how else persons are rounding out their diets.“If there’s papaya in your space and it’s ripe and scrumptious, go for it.”Is it OK to eat papaya seeds?Folks often select to scoop out the seeds — they’re a little bit bitter, peppery, and “not tremendous tasty,” Feller notes.However they’re edible and nutritious, she provides. Consuming dried papaya seeds can eradicate human intestinal parasites, a research confirmed.Papaya risksAvoid unripe papaya as a result of it accommodates papain, an enzyme that breaks down proteins, carbohydrates, and fat, and might harm the esophagus or hurt a fetus if a pregnant girl eats it, in line with the Nationwide Library of Drugs.The ripe fruit doesn’t comprise the enzyme.Unripe papaya additionally accommodates latex, which can trigger a response in individuals with a latex allergy, the company cautions.How to decide on a papayaThe fruit may be present in shops year-round, however is on the peak of its season in the summertime and early fall, the Academy of Vitamin and Dietetics advises.Select smaller papayas — they have an inclination to style higher than greater ones — with pores and skin that’s already starting to vary from inexperienced to yellow or orange, or has already reached that peak coloration, Martha Stewart’s web site recommends. A papaya is ripe when it is comfortable and smells “richly good and barely musky,” it notes.A. Pawlowski is a TODAY well being reporter specializing in well being information and options. Beforehand, she was a author, producer and editor at CNN.