Fruit is nature's candy. It's naturally sweet, refreshing, and full of vitamins and minerals that can help give your body a health boost. And if you are looking to help slow some of the aging process, there are certain types of fruit that can help with this, too!
We talked with Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD at Balance One Supplements about fruit that can help with the aging process. And according to Best, the best fruit to slow aging is papaya.
"Papaya is a superfood that gets little attention for its ability to slow and reverse signs of aging, but the reversal happens both internally and externally at a cellular level," says Best.
Continue reading to learn about the specific ways papaya can help you age in healthy ways, and for more aging tips, you can read The Best Snacks Eaten by the Longest Living People in the World next.
The anti-aging benefits of papaya
"The vitamins and plant compounds contained within papaya make it an antioxidant-rich fruit. These antioxidants and vitamins work in the body to slow and reverse oxidative stress," says Best. "If this oxidative stress is allowed to occur and persist, it can damage cells. Once those cells replicate, their damage manifests itself in the form of wrinkles, loss of elasticity, and even chronic conditions exacerbated by inflammation."
There's also a key enzyme found in papaya called papain. According to Best, "this enzyme, plus vitamins A, C, and E play a vital role in papaya's anti-aging abilities."
Sign up for our newsletter!
Other benefits of eating papaya
Papaya's health benefits don't stop there. This fruit contains other healthy compounds and antioxidants that help improve your overall health, which can contribute to a slower aging process as well.
For example, papaya contains lycopene, which has been found to help reduce the risk of certain cancers while also lowering the negative effects of radiation in those who have cancer.One study also found that lycopene not only had anti-cancer properties but that it can help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease as well.
As if this wasn't enough to convince you of its health benefits already, papaya (especially the seeds) has also been found to help improve digestion and relieve constipation thanks to its high fiber and water content, which can be especially helpful as you age.
So the next time you're craving some delicious anti-aging fruit, try a handful of papaya slices or throw some into a blender as part of a refreshing smoothie.
Samantha Boesch
Samantha was born and raised in Orlando, Florida and now works as a writer in Brooklyn, NY. Read more about Samantha
