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Dried papaya is an unusual dried fruit that has not only pleasant taste, but also considerable benefits. To appreciate the properties of delicacy at its true worth, 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 tropical fruit is often harvested for long-term storage. Drying fruits is the most popular, in which case papaya retains a maximum of valuable substances. You can cook 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.
- Fiber in the composition of the product allows you to get about 10% of the standard daily intake of dietary fiber, if you eat about 50 g of dried fruits per meal. Dietary fiber not only has a positive effect on intestinal motility, but also improves blood composition, lowers cholesterol and glucose levels.
- The dried fruit contains vitamin A, it is important primarily for vision, since it is responsible for the production of a special retinal pigment. In addition, vitamin A produces red blood cells, which are necessary for the good functioning of the body’s immune system.
- Dried papaya retains a large amount of carotenoids – as in any fruit that is red, orange or yellow. Beta-cryptoxanthin, a substance that strengthens vision and prevents the occurrence of cataracts, is especially abundant in dried fruit. Also, carotenoids in papaya serve as a good prevention of cardiovascular diseases and are very useful in 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 that are important for human health.
As for vitamin C, its presence in dried fruits is negligible. When dried, ascorbic acid is predominantly destroyed and can no longer make up for most of the daily intake of the substance.
Trace elements in dried fruits are much less than in fresh fruits of the plant. However, dried fruit pieces are still rich in magnesium, copper and potassium, which are useful for the functioning of the heart, blood vessels and kidneys.
Useful properties of dried papaya and dried
Unusual in appearance and pleasant in taste, dried fruits are often perceived as a light snack that does not bring special benefits to the body. However, in the case of papaya, this statement is fundamentally wrong – even when dried, 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.
- With regular use, papaya has a cleansing effect on the body, helps to remove toxic substances and prevents the development of allergic reactions. The dried fruit contains bioflavonoids that track changes in the body and activate defenses to fight any diseases of an external and internal nature.
- The fruit prevents the occurrence of beriberi and anemia, even when dried, it still contains a high amount of vitamins. Eating dried fruit is useful in autumn, winter and spring – during those periods when the need for vitamins is especially pronounced, and the availability of fresh fruits is sharply reduced.
- The dried product helps fight constipation and the accumulation of toxins in the body. Fiber in the composition of dried fruit enhances intestinal peristalsis and contributes to the timely removal of excess substances. In addition, dietary fiber in the product regulates the composition of the blood – reduces the level of bad cholesterol and prevents the increase in glucose.
- Eating dried fruit is useful for sluggish digestion. Dried papaya retains digestive enzymes in its composition and helps the stomach, liver and pancreas. The absorption of proteins, fats and starches during its use occurs faster and better, so that the body can get the maximum of valuable substances from the 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 ailments. If you regularly use delicious dried or dried pieces of fruit, then excess fluid will stop accumulating in the body, metabolism in tissues will improve, vigor and good health will return.
- Dried papaya is an energetically valuable product. Due to the high content of carbohydrates, dried fruits perfectly replenish strength and increase human efficiency. It is useful to use the product to improve mood, it has a beneficial effect on memory and brain function.
The benefits of dried papaya for women are expressed in the fact that the product helps to take care of external beauty and youth. Dried tropical fruit contributes to the rapid renewal of epidermal cells, helps fight early wrinkles and signs of wilting. When using dried fruit, the skin becomes softer and more elastic, the production of subcutaneous fat normalizes and the problem of acne and acne disappears. During menopause or during menstruation, dried fruit benefits the hormonal system and protects a woman from a breakdown and mood swings.
For men, the unique property of papaya is of particular value – 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
Dried tropical fruit is found in many stores, but still is 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 cook a delicacy yourself in your own kitchen – you will need a few ingredients for this.
The most common papaya recipe calls for first boiling tropical fruit pieces in a sweet syrup and then drying them. At the same time, the calorie content of dried papaya fruits increases, but the taste improves.
The cooking process is as follows:
- papaya is peeled from a dense smooth peel and dark seeds are removed from the pulp, and then the fruit is cut into cubes or thin strips – if desired;
- a standard sweet syrup is put on the stove to cook – 500 ml of water must be mixed with 500 g of sugar;
- when the water boils, the fire under the pan is slightly reduced, and the prepared pieces of papaya are lowered into the syrup;
- the mixture is boiled for 5 minutes, after which it is removed from the stove and allowed to cool completely;
- after that, the pan is again placed on the fire and, after boiling, the papaya is boiled for another 5 minutes.
Fresh pitted lemon, cut into thin slices, is added to the finished syrup, and then the mixture is allowed to cool completely.
At the second stage of preparation, the papaya is subjected to direct drying. To do this, the pieces boiled in syrup are laid out on a wire rack or strainer and slightly dried in the air. Then the workpiece is laid out on the grate 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. In the absence of a drying apparatus, you can also use a conventional oven, but the temperature should be set to the lowest possible, and it is advisable to leave the oven door ajar.
In addition to the usual drying of fruit pieces 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. Drying at home is quite realistic, but you need to remember that the process will take several days in time. In addition, it is necessary to dry the fruit in the 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, dried fruits will differ markedly in appearance from the photo of dried papaya, as a rule, store-bought treats are prepared using syrup.
Cooking application
Dried papaya fruit can be made at home or purchased from the store to enjoy delicious and healthy fruit pieces as a light snack. However, the culinary use of dried papaya is much wider – the delicacy is used as part of a variety of dishes.
- Dried fruits can be added to fermented milk products – cottage cheese, yogurt and sour cream. Bright fruit pieces will help make breakfast or a light dinner more tasty and healthy. You can even eat dried fruits along with cottage cheese or yogurt on a diet – in small quantities, papaya does not harm the figure.
- Another area of application of dried fruit is a variety of pastries. Small sweet pieces of dried fruit are placed in rich dough, added to pies, cakes, muffins and cakes. Since the shelf life of dried fruit is much longer than that of fresh fruit, such fruit pastries can be stored for quite a long time.
- An unusual option for eating dried papaya is adding small pieces to ice cream. Combined with a cold treat, papaya will delight you with a bright tropical taste in the summer heat.
- You can put dried fruits in ready-made breakfasts, in muesli, cereals and cereal cereals. A vitamin supplement will increase the benefits of familiar dishes, and the taste of breakfast will noticeably improve.
- Dried fruit can be combined with non-alcoholic cocktails and alcoholic drinks – dried fruit will give them an unusual aroma and give them pleasant flavor notes.
Mixtures of various dried fruits with the addition of papaya are very popular; delicacy can be combined with dried slices of bananas, dried apricots and prunes.
Dried papaya can serve as an excellent substitute for sweet candies and cookies, it tastes just like the usual sweets, and brings much more benefits. Since the nutritional content of the treat 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 meal.
How much per day can you eat dried papaya
Useful properties of dried papaya largely depend on the amount of its use. A delicacy prepared according to a classic recipe contains quite a lot of sugar. And even unsweetened papaya can be harmful in case of an overdose: high amounts of fiber in its composition can provoke flatulence and diarrhea.
For these reasons, it is recommended to eat no more than 50 g of dried pieces per day, it is this portion of dried fruits that is considered standard. For unsweetened papaya, the dosage can be increased to 70-80 g per day, but abuse is still best avoided.
Противопоказания
The benefits and harms of dried papaya for the body are determined by the presence of individual contraindications. It is necessary to refuse the use of goodies:
- if you are allergic to papaya or individual components in its composition;
- with gastritis or peptic ulcer in a state of exacerbation;
- with acute pancreatitis;
- with a tendency to obesity.
With diabetes, you can only use a delicacy prepared without the use of sugar – you will have to refuse the usual sweet pieces of tropical fruit. And even papaya, dried without pre-treatment, 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 how it is processed. If the product was made using 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 rate is due to the fact that more water and sugar are stored in the product than in dried slices.
Terms and conditions of storage
Compared to fresh fruit, dried or dried papaya has a significantly extended shelf life. Dried fruits on store shelves can be stored closed 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. Store dried papaya away from bright sunlight, in conditions of 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, while it is recommended from time to time to check if condensation has accumulated in the container with dried fruits, it can lead to premature spoilage of the product.
Conclusion
Dried papaya is a delicious treat made from a tropical fruit that has just as many health benefits as fresh papaya. When used properly, dried fruits can significantly improve health and even help to cope with chronic digestive problems.
