Papaya or Pawpaw?

By Lisa VanWilliams

We were in Costa Rica last year and we rediscovered my husbands love for this tropical fruit. Christopher Columbus called it "the fruit of the angels".  This oddly little shaped fruit grows on trees kind of like a mango and when it's ripe it turns a soft orange/yellow color.  It's believed to be originally from Mexico and Central America and explorers brought this tropical fruit with them to other lands on their expeditions.  In the States we call it papaya but in Africa and the United Kingdom they go by pawpaw.

Papaya is grown in about 60 countries with the bulk of them coming from Asia and South America. So, why should you eat this fruit? Antioxidants again sprinkled with some vitamin B, minerals, and fiber. So taking that into consideration it's good for:

1. protection against heart disease
2. promotes digestive health
3. anti-inflammatory effects
4. immune support
5. protects against macular degeneration
6. protects against rheumatoid arthritis
7. can help reduce risks of prostate cancer

There are two varieties of papaya and the Mexican one is usually the bigger one, with Hawaiian being the smaller version. Pawpaw is a great low calorie snack that can be served all by itself, in a smoothie, salsa, bruschetta, or compliment your fish dinner with some chutney.