Papaya seeds

[Seren]

:eek:

These are HORRIBLE! I put them in my green smoothie along with the rest of the papaya, expecting it not to taste of much but, seriously... gah!!! Its sooo burny and hot!!

I looked it up and I've heard that there's like a parasite cleanse or intestinal cleanse using papaya seeds - could anyone tell me anything about it please?

I just want to see if theres any point adding them to my smoothie - to the detriment of the taste - in future!

TIA :D

xxx

[Clare]

I don't know much about them other than that they are loaded with the proteolytic enzyme papain which people buy as a supplement to help them digest protein. Whenever I buy a papaya, I scoop out the seeds and put them in a separate bowl.

They are peppery/spicy, as you learned! Last week I put a few in some tacos, which btw are great with spicy collard leaf wraps and a few papaya seeds. Anyway, they seem to really clean me out more than usual the next morning :-)

I can eat about half the seeds in a huge papaya per sitting. I kind of enjoy them, especially in the evening if I feel I've eaten a heavier meal than normal (nuts, etc). They feel very cleansing besides helping empty everything in their path the next day!

[Veganforlife]

I've heard folks dehydrate them, then grind them and use them as a pepper type deal...

The first time I opened a papaya, I freaked. Thought it was fish eggs! EEEWWW!!!:eek:

[Seren]

Thanks Clare! Im glad about that - I think I need some internal cleansing!! lol!!

Veganforlife - LOL!! They do look a bit like fish eggs :P And that pepper idea is great!! Thanks!!

xxx

[Riiiya]

hmmmmmmm papaya seeds and good internal cleansing! that's always good (planning to buy some papaya today)

btw are you guys talking about the smaller yellow ones or big green ones? The yellow ones i saw said No-GMO on them. the green ones didn't :/

[Veganforlife]

The only ones I've ever seen are the ones INSIDE the P when I cut one open...:confused:
The pepper idea - read it here on the forum - searched about papaya and found it.

Love that search feature. I've learned a lot from it.

[rawstrength]

Veganforlife - I think Riiiya is talking about the papayas themselves, not the seeds. I think papaya seeds are always dark gray.

I prefer the big green ones to the small yellow ones. But if the big green ones are GMO, that's kind of scary. But I've never seen a no GMO sticker on either the green or yellow papayas.

Papaya seeds are sometimes used as a dilutant in black pepper, to make it cheaper. I think like most seeds, papaya seeds are toxic in LARGE quantities, but nutritious and cleansing in small doses.

Ah-hah! I found where I had read about the seeds being toxic. From a website about papaya:
" Papaya seeds even though have a deworming action, is not advisable to consume. A toxic substance called carpine is present in traces in black seeds of papaya. Carpine in large quantities is said to lower the pulse rate and depress the nervous system. This substance is only found in papaya seed and that too in very small quantity. The fleshy part of the fruit is completely free from this toxic substance. Hence, once the seeds are removed the delicious fruit can be safely eaten. "

Like I said, all seeds and greens are a teensy bit toxic, to prevent animals from making the plant species go extinct. If you ate most of your diet from papaya seeds, every day, you probably wouldn't be too healthy. But once in a while is probably fine. Balance, variety and moderation. And enjoy the de-worming, detoxifying benefits from your papaya seeds! I didn't know about that. Maybe next time I get a papaya I'll eat the seeds.

Funny, I just posted in another thread about making papaya pudding. It must be the law of attraction. If I keep thinking about papayas, maybe some will be growing in my backyard soon! :D wouldn't that be nice!

[Seren]

LOL rawstrength that wud be lovely!! I cant grow anything over here very easily :rolleyes:

thanks for the info btw! I'll avoid eating them too often :p

xxx

[Riiiya]

so much great info here!

yes i was talking about the fruit itself :) well the little yellow ones i think i saw at Wal-Mart and they had that no-GMO sticker on it.... that's why i assumed that those whithout the sticker Would be GMO :confused:

[Arky]

I always eat the seeds - regardless of whether I'm eating a jumbo green papaya or a smaller yellow one. I just cut the papaya in half and dig in, with a spoon, munching seeds and flesh all at one sitting. Yes, the seeds are spicy, but why is that considered a bad thing? :)

Thanks for the info about the toxins, I didn't know that but I'll still continue to eat the seeds, anyway!

When I think how abundantly people eat tomatoes and peppers, without pausing to think about the potentially-toxic alkaloids they contain, it certainly puts the subject of mild toxins into perspective. Before the Victorian era, people simply would not consume tomatoes. Don't forget, bell peppers and tomatoes (amongst many others) are members of the Nightshade family. Anyone for a Deadly-Nightshade smoothie? No? Sure I can't tempt you? ;)

Then there's soya beans - before the commercial might of the American soya industry, soya beans were not widely-viewed as a 'health-food'. In his book 'Politically Incorrect Nutrition', Michael Barbee observes that the Chinese used to use Soya crops for fixing nitrogen into their soil, during non-crop years, never actually consuming the soya crop itself. If it were not for the fact that soya is a conveniently-high source of protein, irrespective of any other related nutritional pros and cons (and there are plenty of cons with soya), I seriously doubt that the soya industry would have grown so large.

None of the above is in any way meant to undermine the info about papaya seed toxins - I very much appreciate the info provided, it's just that whereas I initially worried about every little toxin in my raw foods, I have grown accustomed to the fact that virtually every food on the planet (even revered superfoods) has some form of toxin. Provided one eats a broad spectrum of foods, though, one can ensure one consumes a good variety of toxins, so as to avoid toxin deficiency in any one area! ;)

Anyway, interesting thread, re' papaya seeds. Certainly food for thought.


J.

[Andre]

I love the seeds!

When I eat the seeds I make sure to have a piece of papaya on the spoon as well to neutralise the burning sensation.

Yum yum! :)

[Arky]

Related thread:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=39746


J.

[raven]

I've never eaten the seeds but always wondered what to do with them. I'll try them next time.

Suzy

[diali36]

blend the seeds up and use them for a wonderful facial!! really great for you skin.

[Arky]

Does it work on beards, too? ;)


J.

[Veganforlife]

It worked on mine. I used to have one...now I don't...

just kidding

[carolg]

I eat the seeds too. Actually papaya and I have a love affair: I have no control over eating once I start till it's finished. Size is not an issue. Of course the result is a very quick detox to the max, but at least I'm cleaned out.

carolg