Papayas are also known as tree melon, fruta bomba and lechosa. They all mean they same thing but each country has their own name for the papaya. Papayas are considered to be an exotic fruit. Something that you would see if you were visiting the Bahamas or Tahiti.
Like the pomegranate, the seeds of the papaya are edible, but they are served usually without the seeds and without the skin. But the papaya can be cooked as well; the unripe fruit is used in such dishes as curry and even in some salads. The papaya like the lemon has an enzyme called papain, which is, can be used as a meat tenderizer.
The papaya is found in such places as South America, where is it has been said to have originated there. The papaya is also a good source of a specific enzyme that helps people with digestive problems. You also have to be careful if you are allergic to latex, the papaya carries an enzyme with the same properties as latex so if the fruit is not ripe it may cause allergies.
The nutritional values of the papaya are that there are only 32 calories, 91% water; there is no fiber at all in the fruit. It has about 8 grams of sugar and it contains 40mg of vitamin A and 46 mg of vitamin C. Overall the papaya is good for you, you get enough of the vitamins A and C.
Papaya is an acquired taste, not everyone likes the taste, some people eat the black seeds some say they have a black pepper taste to them. But people who eat a large amount of papayas should be on the look out of their palms and soles of the feet may turn yellow due to the high amount of papayas they eat.
