Content
Dried papaya is an unusual dried fruit that has not only pleasant taste, but also considerable benefits. To appreciate the properties of a delicacy at its true worth, it is necessary to study the composition of the dried fruit and its effect on the body.
Dried papaya composition
Fresh papaya fruits do not retain their beneficial properties for long, so the tropical fruit is often harvested for long-term storage. Drying of fruits is the most popular, in which case the 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.
Dried papaya is similar in composition to fresh tropical fruit. However, there are 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 fruit per intake. Dietary fiber not only has a positive effect on intestinal motility, but also helps to improve blood composition, reduce cholesterol and glucose levels.
- 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 body's immune system to function well.
- Dried papaya retains a high amount of carotenoids - just like any red, orange or yellow fruit. Especially in dried fruit there is beta-cryptoxanthin, a substance that strengthens vision and prevents the occurrence of cataracts. Also, the carotenoids in papaya serve as a good prevention of cardiovascular ailments and are very useful for predisposition to cardiac diseases.
- Dried fruit is a rich source of carbohydrates. Only 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, vitamins B5 and B9, E and K are present in dried or dried papaya, which are especially useful for the normal functioning of the nervous system and the brain. The product contains bioflavonoids and antioxidants, enzymes and amino acids important for human health.
As for vitamin C, its presence in dried fruits is insignificant. When dried, ascorbic acid is predominantly destroyed and can no longer replenish most of the daily value of the substance.
Trace elements in dried fruits are preserved much less than in fresh fruits of the plant. However, dried fruit pieces are still rich in magnesium, copper and potassium, which are beneficial for the functioning of the heart, blood vessels and kidneys.
Useful properties of dried papaya and jerky
Unusual-looking and pleasant-tasting dried fruits are often perceived as a light snack that does not bring much benefit to the body. However, in the case of papaya, this statement is fundamentally wrong - even in dried form, 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 proliferation of free radicals in the body and protects against the onset 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. 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 vitamin deficiency and anemia, even in dried form, it still contains a high amount of vitamins. It is useful to eat dried fruit in autumn, winter and spring - in those periods when the need for vitamins is especially pronounced, and the availability of fresh fruit is sharply reduced.
- The dried product helps to fight constipation and the accumulation of toxins in the body. Fiber in the composition of dried fruit enhances intestinal peristalsis and promotes the timely removal of excess substances. In addition, the dietary fiber in the product regulates the composition of the blood - lowering the level of bad cholesterol and preventing the rise in glucose.
- Eating dried fruit is useful for sluggish digestion. Dried papaya retains digestive enzymes and helps the stomach, liver and pancreas function. The assimilation of proteins, fats and starches during its use is faster and better, thanks to which 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 puffiness and protects the heart system and kidneys from the development of ailments. If you regularly consume tasty dried or dried fruit pieces, then excess liquid 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 performance. Eating the product is useful for improving 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 promotes rapid epidermal cell renewal, helps fight early wrinkles and signs of wilting. With the use of dried fruit, the skin becomes softer and more elastic, the production of subcutaneous fat is normalized and the problem of acne and acne breakouts goes away. During menopause or during menstruation, dried fruit benefits the hormonal system and protects a woman from loss of strength and sudden mood swings.
For men, the unique property of papaya is of particular value - dried fruit helps the body to produce arginine. This substance is very important for the reproductive system - it is responsible for the production of male hormones, increases endurance 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 it is still not the most common treat 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 prepare a delicacy yourself in your own kitchen - you will need few ingredients for this.
The most common recipe for making papaya involves first boiling tropical fruit pieces in 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 rind and dark seeds are removed from the pulp, and then the fruit is cut into cubes or thin strips - if desired;
- they put a standard sweet syrup to cook on the stove - 500 ml of water must be mixed with 500 g of sugar;
- when the water boils, the heat under the pan is slightly reduced, and prepared pieces of papaya are dipped 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.
In the finished syrup, add fresh pitted lemon, cut into thin slices, and then allow the mixture to cool completely.
In the second stage of cooking, the papaya is directly dried. To do this, pieces boiled in syrup are laid out on a wire rack or strainer and slightly dried in air. Then the workpiece is laid out on the grate of a special dryer, the temperature is set at 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 must be set to the lowest, 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. It is quite possible to carry out drying at home, but you need to remember that the process will take several days in time. In addition, it is necessary to air dry the fruit at very low humidity and good ventilation, otherwise the product will begin to rot and mold.
You can dry or wither the fruit without boiling it in sugar syrup. However, in this case, dried fruits will noticeably differ in appearance from a photo of dried papaya, as a rule, a store delicacy is prepared using syrup.
Cooking applications
Dried papaya fruit can be made at home or purchased from the store for tasty and healthy fruit bites as a light snack. However, the culinary use of dried papaya is much broader - the delicacy is used as part of a wide variety of dishes.
- Dried fruits can be added to fermented milk products - cottage cheese, yogurt and sour cream. Brightly colored fruit bites will help make your breakfast or light dinner more delicious and healthy. You can eat dried fruits with cottage cheese or yogurt even on a diet - in small quantities, papaya does not harm the figure.
- Another area of application of dried fruit is in a variety of baked goods. Small sweet pieces of dried fruit are put into butter dough, added to pies, pastries, muffins and cakes. Since the shelf life of dried fruit is much longer than that of fresh fruit, such fruit baked goods can be stored for quite a long time.
- An unusual use of dried papaya is to add small pieces to ice cream.In combination with a cold delicacy, papaya will delight you with a bright tropical taste in the summer heat.
- You can put dried fruits in breakfast cereals, in muesli, cereals and cereals. Vitamin supplementation 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 beverages - the dried fruit will give them an unusual aroma and give pleasant taste notes.
Mixes of various dried fruits with the addition of papaya are very popular; the 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 as good as the usual sweets, and brings much more benefits. Since the treat's nutritional value 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 dried papaya can you eat per day
The beneficial properties of dried papaya largely depend on the amount consumed. The treat prepared according to the 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 fruit that is considered standard. For unsweetened papaya, the dosage can be increased to 70-80 g per day, but abuse is still best avoided.
Contraindications
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 delicacies:
- 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 mellitus, you can only eat a treat prepared without the use of sugar - you will have to give up the usual sweet pieces of tropical fruit. And even papaya dried without pretreatment should 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 are still retained in them.
How many calories are in dried papaya
The calorie content of dried papaya per 100 g depends on the way it is processed. If the product was made with 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.
Calorie content of dried papaya
When the product is dried in the air, the calorie content of dried papaya is about 327 kcal per 100 g. The high indicator is due to the fact that more water and sugar are retained in the product than in dried slices.
Terms and conditions of storage
Compared to fresh fruit, dried or dried papaya has a significantly longer shelf life. Dried fruits on store shelves can be stored unopened for up to 3 years, although with a completely natural composition, the indicator may be slightly lower.
As for the home-made delicacy, it retains its beneficial properties and pleasant taste for 6 months. Store dried papaya away from bright sunlight, low humidity and cold temperatures. A refrigerator is best suited for storage.You need to keep the delicacy in a dry and clean container with a tightly screwed lid, while it is recommended to check from time to time whether condensation has accumulated in the container with dried fruits, it can lead to premature deterioration of the product.
Conclusion
Dried papaya is a delicious tropical fruit treat that is just as healthy as the fresh fruit of an exotic tree. Dried fruits, when consumed correctly, can significantly improve health and even help cope with chronic digestive problems.
