Did you know that the different parts of your body are constantly in communication with each other to protect you as a whole? For example, when you have an injury or illness, your body communicates by sending healing cells to the injury. This is known as acute inflammation.
However, acute inflammation can be complicated when it develops into something called Chronic inflamation, which is when your body thinks it’s injured and keeps sending out these cells. In turn, this creates a constant inflammatory response in the body which, unfortunately, can lead to many types of health complications if left untreated.
Fortunately, making changes to your diet can be one way to reduce this inflammation. And interestingly, some fruits like papaya come with certain anti-inflammatory nutrients.
“Loaded with nutrients and antioxidants like carotenoids, papaya can help your body fight chronic inflammation,” He says Amy Goodson, MS, DR, CSSD, LDauthor of The Sports Nutrition Playbook, and member of our board of medical experts. Here are the ways that papaya can help reduce inflammation in the body, and for more healthy eating tips, check out How to reduce inflammation right now.
The benefits of papaya
One of the ways papaya can help your body fight inflammation through the antioxidants it contains.
“Antioxidants help buffer free radicals (also known as the bad guys) that cause damage to cells in the body, which can contribute to oxidative stress, which can ultimately lead to disease,” says Goodson. “Research suggests that the more antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables you eat, like papaya, the more likely you are to help your body fight inflammationsickness and disease”.
One specific anti-inflammatory nutrient that papaya contains is choline. Choline has many health benefits and is often supplemented to help improve liver health, brain health, and overall cognitive function. A recent study in the journal brain research shows that choline can reduce inflammation in the body.
Along with choline, papaya also contains beta-carotene and lycopene. B-carotene and lycopene are called carotenoids, which are pigments found in foods such as papaya, carrots, and tomatoes and are known to have anti-inflammatory effects.
Interestingly, a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found that the bioavailability of beta-carotene and lycopene is stronger in papaya than in other sources such as tomatoes and carrots.
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what this means to you
As you can see, papaya clearly has many nutrients and antioxidants that make it more than just a delicious snack. If you’re looking for a naturally sweet food to add to your diet, this is a great option.
Although eating nutrient-dense foods like this is important for reduce inflammationIt’s important to remember that reducing chronic inflammation requires a process, not just a certain food.
There are many factors that contribute to inflammationsuch as alcohol use, processed foods, illness, lack of exercise, and more, so talking to a doctor or dietitian about a lifestyle plan can help you feel ready to handle it.
