Natural Heartburn Remedies: Papaya

There are lots of tips and advice for natural heartburn remedies on the internet, but one you don’t read much about is using Paypaya.  Paypaya a fruit and is native to the tropical regions of the Americas.  According to Wikipedia:

The fruit is ripe when it feels soft (like a ripe avocado or a bit softer) and its skin has attained an amber to orange hue. The fruit’s taste is vaguely similar to pineapple, although much milder, creamier, and more fragrant, with a texture of slightly over-ripened cantaloupe.

Scientists have learned that papayas are loaded with papain which is an enzyme that breaks down hard to digest protiens.  Papain is a component in the powdered meat tenderizers you find at the grocery store.  Papain has been used to treat ulcers, dissolve membranes in diphtheria, and reduce swelling, fever and adhesions after surgery. (Purdue University Web Site)

Because of the papain ability to break down protein, eating papaya can help ease gas, bloating and indigestion naturally.  In addition to helping to break down proteins, paypaya is a fair source of iron and calcium; a good source of vitamins A, B and G and an excellent source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Precautions should be taken when adding paypaya to one’s diet because some individuals are allergic to papain in any form and even to meat tenderized with papain. (Purdue University Web Site)  So don’t over indulge on this delicious and powerful fruit.