What are papaya benefits and side effects? Is papaya low fodmap? Gluten free? Acidic or alkaline? Vegan? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here are papaya pros and cons: all the info on papaya that every ethical consumer wants to know…
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on papaya benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about papaya benefits and side effects. This will include papaya benefits for your health and potential risks, papaya water footprint and papaya carbon footprint, papaya sustainability, if papaya is vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if papaya is good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be prepared to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about papaya benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Papaya Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Papaya benefits for health may include:
- aided digestion
- alleviated arthritis
- asthma prevention
- blood sugar regulation
- boosted energy
- constipation prevention
- decreased risk of asthma development
- fights the progression of macular degeneration
- improved eye health and eyesight/vision
- nausea relief
- improved sleep, learning, memory, and muscle and nerve function
- reduced inflammation
- regulated menstrual cycles
- stress relief
- boosted immunity
- cardiovascular health and reduced risk of heart disease
- decreased risk of neurodegenerative disease
- detoxification
- diabetes prevention and management
- fight and prevent cancer
- intestinal health
- stomach and intestinal health
- anti-aging
- minimized fat absorption and weight loss
- nourished hair
- reduced bloating
- better skin complexion, skin health and wrinkle reduction
Papaya side effects may include:
- pesticide consumption if not organic
- do not over-consume, be sure to eat in moderation as with any food
- wash thoroughly before consuming to avoid harmful bacteria and parasites
Additionally, papaya is…
- Alkaline 8.5 pH level (fresh) once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
- Low Fodmap
- Limit papaya consumption if pregnant
Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 460 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of papaya / 55 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of papaya
Carbon footprint: low, 0.9 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fruits, a car driving equivalent of 2 miles or 3.25 kilometers
Destruction: moderate, papaya production is moderately sustainable, deforestation of the Amazon for papaya plantations, however 99% of Peruvian papaya production is for domestic consumption, the problem with papaya is that there are no varieties resistant to ‘papaya ringspot virus’, which reduces production by 60% and the only way to avoid the virus is to establish plantations in new locations, which creates a cycle of deforestation in some locations around the world
Papaya is…
Animals
Kills: none, papaya production does not require any animals
Harms: none, papaya production does not require any animals
Indirectly kills or harms: none, papaya production does not indirectly kill or harm animals, be sure to buy Non-GMO/organic, as pesticides harm and kill wildlife and ecosystems by contaminating soil, water, air and plants that animals eat
Papaya is…
- Vegan
- Harmful to wildlife and ecosystem unless organic
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often subject to exploitation, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Papaya…
- May involve worker exploitation, laborer issues, human rights concerns
About 75% of the world’s papayas come from only 10 countries.
The world’s top papaya producing country is India, followed by Dominican Republic and Brazil.
The world’s top papaya exporting country is Mexico, followed by Brazil, Guatemala, USA, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Philippines, Thailand, Mozambique.
Check out this post on Food Miles: How Far Does Your Food Travel?
Yes! Papaya is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, fiber and antioxidants.
Other names for papaya are papaw and pawpaw.
★★★★★
- The fastest, easiest solution for making nutrient-packed smoothies.
- Load it up with your favorite whole foods like nuts, berries and spinach.
- Push, twist and blend your way to a healthier lifestyle.
- We love it!
Is papaya alkaline or acidic?
Papaya is alkaline.
What is the pH level of papaya?
Papaya has an 8.5 pH level when fresh once digested. Most fresh fruits are alkaline.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
Is papaya gluten free?
Yes, papaya is gluten free. Papaya does not contain gluten when fresh but may contain gluten when processed, dried or canned. Papaya is a type of fruit, therefore making it a naturally gluten free food.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
Is papaya a common food allergen?
No, papaya is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to papaya but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
- milk
- eggs
- fish
- crustacean shellfish
- tree nuts
- peanuts
- wheat
- soybeans
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
Is papaya low fodmap?
Yes, papaya is low fodmap, a food you can eat if on a low fodmap diet.
A low FODMAP diet may help those with bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
It’s all about knowing your body. Observe what works and what doesn’t. You body might even react negatively to a low-FODMAP food simply due to intolerance. Everyone is different! Be mindful and patient. Take time to get to know what’s best for your physical health and overall wellbeing.
Water footprint of papaya?
Papaya has a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
It takes 460 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of papaya / 55 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of papaya.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource?
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of “water footprints”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Carbon footprint of papaya?
Papaya has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
It takes around 0.9 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of fruits, a car driving equivalent of 2 miles or 3.25 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
Is papaya sustainable?
Yes, papaya production is relatively sustainable since there is no significant damage to air, water, land, soil, forests, etc. Be sure to buy non GMO/organic, as toxic, chemical pesticides contaminate air, water, soil, etc. when using regenerative practices.
In fact, a 2018 Oxford University study – which is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the damage farming does to the planet – found that ‘avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to reduce your impact on Earth’ as animal farming provides just 18% of calories but takes up 83% of our farmland.
Consuming animal products and byproducts is not environmentally friendly and is one of the worst things for the Earth. Not only is meat production wasteful, it causes enormous amounts of pollution. The industry is one of the biggest causes of climate change.
A 2010 United Nations report said that a global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world the worst impacts of climate change.
Read more about ‘What Makes Food Sustainable Or Unsustainable?’
Is papaya vegan?
Yes, papaya is vegan. Papaya is a fruit and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
Does papaya have human rights issues?
At this time there are no major human rights with papaya production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks.
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Ultimately, fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
Finally, we can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Be sure to read up on this list of ‘Foods You Should Always Buy Fair Trade‘
Conclusion
Papaya pros include:
- numerous health benefits
- sustainable
- vegan
- alkaline
- gluten free
- not a common food allergen
- low carbon footprint
- low water footprint
Papaya cons include:
- papaya consumption should be limited if pregnant
- possible laborer exploitation (as with most foods)
- pesticide ingestion and contamination if not organic (as with most produce)
This post was all about papaya benefits and side effects.
Sources:
Papayas, raw – FoodData Central – USDA
CIR – USDA/APHIS Fruits and Vegetables Import
Revealing the hidden: Indigenous perspectives on deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon
