When you eat a papaya, the seeds are usually discarded. These seeds actually have amazing health benefits. When ground into powder, they offer a great alternative to black pepper. As someone with food sensitivities to black pepper and digestive issues, I am so thankful to have found this product.
We’ve written about papaya’s health benefits in the past. This time we focus on the seeds and an amazing product from Herbal Papaya.
The benefits of papaya seed consumption are endless. A quick search engine list displays countless benefits, yet many of these claims are not backed by peer-reviewed, scientific studies. At Eco Child’s Play, we think it is important to back our recommendations with research rather than internet fluff. Besides, we like reading scholarly articles.
5 Scientifically Proven Organic Papaya Seed Benefits
Papaya Seeds Remove Intestinal Parasites with No Harmful Effects
In a study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, researchers gave 60 Nigerian children papaya seeds combined with honey (CPH Elixir) or simply honey (placebo) to find out if the seeds were effective in removing intestinal parasites. The results:
The stool clearance rate for the various types of parasites encountered was between 71.4% and 100% following CPH elixir treatment compared with 0-15.4% with honey. Thus, air-dried C. papaya seeds are efficacious in treating human intestinal parasites and without significant side effects. Their consumption offers a cheap, natural, harmless, readily available monotherapy and preventive strategy against intestinal parasitosis, especially in tropical communities.1)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17472487
When traveling abroad, papaya seeds make an excellent preventative measure against intestinal parasites.
Papaya Seeds Have Anti-Fertility Qualities Reducing Sperm Production
Researchers gave albino mice liquid papaya seed extract in various doses. The results showed “zero fertility” in the high dose group. Normal semen production returned after 45 days of no treatment. The researchers wrote in Planta Medica, “The data revealed that reversible sterility could be induced in male rats by papaya seeds aqueous extract treatment without adverse effects on libido and toxicological profile.”2)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7997464 Papaya seeds have the potential to be used in anti-fertility drugs.3)http://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2017/vol6issue1/PartF/5-6-25-896.pdf
Papaya Seeds are Anti-inflammatory
Researchers injected carrageenan in three groups of rats to induce acute inflammation as measured through paw volume increase. Then the rats were given aqueous papaya seed extract. The results showed that papaya seed extract performed better than the “standard” pharmaceutical drug diclofenac at reducing paw volume. The results were published in the Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal.4)http://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol5no1/anti-inflammatory-activity-of-aqueous-extract-of-carica-papaya-seeds-in-albino-rats/
A different study reported in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine also found papaya seeds to be effective at reducing inflammation. Researchers injected the egg protein albumin into the right hind paw of rats to induce inflammation.
Results
All doses of extract showed a dose and time dependent inhibition effects of oedema (P<0.05).
Conclusion
This work is at present though limited to animals, the anti-inflammatory activity of the seeds of C. papaya is perhaps proven.5)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S199576451060212X
Papaya Seeds Prevent Stomach Ulcers
Researchers used 30 rats to test the anti-ulcerogenic properties of papaya seeds. Prior to inducing ulcers medically, rats were given either liquid papaya seed extract, distilled water, or the ulcer treatment prescription drug cimetidine. 24 hours later, they were injected with the prescription indomethacin to cause ulcers. Published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine, researchers found papaya seed extract “significantly (P< 0.05) increased gastric pH and percentage of ulcer inhibition,” and “significantly (P< 0.05) decreased gastric acidity, gastric acid output, gastric pepsin secretion, ulcer index and gastric secretion volume”. In conclusion, the authors write, “In this study, pretreatment with aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed exhibited anti-ulcerogenic and antioxidant effects, which may be due to the enhanced antioxidant enzymes.”6)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25797641
Papaya Seeds Increase Blood Platelets
Platelets in our blood help it to clot. Some infections, cancers, disorders, and vitamin deficiencies can cause this number of platelets to drop dangerously called thrombocytopenia.7)https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/thrombocytopenia-symptoms-causes-treatments#2 Published in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, researchers fed papaya seed powder to healthy rabbits. In some rabbits, platelet levels increased by as much as 65.5%. According to researchers, “It can be concluded that the administration of Papaya seeds powder dose rapidly increase platelet count and may play an important therapeutic role in thrombocytopenia.”8)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28507372
Herbal Papaya Seed Powder Review
We were sent papaya seed powder from Herbal Papaya. This high-quality product is non-GMO and organic. The flavor is delicious and a perfect alternative to black pepper. It’s easy to sprinkle on pasta, salads, soups, or put in a smoothie. It’s great on top of mac and cheese!
A four-ounce bag goes a long way! It may seem expensive, but the servings are small (1/4 teaspoon). The bag contains 95 servings. It’s well worth the expense to know you are getting a quality product from an ethical company.
Furthermore, Herbal Papaya is committed to social and environmental responsibility. The company is:
- We are 100% women-owned and run by a team of people who love healthy living.
- We give 10% of profits to support education for girls in Africa.
- We are green, care about our environment and use recycled materials where available.
- We are a proud member of the Natural Products Association.
Herbal Papaya was founded by Nigerian American Dr. Unoma Okorafor. She is committed to her customers and providing the highest quality, organic papaya products to maximize health benefits.
Papaya seed powder has become a new staple in our kitchen. Not only for the amazing health benefits researchers have scientifically proven, but for the ease, quality, and flavor it adds to our meals. I can’t wait to try all these papaya seed recipes!
References
| 1. | ↑ | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17472487 |
| 2. | ↑ | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7997464 |
| 3. | ↑ | http://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2017/vol6issue1/PartF/5-6-25-896.pdf |
| 4. | ↑ | http://biomedpharmajournal.org/vol5no1/anti-inflammatory-activity-of-aqueous-extract-of-carica-papaya-seeds-in-albino-rats/ |
| 5. | ↑ | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S199576451060212X |
| 6. | ↑ | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25797641 |
| 7. | ↑ | https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/thrombocytopenia-symptoms-causes-treatments#2 |
| 8. | ↑ | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28507372 |
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