Papaya

Papaya is not teratogenic and will not cause miscarriage in small, ripe amounts. Papaya is frequently used for hair conditioner but should be used in small proportions. Papaya is believed to have originated from Mexico and it's neighboring Central American countries. Papayas are generally classified into Hawaiian or Mexican. Papaya Nutrition FactsPapaya is good for balanced nutrition.

Papaya also contains other vitamins and minerals like: Niacin, Foliate, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, lipids and amino acids. Papaya also is known to have medicinal properties. Papayas make excellent container and greenhouse specimens where soil moistureand temperature can be moderated.

Papayas can be grownsuccessfully in shade, but the fruit is rarely sweet. Papayas do not tolerate salty water or soil. Papaya plants can also be grown from cuttings, which should be hardened offfor a few days and then propped up with the tip touching moist, fertile soiluntil roots form. Papaya plants should probably be replaced every 4 years or so. Papayas areoften sliced and eaten by themselves or served with a myriad of other foods. Papaya is native to tropical America, from Southern Mexico through theAndes of South America. Papayas are harvested when thefirst hint of yellow coloration appears. Papayas are extremely perishable;shelf life at room temperature ranges from 3 to 8 days, depending onstorage atmosphere.

Papaya grown in Hawaii is utilized largely for freshmarket (93%), withsmall amounts processed into juices and other processed foods. Papayas mature in 6 to 9 months from seed in the hotter areas of South Africa; in 9 to 11 months where it is cooler, providing an opportunity to supply markets in the off-season when prices are high.

Papaya plants require frequent fertilization for satisfactory production. Papayas are frequently blemished by a condition called "freckles", of unknown origin; and mysterious hard lumps of varying size and form may be found in ripe fruits. Papayas generally do poorly on land previously planted with papayas and this is usually the result of soil infestation by Pythium aphanidernwtum and Phytophthora palmivora.

Papaya juice and nectar may be prepared from peeled or unpeeled fruit and are sold fresh in bottles or canned. Papaya leaves contain the bitter alkaloids, carpaine and pseudocarpaine, which act on the heart and respiration like digitalis, but are destroyed by heat. Papaya is currently cultivated on 800 acres of land located mainly in St. Papaya's spread easily and have become naturalized in many areas.