Following are the answers to some of the most frequently questions about papaya.

When was papaya discovered?
Papaya is believed to have originated in southern Mexico and Central America , though it was cultivated as far south as Peru in pre-Spanish times. It was first noted in the invasion of Mexico by Hernan Cortez in 1519. After eating many varieties of food to which they were not accustomed, Spanish soldiers became distressed with indigestion. The Mayan Indians then brought in slices of a golden melon, and urged the soldiers to eat the fruit to stop their stomach pains. The healing effect was immediate, and the amazed Spaniards wanted to see the plants that bore this fruit. The Mayans took the soldiers into the jungle and showed them the wonder plant. The variety Maradol comes from Cuba , discovered by María and Adolfo (for what is owed its name Maradol ).

What type of plant does papaya come from?
While papaya is often considered to be a tree, it is really a large herb. The hollow green or deep purple stem can reach up to 20 feet in height. Budding from blossoms under the leaves near the top of the stem, dozens of papayas will grow on each plant.

When is papaya ready to be eaten?
Maradol Papayas can be 75% – 100% yellow before they are ripe . They are ready to eat when there is a slight give to the fruit when pressed lightly. The ripened melon-like papaya is juicy, sweet and exceptionally nutritious.

What are the benefits of eating papaya?
Papaya is one of the healthiest foods in the world. It is low in calories and loaded with nutrients, especially vitamin C. With its natural digestive properties, papaya has long been used in tropical areas to provide relief from indigestion. The super enzyme papain is a very effective digestive aid because of its ability to break down protein.

Besides its exceptional nutritional value, is papaya useful for anything else?
Papain is a common ingredient in face creams due to its effectiveness as a skin cleanser, softener and moisturizer. It is also used in the tropics for the treatment of eczema, warts, intestinal worms, ulcers and other ailments.

Does papaya have medicinal properties as well?
In addition to its many health and medicinal properties, papaya is also high in retinene, which assists melanin formation in the skin to facilitate tanning. Retinene is also a scavenger of free radicals thought to be related to the formation of cancer. Extensive studies have shown that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables helps protect against many types of cancer, particularly cancers of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Papaya has long been used to combat a wide variety of illnesses and afflictions around the world. For example, in the Cook Islands , fresh unripe fruit is used externally to treat cuts, sores and skin infections. In Cuba , unripe papaya is eaten for hypertension. Fresh papaya latex is used externally in the treatment of ringworm in Jamaica , while natives in Malawi drink a water extract of dried papaya root to cure yellow fever. Dried papaya leaves are taken orally to combat yellow fever in Sierra Leone . In Mexico , like many other countries, papaya is used to treat constipation and to help for ulcers, and in Panama papaya juice is taken for diarrhea and dysentery. The list of uses for papaya goes on and on. These are just some of the more common ways papaya is used in promoting health throughout the world.