One cannot help looking at this sweet succulent fruit, with its vibrant colour and peppery centre, and being transported to some tropical island, with an exotic cocktail in one hand and your lover delicately holding your other.
Papaya has been
used as a folk remedy in promoting menstruation and milk production,
facilitating childbirth, and increasing the female libido. It is estrogenic,
meaning it has compounds that act as the female hormone estrogen. Although the green unripe fruit is believed to be an aphrodisiac, the seeds were thought to act as a contraceptive to men, back in the old days. I am not sure which is true, but papaya has a rich history and has been used for centuries in folk medicine for its therapeutic and medicinal properties. Just one
serving of papaya is enough to provide you with all the vitamin C you need for
one day.
Papaya is actually
classified as a berry. I kid you not. The black seeds in the centre are
actually edible and have a spicy, peppery taste. I have personally never tried
eating them or cooking with them, but added to a tropical smoothie, I am sure
it would add a zesty twist.
The soft delicious
fruit actually contains an enzyme papain that can be used as a meat tenderizer.
Given this tenderising fact, for a succulent meal on a sultry evening, I can
imagine serving it with a juice steak. Make a colourful fresh salsa to serve
with your steak or grilled chicken, by using papaya, mango, jalapeno, red
peppers and freshly ground pepper.
For a
mouth-watering burst of fresh fruity flavour, mix papaya into your glass of
lemonade or iced tea. Or add a few slices of frozen papaya to your smoothies.
Combine with pineapple juice, half a frozen banana and Greek yogurt for a sweet
tropical treat. And…Viola! You have an exotic feast on your plate!
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