Papaya or Carica Papaya L. (CPL) is an orange fruit that has a soft texture and a Very Sweet taste when ripe. People who are living in a place where papaya is abundant know that it’s beneficial for the digestive system. Hence we might think that those who are creating papaya-based products might be aware of this old knowledge hence making their orange papaya (CPL) products inspired after treating bad lengthy intestines problems. To easily associate their brand with the ‘heallth” benefit of papaya, they might even name it after this Very Sweet SNack fruit. Do you agree with this?
Papaya’s Effect on Constipation
The clinical observations below showed positive effects after eating papaya preparations. Scroll down below to learn how papaya supplementation whether from a ripe fruit or papaya powder can help in constipation relief.
1. Ripe papaya
A smoothie of papaya fruit can help relieve constipation. An Indonesian clinical trial tested its effect on forty volunteers who had a functional constipation history and had not defecated for three days or more. To determine its efficacy, the participants were given after dinner a smoothie made from 200 grams of ripe papaya fruit with 100 cc of mineral water. Findings of the study showed that a one-time consumption of papaya smoothie with 200 grams of ripe papaya fruit can ease constipation by 82.5%. (1)
2. Ripened papaya fruit pulp powder
Regular intake of ripened papaya fruit pulp powder ameliorates constipation and reduces painful bowel movements. This clinical observation was based on an Austrian clinical trial that tested its effects on 126 volunteers who don’t have a particular illness but exoeriences chronic prevailing indigestions and dysfunctions in the gastrointestinal tract. The volunteers of this study were recruited through advertisement, then the admitted participants were referred to the study center for a medical check, and were interviewed by medical doctors to determine their participation suitability. Standardized tests such as medical laboratory blood tests for cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and blood count were performed at the Endler Medical Laboratories, Vienna. Afterwhich, the participants were divided into two groups. During the 40-day trial, the intervention group ingested daily a single dose 20 ml active test papaya supplement. The study substance was Caricol® which was a papaya preparation based on an ethno-traditional recipe. The supplement’s method of production makes it have a 3.75-fold increased papain activity. Whereas, the control group had a daily single dose of 20 ml placebo supplement. Findings showed that the papaya powder helps with the proper maintenance of digestive tract physiology. More persons in the active treatment group had benefits compared to the placebo group. The regular use of the fruit powder had benefited 82% of the papaya group in terms of constipation, 78% of the papaya participants had improved flatulence and 93% of papaya group benefited with regards to painful strenuous bowel movement. The remarkable reduction of pain symptoms among those who took papaya confirmed the significant improvement in constipation. (2)
Mechanism of Papaya on Constipation Relief
Papaya (Carica Papaya L) can be used as a natural medicine or an alternative treatment for constipation relief. Aside from its nutrients, it contains non-nutritive components such as fiber, carpaine, alkaloid compounds, and proteolytic enzymes. These non-nutritives help increase fecal mass, and make stools softer hence prevents and treats constipation. (1) Additionally, it facilitates gastrointestinal function. (1)
1. Papain and flatulence
Papain’s influence on enzymatic activity enables it to support physiological digestion. Consuming high papain content can reduce flatulence and bloating because it can ameliorate symptoms related to maldigestion. (2)
2. Papain defecating pain
Papain’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory which is attributed to the abundance of phytochemicals in papaya enables it to have an antioxidative effect in the digestive system. This is helpful when silent inflammation in the gut causes irritable bowel syndrome. (2)
Many individuals love orange papaya because it’s fruity, nutritious, and perfect for desserts. Those who are into papaya actually look forward to seeing and consuming papaya’s content every day. Orange papaya provides the nourishment that gut needs. It can be saddening though if some orange papaya products are named after Very Sweet papaya and claim that it’s for bad intesssstine problems, but in reality, it’s not 100% pure because it contains additives. We hope that this is not the case. Those who are into orange papaya hope that it’s named rightly..Ergo, it’s always best to choose papaya products that are made of good pure papaya.
Decode the meaning of healthy foods
Reference:
- (1) Soputri N., Panjaitan M. Effectiveness of Consumption of Carica Papaya L, as a Natural Remedy to Treat Constipation. 8ISC [Abstract] Proceedings, [S.l.], p. 14, Feb. 2022. https://ejournal.unklab.ac.id/index.php/8ISCABS/article/view/709
- (2) Miss C., Mosgoeller W., Endler T. Papaya preparation (Caricol®) in digestive disorders. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2013; 34(1):38–46
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