How is it useful for papaya juice and to whom is it contraindicated? How to choose the right fruit and prepare a drink on your own? What dishes can you add it to?
Papaya juice is a drink made by squeezing the fruit of the melon tree. Especially popular in Asian and Latin American cuisine. Exotic berry juice is not only tasty, but also very healthy. Unfortunately, a store product, even approximately in terms of its usefulness, cannot be compared with freshly squeezed papaya nectar. This is why it is very important to be able to cook it yourself.
Composition and calorie content of papaya juice
In the photo papaya juice
It is noteworthy that, despite its impressive size, papaya is a berry. Depending on the variety, one can weigh from 1 to 10 kg, the color ranges from greenish-yellow to orange. Outwardly, the fruit is very similar to a melon.
The calorie content of papaya juice is 51 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Proteins - 0.4 g;
- Fat - 0.1 g;
- Carbohydrates - 13.4 g;
- Dietary fiber - 0.2 g;
- Water - 86 g.
The product is low in calories, but it is important to understand that it is still not worth using it without measure, especially for those who seek to lose weight. This is due to the fact that the entire carbohydrate "part" of the composition is represented by fast carbohydrates, that is, simple sugars that lead to a large release of insulin, while a high level of this hormone does not allow you to burn fat, and therefore lose weight.
However, nectar is worth drinking in healthy quantities as it contains many vitamins and minerals.
Vitamins per 100 g:
- Vitamin A, RE - 36 mcg;
- Beta carotene - 0, 429 mg;
- Beta Cryptoxanthin - 23 mcg;
- Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 0.11 mg;
- Vitamin B4, choline - 4 mg;
- Vitamin B6, pyridoxine - 0.05 mg;
- Vitamin B9, folate - 7 mcg;
- Vitamin C, ascorbic acid - 29.8 mg;
- Vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol - 0.01 mg;
- Vitamin K, phylloquinone - 0.4 mcg;
- Vitamin PP, NE - 1, 46 mg.
Macronutrients per 100 g:
- Potassium - 278 mg;
- Calcium - 4 mg;
- Magnesium - 17 mg;
- Sodium - 6 mg;
- Phosphorus - 13 mg
Microelements per 100 g:
- Iron - 0, 24 mg;
- Copper - 53 mcg;
- Selenium - 0.1 mcg;
- Zinc - 0.05 mg.
Also, the drink retains a certain amount of beneficial fatty acids, including polyunsaturated ones, which are most important for our body.
Benefits of papaya juice
The rich vitamin composition is responsible for the many beneficial properties of papaya juice. It is most valuable as a source of vitamin C; 100 g of nectar contains 33% of the daily dose. However, it should be borne in mind that you can get such an amount of an element only from a freshly squeezed product, in which case you can count on the following beneficial effects:
- Antioxidant … Vitamin C is one of the most powerful natural antioxidants. An antioxidant is an element that protects our body from the effects of free radicals that are formed in one way or another in the course of metabolism. An excessive amount of them becomes the cause of the development of a wide variety of diseases, including oncological ones. With normal consumption of antioxidants, the likelihood of their development is significantly reduced.
- Immune … In addition, vitamin C is an essential element in the functioning of the immune system. Its increased dosages are recommended during epidemics of acute respiratory viral infections.
- Firming … It also has an important effect on connective tissues, as well as on the bone skeleton, as it participates in the synthesis of collagen, this is especially important for women who seek to maintain youthful skin.
- Protective … Finally, the detox effect of ascorbic acid should be noted. This component normalizes metabolism, helps to remove toxins, which affects not only weight regulation, but also the protection of blood vessels.
Papaya nectar is a pretty good source of vitamin K, which 100 g contains about 10% of the daily dose. This element helps primarily in:
- Normal work of the hematopoietic system - it is vitamin K that is responsible for blood clotting.
- Prevention of osteoporosis … Without it, calcium is not able to be absorbed normally, which means that it cannot take part in the building of bones. Thus, tropical berry nectar is an excellent means of preventing osteoporosis.
Drinking a glass of papaya juice, you can get about 15% of vitamin B2 and PP, which play an important role in many metabolic processes in the body - they are responsible for the normal breakdown of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and the absorption of useful components from food. In addition, these vitamins are essential for the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system.
As for minerals, you will find manganese and copper especially in papaya juice. They make a significant contribution to the prevention of anemia, maintaining the health of the solid tissues of our body.
It is important to note that papaya also contains a special enzyme called papain, which is used in pharmacology, especially in the manufacture of drugs that stabilize the heart rate and normalize the enzymatic activity of the stomach. In its action, papain mimics the work of our own enzyme for the digestion of proteins - pepsin.
Papaya Juice Recipes
It is not necessary to drink nectar in its pure form; you can add it to various dishes. The drink will make them not only more original, but also healthier.
Let's take a look at a few papaya juice recipes:
- Coconut cookies with berry jelly … Lightly fry the coconut flakes (100 g) in a skillet without oil. Mix softened butter (110 g) with powdered sugar (1 tsp), transfer to a blender, beat. Add coconut, oatmeal (1 cup), honey (1 tablespoon), beat again. Separately sift flour (1 cup), mix with baking soda (1 tsp), stir and combine with the mixture from a blender. Cover the baking sheet with baking paper, lightly grease with oil, make small cakes from the dough, bake for 15 minutes at 180OC. Meanwhile, prepare the jelly: soak the gelatin in plates (4 pieces) in a little cold water, put the raspberries (300 g) in a saucepan, add sugar (1 tsp), papaya juice (50 ml). Put the pan over low heat, simmer the berries for 5-10 minutes, add gelatin, stir until dissolved, remove from heat. Pour the jelly into molds, put in the refrigerator. Serve with coconut cookies. Ideally, when the jelly matches the shape of the cookie, then colorful filled cookies can be made.
- The healthiest salad … Grate red cabbage (30 g) on a Korean grater, chop zucchini (30 g), bell pepper (30 g), radish (20 g), carrots (20 g) into a thin strip. Chop green onions (2 g), cilantro (15 g), tear lettuce (10 g). Mix everything, prepare a dressing of papaya nectar (50 ml), apple (50 ml), lime (10 ml), pepper and salt to taste. Mix salad with dressing, top with sesame seeds and pistachios.
- Asian turkey … Soy sprouts (100 g) put in boiling water for 2 minutes. Turkey schnitzels (600 g) salt and pepper, grate with ginger. Peel papaya (1 piece), cut into slices. Put soy and papaya on the meat, roll into rolls, secure with a toothpick and fry in a pan, remove. Put curry (1 tablespoon), sour cream (100 g), ginger (pinch), papaya (how much is left after filling the rolls), papaya juice (130 ml) in a pan, bring to a boil, return the rolls. Simmer for 15 minutes. Put the rolls on a plate, beat the sauce with a blender, pour over the rolls.
- Tropical mojito … Put fresh mint in a decanter, crush, so that it gives juice. Pour sprite (150 ml), papaya juice (100 ml), squeeze lime (1/2 fruit), add ice to taste.
- Nut smoothie … Squeeze the nectar from one fruit of the melon tree, remove the seeds from the cardamom boxes (4 pieces). Soak almonds (150 g) in water overnight. Put nuts in a blender, add water (600 ml), beat, strain. Rinse a blender, pour the resulting almond milk into it, add papaya nectar and cardamom seeds, beat.
As you can see, tropical berry nectar is suitable not only for desserts and drinks, but also for preparing various complex dishes - salads, hot ones. Once you master this ingredient, you will find many uses for it.
Interesting facts about papaya juice
Recent studies have shown the particular effectiveness of papaya in the treatment of colon cancer, this fact is associated with the content of an anti-cancer substance - lycopene.
Tropical fruit nectar is highly valued in cosmetology - it is added to various natural face masks. It helps open pores and prevents breakouts. The enzyme papain helps to remove dead skin cells. Nectar hair masks can help get rid of dandruff.
The drink is recommended to be drunk together with the ground seeds of the fruit as a prophylaxis against parasites.
In tropical countries, papaya juice is used as a medicine for diseases of the spine, it is believed that it is able to regenerate the tissue of intervertebral discs. And dried milk juice is used to treat eczema and stomach ailments. It is not recommended to experiment in this way, since we have already said that juice extracted from unripe fruits, on the contrary, causes diseases of the digestive system.
How to make papaya juice - watch the video:
Papaya juice is a delicious and healthy drink. It is very rich in vitamin C, which plays an essential role in the life of our body. In addition, it contains the unique and very useful enzyme papain. Papaya juice tastes like melon and strawberry juice combined. It can be cooked in a juicer, including mixed with other vegetables and fruits, or in a blender with a little water.
