(NaturalHealth365) Papaya is a wonderful tropical fruit that is so deliciously versatile.  Chop it up with some mango and sweet onion to serve over grilled (pasture raised) chicken, or drop some in the blender with coconut water, pineapple, and mango for a healthy smoothie. Of course, you can always enjoy it on its own, ice cold and juicy.

What might surprise you is that this tasty tropical treat actually has a number of pretty incredible health benefits.  Papaya is quite good for you.  It is chock full of vitamins like vitamins A and C as well as B1, B3, B5, K, and magnesium! In fact, several studies have found that papaya can be used topically and consumed to heal the body naturally.  It has been shown to help manage diabetes as well as improve cardiovascular health.

Here are five excellent reasons to start incorporating papaya into your diet today.

Studies find papaya can help with wound healing

Several studies have found that topical application of papaya is very effective in treating wounds.  One study used papaya on chronic ulcers and found that it was more effective than other topical treatments used for ulcers.  Another study found that it was very effective in treating wounds in diabetic rats.  Yet another study found that it works well on burns.

There was a preparation process in several of the treatments that some subjects found to be tedious or difficult.  However, the power the fruit has to facilitate wound healing makes it well worth the work.

But wait, that’s not all!  This tropical fruit is beneficial in treating fungal infections, according to studies

Papaya latex sap has gained some popularity in recent years due to its usefulness in several areas.  One of the most notable was a study published in 1997 that examined how the substance, when combined with a synthetic antifungal, can treat fungal infections, specifically those from Candida albicans.

The study found that the substance successfully inhibited candida growth.

Here is what makes papaya a powerful cancer-fighting food

When you enjoy a juicy, delicious papaya, you just might be reducing your risk of certain cancers.  The fruit is rich in lycopene as well as the leaf, making it a powerful cancer-fighting food.

Many studies have shown its effectiveness against breast cancer.  In fact, one study found that its antioxidant properties were much higher than in other foods.  When it is stacked against foods like mango, tomato, avocado, grapes, and guava, papaya still comes out on top.

Fight bloating and constipation with this delicious fruit

Papaya is rich in papain, an enzyme that researchers believe makes it easier for the body to digest protein.  Some cultures use the fruit to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation.  One study found that subjects who took a papaya-based formula every day for 40 days reported dramatic improvement in bloating and constipation.

While it is mainly the flesh of the papaya used to treat these issues, the leaves, roots, and seeds of the plant have been shown to be very effective in treating ulcers all along the digestive tract.

Do you want healthy, younger-looking skin? Here is how papaya can help

Just as the lycopene and vitamin C in papaya can help heal wounds and fight cancer, they can also make your skin look younger.  It protects skin, smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines, and helps to reduce the signs of aging.  Its antioxidant properties fight against free radical activity like sagging skin, wrinkles, and other types of skin damage.

Eating raw papaya or applying it to your skin can help you become healthier.  Try incorporating the fruit into your own daily diet so you too can reap the numerous benefits of the tasty, tropical papaya.  Of course, buy organic – whenever possible.

Sources for this article include:

GreenMedInfo.com
NIH.gov
NIH.gov