Papaya

Vitamins A, C, & E; folate; fiber, calcium; magnesium; potassium, carotenoids, & natural digestive enzymes that help with protein digestion. Choose whole foods rich in folate, or folic acid, before considering a supplement to reduce homocysteine. Folic acid found in papaya is needed for the conversion of a substance called homocysteine, an amino acid. If unconverted, homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls & if levels get too high, it is considered a significant risk factor to heart attack & strokes. Low in calories & full of nutrition, papaya has more vitamin C than an orange. It also contains lutein & zeaxanthin, substances that help protect our eyes from age-related blindness. Papaya helps in the prevention of atherosclerosis, diabetes & heart disease. Papaya is definitely a boon when it comes to the heart. The antioxidants fight the cholesterol present in the blood & prevent it from building into plaques that clog the arteries. Apart from that, the rich fiber content of the fruit breaks down toxic substances like the homocysteine into easily absorbable amino acids, reducing the chances of heart stroke. Papaya is also a good source of fiber, which lowers cholesterol levels & helps in easing the discomforts of constipation. The fiber is able to bind to cancer toxins in the colon & keeps them away from the healthy colon cells. It is also rich in anti-cancer antioxidant lycopene. What’s more, studies show that the body absorbs lycopene better from papaya than from other lycopene-rich fruits & vegetables. There is also some evidence that papaya may improve digestion. It contains papain, an enzyme that makes protein easier to digest.