Papaya leaves, apparently, is not only eaten as side salad. It provides more than culinary uses. In some parts of the world, it has been used in traditional health treatment. It is believed to effective against chronic diseases, such as asthma, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes.
For the latter, papaya leaves provides many benefits that support treatment or prevention. To get the benefits of papaya leaves for diabetes you can do either consume it like a vegetable (salad) or as a herbal tea.
Well, before deciding to take anti-diabetic medications, it is worth try papaya leaves. It is cheaper and easy to get after all. OK, without further ado, here’s the benefits of papaya leaves for diabetes :
Nutritional Content of Papaya Leaves
As one of herbs for traditional medicine, papaya leaves certainly has high nutritive value. More importantly it contains high amount of alkaloids, including carpaine and papain, that is highly effective for diabetes (explanation in the benefits). See the list below for all nutrients presence in papaya leaves (per 100 g) :
- Alpha glutamine
- Benzaldehyde
- Caryophyllene
- Cobalt
- Histamine
- Linalool
- Silicon
- Selenium
- Protease
- Myristic acid
- Methyl salycilate
- Malic acid
- Lycopene
- Choline
- Copper
- Ash
- Alkaloids
- Carpaine
- Papain
- 1.7 g dietary fiber
- 47 μg vitamin A
- Beta carotene
- Lutein zeaxanthin
- 0.023 mg thiamine
- 2.6 μg vitamin K
- 38 μg folate (B9)
- 0.027 mg riboflavin (B2)
- 0.357 mg niacin (B3)
- 0.191 mg pantothenic acid (B5)
- 62 mg vitamin C
- 0.3 mg vitamin E
- 0.08 mg zinc
- 21 mg magnesium
- 182 mg potassium
- 20 mg calcium
- 8 mg sodium
- 0.25 mg iron
- 3 mg manganese
- 11 mg phosphorus
Papaya leaves also contains phytochemicals, such as carotenoids, polyphenols, benzyl isothiocyanates, benzyl glucosinates, prunasin (a cyanogenic substance). According to some trusted sources, the most effective substance in papaya leaves are the alkaloids (carpaine and papain). Papaya leaves also contains anti diabetic substances.
Well, now let’s take a look at the benefits of papaya leaves for diabetes :
1. Papaya leaves has active diuretic properties
Indeed, based on some studies, papaya leaves has diuretic properties. Because of this, papaya leaves helps in increasing urine produced, and effectively decrease blood pressure. It will prevent blood-related diseases, including diabetes.
2. Papaya leaves stimulate determination when exercising
One of useful benefits of papaya leaves for diabetes. Because it is heavily encouraged for diabetic person to do more exercises, they need a supplement or supporting herbs such as papaya leaves. It is believed to induce determination to do more exercises on top of being a fat-free and sugar-free herb.
3. Papaya leaves is free from sugar
When consuming papaya leaves, you do not need to worry about blood sugar. As a herbal medicine, papaya leaves contains almost no sugar. This really helps whether it’s recovering from diabetes or an act of prevention. You can also follow the tips in health benefits of lumpfish caviar. Sugar-free foods also helps prevent other diseases, e.g. obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, etc.
4. Papaya leaves is low in carbohydrates
Another top benefits of papaya leaves for diabetes. Based on its nutrition facts, it is found that papaya leaves is low in carbohydrates. This can be considered a benefit for diabetic person. Of course, if you looking for a energy source, you need to find a food with high health benefits of eating corn rice carbohydrates. Although, there are some high-carbohydrate foods that effective againts diabetes as well.
5. Papaya leaves contains high amount of phytochemicals
One of amazing benefits of papaya leaves for diabetes. According to some researches, papaya leaves contains various phytochemicals, with carpaine being the most effective, and other substances such as papain, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, carotenoid, beta carotene, etc also help preventing or healing diabetes. They are also known as antioxidants, which is good againts cancer.
Phytochemicals can be found in other herbs as well, such as health benefits of purslane plant, durian leaves, spinach, leafy greens, tomato, etc.
6. It helps clean intestine and digestive system
Papaya leaves chemical composition indicates its effectiveness in dealing with human waste. It also clean digestive system from intestinal worms thanks to carpaine. According to some researches, healthy digestive system can reduce the chance of diabetes in old age.
7. It can lower blood sugar level
Papaya leaves contains some nutrients that can reduce blood sugar level, slow down heart rate, and stabilize blood pressure. All of these benefits will help prevent diabetes. It is similar to other anti-diabetic superfruit, such as guava, mango, plantain, health benefits of red passion fruit, pomegranate, etc.
8. It possesses high nutritive value
Being a plant with high nutritive value, papaya leaves certainly can help cure diabetes. It is low fat, low sugar, rich in fiber, high in vitamins, and also rich in essential minerals. Don’t forget powerful phytochemicals present in papaya leaves. They are helpful as well.Â
9. Papaya leaves can be made into herbal tea
Another shocking benefits of papaya leaves for diabetes. That’s right. Papaya leaves can be transformed into a powerful herbal tea with tons of benefits, including diabetes treatment. To make a papaya leaves tea, you can follow these steps :
- Prepare 3 to 6 young papaya leaves. You can get it from nearby trees.
- Prepare two liters hot water.
- Boil the young papaya leaves in the water.
- Wait until the water reduced into half of its initial quantity.
- Remove the leaves from the water.
- The water is a infusion now. You can mix with honey, or other herbs.
- Papaya leaves tea is ready to drink.
10. Papaya leaves doesn’t have adverse effects for diabetic person
Consuming a wrong herb for diabetes treatment sometimes just make the condition worse. If you want to try a safer herbs, papaya leaves is a very good option. It has been tested by experts, and the result says papaya leaves has no adverse effects on diabetic person. So, you can consume it without worry.
11. Papaya leaves can help lower glycemic index
Due to its anti-diabetic properties, papaya leaves can lower glycemic index.
Recommendation Intake of Papaya Leaves
Using papaya leaves for diabetes is acceptable as long as under guidance from experts. Young leaves are recommended as herbal tea material. Don’t carelessly mix papaya leaves with other herbs. Recommended material to be mixed with it are : aloe vera, orange, milk, honey, garlic, basil, and carrot.