Is Papaya Good For Gastritis?

By - Dr Hafeez Arshad

“Come as you are, leave better. Because that’s what papaya does to our stomach.”

This yellowish-orange fruit is high in fiber count and low in calories. This makes papaya good for managing weight and lowering cholesterol levels.

Papaya also contains an enzyme called ‘papain’ which smoothes your bowel movement. 

All these benefits of papaya must make you curious,” is papaya good for gastritis too? ”

Papaya has natural digestive enzymes like papain and chymopapain. These enzymes break down foods and proteins. In this way, they reduce the formation of gas and provide a healthy acidic environment in the stomach. 

However, there is much to discuss before getting fixated on one answer. Let’s dive into the details.

Is Papaya Good for Gastritis?

Papayas have a protease enzyme named ‘papain’, and a proteolytic enzyme named ‘chymopapain’. Both these enzymes break down the protein from our food into amino acids. Some also believe that papain is useful for reducing inflammation and gas. 

People with irritable bowel syndrome reported significant improvements in their constipation and bloating after eating 20 ml of Caricol (a papaya preparation) for 40 days.

So, you can be sure that papaya is good for your digestive system. However, there are some factors to consider before coming to a final verdict as to whether or not papaya is good for gastritis.

When unripe, papayas are usually green in color. And it should be noted that green papayas are not safe for pregnant women to eat because unripe papayas are high in latex, which can affect contractions. 

But you can always cook the unripe green papayas before eating, and you will have the same benefits as the ripe ones.

Not all gastritis can be considered equal. One type of gastritis is called chronic gastritis. In this condition, the stomach lining is damaged by an infection by H. pylori bacteria. 

One study suggested that people who ingest papaya salad are 8.73 times more likely to have H. pylori infection compared to those who did not ingest it.

This study suggests that papaya is associated with an increased risk of H. pylori infection. 

How Does Papaya Help With Gastritis?

To determine this, first, we need to know whether papaya is acidic or alkaline. Both types of fruits impact gastritis differently.

Since their pH level is below 7, papayas are considered acidic. However, their pH is very slightly below 7, so they are only very slightly acidic.  So, it is safe for people with acid reflux to consume papaya.

Now let’s see how papaya helps with gastritis:

• Due to their effects on the chemical histamine, papayas are thought to reduce levels of gastric acid, thereby benefiting GERD patients.

• The ‘papain’ enzyme improves the digestion system by breaking down proteins and reducing gastritis.

• Papayas are high in water content. The high water content helps dilute the acid in the stomach, reducing acid reflux symptoms.

• The high fiber content of papaya makes you feel full. It prevents you from overeating, thus reducing the risks of GERD.

How Much Papayas Should a Gastritis Patient Consume Every day?

Papaya is a great source of nutrients so a gastritis patient can eat papaya every day because of its health benefits. 

However, over-eating papaya will have a laxative effect, causing you diarrhea and an upset stomach.

So how many papayas can you eat a day?

It is suggested that you can eat a bowl (3 thin slices) of papaya every day without worrying about any laxative effect. Eating papaya every day in this amount will allow you to receive some of the health benefits we have discussed.  

Alternatives for Papaya to Fight Gastritis

Until now you have learned all about how papaya is good for gastritis. But what if papaya is not available in your area? What other options might you have?

Let me introduce you to two alternatives to papaya that are also thought to be able to fight gastritis.

Ginger:

Ginger is one of the healthiest herbs. It is thought to aid digestion and reduce heartburn. 

It also soothes your intestinal tract.

You can drink a mixture of ginger water and a few drops of lemon after every meal to get its benefits.

Fennel Seeds:

Fennel contains flavonoids rutin, quercetin, and different kaempferol glycosides that effectively help in reducing bloating and gas. 

The seeds also contain digestive enzymes that reduce gastritis by lowering inflammation of the intestine and stomach.

You can chew one tablespoon of fennel seeds after every meal.

Who Should Not Eat Papaya?

No matter how healthy papaya seems, some people must avoid eating it. 

People with latex allergies:

Raw or semi-ripe papayas contain a substance called latex which causes itchy skin, hives, or even anaphylaxis to people who are allergic to latex. People can be sensitized to latex in medical settings, and those that have frequent contact with latex should be aware of a possible allergy.

Pregnant Women: 

Pregnant women are strictly forbidden to consume unripe papaya. This is because the latex in papaya triggers uterine contractions, which can lead to premature labor.

This occurs because the body mistakes the papain for prostaglandins which are involved in the induction of labor, prompting labor to progress.

People with hypoglycemia:

In some reports, papaya was shown to have hypoglycemic, or glucose-lowering, effects. This can cause blood glucose levels to drop to alarming levels in people who are at risk for hypoglycemia, such as diabetics taking medications to manage their diabetes. 

Hypoglycemia can be quite serious. It can cause rapid heartbeat, confusion, and seizures, in the case of severe hypoglycemia. 

On the other hand, it is completely safe to eat papaya during periods. It is beneficial to health and some feel that it can help induce menses, which can be a welcome benefit in women with irregular menstrual cycles.

Benefits of Papaya 

Papaya is a very tasty tropical fruit. It is full of antioxidants that prevent diseases, reduce heartburn, and some think it can help you look younger.

Before moving on to the health benefits, let’s see why papaya is considered such a healthy fruit. Here are the nutrients that are present in a small amount (152 grams) of papaya.

As you can see, papayas are high in vitamins and antioxidants that help you with your digestive tract and lower the chances of getting gastritis.

Now let’s dive into the health benefits of papaya.

Improves Digestion:

Papaya is high in fiber count, which gives us the satisfaction of a full stomach. It prevents us from eating too much, helping us maintain a healthy weight.

Both papain and chymopapain enzymes are present in papaya and they break down the proteins we consume and keep our digestive tract healthy. Fiber helps with digestive health as well.

The papaya leaves, roots, and seeds have been shown to treat ulcers in both humans and animals.

Improves Heart Health:

Papaya is high in potassium which helps us to keep our blood pressure steady, thus reducing the risk of high blood pressure and stress on the cardiovascular system.

In addition, the folic acid in papaya may be helpful in lowering homocysteine levels, which can reduce your risk for heart disease..

The antioxidants in papaya increase the protective effects of good cholesterol (HDL).

Fights Inflammation:

Papaya is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C which helps to reduce inflammatory markers.

According to the National Library of Medicine, people who increased their high carotenoid fruit intake had a remarkable decrease in CRP (inflammatory marker).

Has Anticancer Properties:

Papaya has papain, lycopene, and isothiocyanate in it. Papain and lycopene prevent cancer cell formation. 

Isothiocyanate also stops the proliferation and growth of cancer cells. 

Has Antiparasitic Properties:

Papaya has cysteine protease in it which contains anthelmintic properties, which means it can help fight parasitic infections.  

Great For Diabetes:

Papaya is hypoglycemic and rich in antioxidants. They can help lower blood glucose levels. However – diabetics must exercise caution. It is possible to reduce your blood sugar too much, which can be dangerous.

The extract from papaya leaves has at times been used to help control blood sugar levels.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is papaya good for stomach inflammation?

Papaya contains “papain”, a proteolytic enzyme that breaks protein into smaller protein fragments called peptides. Doing so, papain keeps our digestion process smooth, saving our stomach from inflammation and infection.

Does papaya clean your stomach?

The proteolytic enzyme papain is present in papaya and it cleans out your stomach by breaking all the protein into small protein fragments and amino acids. 

What can provide rapid relief from the pain caused by gastritis?

Acid blockers such as famotidine, cimetidine, and nizatidine neutralize stomach acid, thus getting rid of stomach pain fast.

Is papaya good for gastric ulcers?

The extracts from green papaya have shown cytoprotective and antimotility properties which suggest green papaya is an anti-ulcer fruit.

Bottom Line

Papaya is a delicious fruit and it is packed with valuable nutrients.

It has antioxidants like lycopene that reduce the risk of heart disease  and cancer. 

Eating papaya on a regular basis also keeps your skin smooth and slows down aging. 

There are great benefits that can come from adding papaya to your regular diet.