Plant atlas Short
Papaya Carries Its Own Meat-Tenderizing Enzyme
Papaya · มะละกอ · Carica papaya
Papaya — มะละกอ (ma-la-ko) — Carica papaya.
Papaya — mah-lah-gaw. Cooks rub raw papaya on tough meat for a reason, because it packs an enzyme that breaks protein apart. The edible part is the fruit. Papain is a characterized protein-digesting enzyme; researchers tested papaya seed extract against stomach-lining injury in rats. It's rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, and potassium. Som Tum Thai is a spicy green papaya salad bruised in a mortar with chilies and peanuts, traditionally served with sticky rice and grilled chicken. Gaeng Som Malakor is a spicy and sour fish curry with tender green papaya chunks, traditionally served alongside steamed jasmine rice and a side of crispy Thai omelet. The black seeds are edible with a peppery, mustard-like bite, and the green unripe fruit is cooked as a vegetable. It has zero tolerance for wet feet. Papaya is high in vitamin C, so eating it alongside iron-rich plant foods helps your body absorb their iron. Follow Longevity Biome for a new Thai plant every day.
Som Tum Thai — ส้มตำไทย (som-tam-thai)
Gaeng Som Malakor — แกงส้มมะละกอ (gaeng-som-ma-la-gor)
Source: Papain = characterized proteolytic enzyme (food biochemistry). Gastroprotection (rats): Antiulcerogenic activity of Carica papaya seed. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol (2015), PMID 25418890
Educational content, not medical advice! Consult your doctor before changing diet or medication.
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Food and nutrients
Rich in: vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, potassium
Research context
Papaya's papain enzyme digests protein; papaya seed extract protected the stomach lining in rats — Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol, 2015 (animal)