7 dos and don’ts of eating papaya

Easy to digest and loaded with numerous health benefits, papaya is the favourite fruit of many.

Some of us like to have it empty stomach while others may prefer to have it in the form of salad or mid meal snack.

As is widely known, papaya has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The juice of papaya leaves is also used to fight dengue fever and increase the platelet count.

But there are also some not so pleasant side effects of this humble fruit. From risking pregnancy to hampering the food pipe, here are some dos and don’ts of having papaya.

Papaya leaves have a component called papain, which can be toxic for your baby if you are pregnant. It can even lead to birth defects. Not much is known about the side effects of papaya during breastfeeding, thus, it’s best to avoid having papaya during and after pregnancy for some time.

Unripe papaya can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Thus, one should avoid consuming raw papaya or check for sensitivities.

Papaya does have numerous health benefits and is tasty to consume but that doesn’t mean you consume too much of it. Eating too much papaya can hurt the oesophagus.

The seeds and root of papaya can cause abortion. Unripe papaya can lead to uterine contractions. Thus, it’s best to avoid having papaya during pregnancy.

If you are already on medication for high blood pressure, chances are, consuming too much papaya can lead to a drop in your blood sugar level, which can be dangerous.

Papaya seed extract can lower fertility in men. It can lower the sperm count and impact sperm mobility.

Excessive consumption of papaya can lead to toxicity. This happens because of the compound benzyl isothiocyanate present in papaya.