Content
Dried papaya is an unusual dried fruit that has not only a pleasant taste, but also considerable benefits. To appreciate the properties of the delicacy, it is necessary to study the composition of the dried fruit and its effect on the body.
Composition of dried papaya
Fresh papaya fruits do not retain their beneficial properties for long, so the tropical fruit is often prepared for long-term storage. Drying the fruit is most popular; in this case, papaya retains a maximum of valuable substances. You can prepare dried fruits at home, but papaya is also often found in markets and supermarkets; it can be sold in the form of small and large cubes or long bars, in sealed packages or by weight.
The composition of dried papaya is similar to fresh tropical fruit. However, there are also important differences: some components in dried fruits are presented in large volumes, while the content of others is somewhat reduced.
- The fiber in the product allows you to get approximately 10% of the standard daily intake of dietary fiber if you eat about 50 g of dried fruits at a time.Dietary fiber not only has a positive effect on intestinal motility, but also helps improve blood composition and reduce cholesterol and glucose levels.
- The dried fruit contains vitamin A, which is important primarily for vision, since it is responsible for the production of a special pigment in the retina. In addition, vitamin A produces red blood cells, which are necessary for the body's immune system to function well.
- Dried papaya retains a large amount of carotenoids, just like any red, orange or yellow fruit. The dried fruit contains especially a lot of beta-cryptoxanthin, a substance that strengthens vision and prevents the occurrence of cataracts. Also, carotenoids in papaya serve as a good prevention of cardiovascular diseases and are very useful for predisposition to cardiac diseases.
- Dried fruit is a rich source of carbohydrates. Just 1 standard serving of dried fruit contains about 15 g of this substance, and thus the product becomes an excellent addition to a balanced daily diet.
In addition to the listed components, dried or dried papaya contains vitamins B5 and B9, E and K, which are especially useful for the normal functioning of the nervous system and brain. The product contains bioflavonoids and antioxidants, enzymes and amino acids important for human health.
As for vitamin C, its presence in dried fruits is insignificant. When dried, ascorbic acid is predominantly destroyed and can no longer replenish most of the daily requirement of the substance.
Microelements in dried fruits are retained much less than in fresh fruits of the plant.However, dried pieces of fruit are still rich in magnesium, copper and potassium, which are beneficial for the functioning of the heart, blood vessels and kidneys.
Beneficial properties of dried and dried papaya
Unusual in appearance and pleasant in taste, dried fruits are often perceived as a light snack that does not bring any particular benefit to the body. However, in the case of papaya, this statement is completely wrong - even in dried form, the fruit continues to be very valuable for human health.
- Due to the high content of carotenoids and antioxidants in its composition, dried papaya is a product that effectively strengthens the immune system. Dried fruit not only increases the body's resistance to colds and viral infections, but also has an anti-cancer effect. Papaya prevents the spread of free radicals in the body and protects against the occurrence of cancer.
- When consumed regularly, papaya has a cleansing effect on the body, helps remove toxic substances and prevents the development of allergic reactions. The dried fruit contains bioflavonoids that monitor changes in the body and activate defenses to fight any diseases of an external and internal nature.
- The fruit prevents the occurrence of vitamin deficiency and anemia; even in dried form, it still contains a high amount of vitamins.It is useful to consume dried fruit in autumn, winter and spring - during those periods when the need for vitamins is especially strong, and the availability of fresh fruits sharply decreases.
- The dried product helps fight constipation and the accumulation of toxins in the body. Fiber in dried fruit enhances intestinal peristalsis and promotes the timely removal of excess substances. In addition, dietary fiber in the product regulates blood composition - reduces the level of bad cholesterol and prevents an increase in glucose.
- Eating dried fruit is useful for sluggish digestion. Dried papaya retains digestive enzymes and helps the functioning of the stomach, liver and pancreas. The absorption of proteins, fats and starches when consumed occurs faster and better, thanks to which the body can obtain the maximum of valuable substances from incoming food.
- Due to the presence of potassium and magnesium in the composition, dried fruit helps fight swelling and protects the heart system and kidneys from the development of diseases. If you regularly consume delicious dried or dried pieces of fruit, excess liquid will stop accumulating in the body, tissue metabolism will improve, and vigor and good health will return.
- Dried papaya is an energy-rich product. Due to their high carbohydrate content, dried fruits perfectly replenish strength and increase human performance. Consuming the product is useful for improving mood, it has a beneficial effect on memory and brain function.
The benefits of dried papaya for women are that the product helps to take care of external beauty and youth.Dried tropical fruit promotes rapid renewal of epidermal cells, helps fight early wrinkles and signs of aging. When consuming dried fruit, the skin becomes softer and more elastic, the production of subcutaneous fat is normalized, and the problem of acne and acne goes away. During menopause or during menstruation, dried fruit benefits the hormonal system and protects a woman from loss of strength and sudden mood swings.
For men, the unique property of papaya is of particular value - the dried fruit helps the body produce arginine. This substance is very important for the reproductive system - it is responsible for the production of male hormones, increases stamina and improves health. Arginine also improves the quality of a man’s genetic material and increases the chances of conceiving a healthy child.
If you carefully consider the composition and valuable properties of dried tropical fruits, it becomes obvious that dried papaya fruits are no less useful than fresh fruits.
How to dry papaya
The dried tropical fruit is found in many stores, but is still not the most common delicacy on the market. In addition, manufacturers often offer it in mixtures with other dried fruits, while the buyer wants to try papaya. In such cases, you can prepare the delicacy yourself in your own kitchen - you will only need a few ingredients.
The most common recipe for preparing papaya involves first boiling pieces of the tropical fruit in sweet syrup and then drying it. At the same time, the calorie content of dried papaya fruits increases, but the taste improves.
The cooking process is as follows:
- the papaya is peeled from the dense, smooth peel and the dark seeds are removed from the pulp, and then the fruit is cut into cubes or thin strips - as desired;
- put standard sweet syrup on the stove to cook - 500 ml of water should be mixed with 500 g of sugar;
- when the water boils, reduce the heat under the pan slightly, and put the prepared papaya pieces into the syrup;
- the mixture is boiled for 5 minutes, then removed from the stove and allowed to cool completely;
- After this, the pan is placed on the fire again and after boiling, the papaya is boiled for another 5 minutes.
Fresh seedless lemon, cut into thin slices, is added to the finished syrup, and then the mixture is allowed to cool completely.
In the second stage of preparation, the papaya is directly dried. To do this, place the pieces boiled in syrup on a wire rack or strainer and lightly air dry. Then the workpiece is laid out on the grill of a special dryer, the temperature is set to 45-50 ° C and the papaya is left to dry for the next 7-8 hours. If you don’t have a dryer, you can use a regular oven, but the temperature should be set to the lowest possible, and it’s advisable to leave the oven door ajar.
In addition to the usual drying of pieces of fruit in the oven or dryer, you can also resort to drying papaya. In this case, the workpiece is laid out in a thin layer on a flat surface and left in the air until almost all the moisture has evaporated from the pieces. It is quite possible to carry out drying at home, but you need to remember that the process will take several days.In addition, you need to dry the fruit in air at very low humidity and good ventilation, otherwise the product will begin to rot and mold.
You can dry or wither the fruit without first boiling it in sugar syrup. However, in this case, the dried fruits will be noticeably different in appearance from the photo of dried papaya; as a rule, the store-bought delicacy is prepared using syrup.
Use in cooking
Dried papaya fruit can be prepared at home or purchased from the store to have tasty and healthy pieces of the fruit as a light snack. However, the culinary use of dried papaya is much wider - the delicacy is used as part of a wide variety of dishes.
- Dried fruits can be added to fermented milk products - cottage cheese, yogurt and sour cream. Bright fruit pieces will help make your breakfast or light dinner more tasty and healthy. You can eat dried fruits along with cottage cheese or yogurt even on a diet - papaya in small quantities does not harm your figure.
- Another area of application for dried fruit is a variety of baked goods. Small sweet pieces of dried fruit are placed in butter dough and added to pies, pastries, muffins and cakes. Since the shelf life of dried fruit is much longer than that of fresh fruit, such fruit baked goods can be stored for quite a long time.
- An unusual way to use dried papaya is to add small pieces to ice cream. In combination with a cold delicacy, papaya will delight you with its bright tropical taste in the summer heat.
- You can put dried fruits in ready-made breakfasts, muesli, cereals and cereal porridges. A vitamin supplement will increase the benefits of your usual dishes, and the taste of breakfast will noticeably improve.
- Dried fruit can be combined with non-alcoholic cocktails and alcoholic drinks - the dried fruit will give them an unusual aroma and pleasant taste notes.
Mixtures of various dried fruits with the addition of papaya are very popular; the delicacy can be combined with dried pieces of bananas, dried apricots and prunes.
Dried papaya can serve as an excellent substitute for sweet candies and cookies; its taste is in no way inferior to usual sweets, and it brings much more benefits. Since the nutritional value of the delicacy is quite high, the fruit can be a good option for a quick snack, for example, at work, on the road or at school, if there is not enough time for a full lunch.
How much dried papaya can you eat per day?
The beneficial properties of dried papaya largely depend on the amount of it consumed. The delicacy prepared according to the classic recipe contains quite a lot of sugar. And even unsweetened papaya can be harmful if overdosed: the high amounts of fiber in its composition can cause flatulence and diarrhea.
For these reasons, it is recommended to eat no more than 50 g of dried fruit per day; this is the portion of dried fruit that is considered standard. For unsweetened papaya, the dosage can be increased to 70-80 g of product per day, but abuse is still best avoided.
Contraindications
The benefits and harms of dried papaya for the body are determined by the presence of individual contraindications. To stop eating treats you need to:
- if you are allergic to papaya or individual components in its composition;
- with gastritis or peptic ulcer in a state of exacerbation;
- for acute pancreatitis;
- with a tendency to obesity.
If you have diabetes, you can only consume delicacies prepared without the use of sugar - you will have to give up the usual sweet pieces of tropical fruit. And even papaya, dried without pre-processing, must be eaten with extreme caution.
It must be remembered that unripe papaya can cause harm to the body. When dried, the danger of green fruits does not decrease; after heat treatment, toxic substances still remain in them.
How many calories are in dried papaya
The calorie content of dried papaya per 100 g depends on the method of its processing. If the product was made with sugar, then its nutritional value will average about 300 kcal. For unsweetened papaya, this figure is much lower - only about 50 kcal per 100 g.
Dried papaya calories
When the product is dried in air, the calorie content of dried papaya is about 327 kcal per 100 g. The high figure is due to the fact that more water and sugar are retained in the product than in dried slices.
Terms and conditions of storage
Compared to fresh fruit, dried or dried papaya has a significantly longer shelf life. Dried fruits on store shelves can be stored unopened for up to 3 years, although with a completely natural composition the figure may be slightly lower.
As for the delicacy prepared at home, it retains its beneficial properties and pleasant taste for 6 months. Dried papaya should be stored away from strong sunlight, in low humidity and at low temperatures. The refrigerator is best for storage. You need to keep the delicacy in a dry and clean container with a tightly screwed lid, and it is recommended to check from time to time whether condensation has accumulated in the container with dried fruits; it can lead to premature spoilage of the product.
Conclusion
Dried papaya is a delicious tropical fruit delicacy that has no less benefits than fresh fruits of an exotic tree. When consumed correctly, dried fruits can significantly improve your health and even help cope with chronic digestive problems.
