If you’re pregnant and you actually are tempted by the thought: can papaya juice avoid pregnancy. You will discover numerous important information on this kind of topic, as well as tips, suggestions, opinions, and answers to be able to questions in relation to carrying a child, right nutrition and eating plans.
Some foods fall into the category of eating or not eating during pregnancy. Papaya is one of those fruits that is rich in nutrition, but pregnant women generally don’t know whether to eat it or not. In this MomJunction post, we will share information about papaya consumption during pregnancy, its safety, benefits, and effects.
Is it safe to eat papaya during pregnancy?
It is safe as long as you consume ripe papaya in moderate amounts. But semi-ripe and immature papaya can cause complications in pregnant women. Raw papaya is rich in latex, a substance responsible for uterine contractions (1). Therefore, doctors do not recommend consuming the green fruit, as it can cause adverse effects in pregnant mothers.
You should be careful about what you eat during pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimesters, as these are considered crucial stages.
Can papaya cause miscarriage in early pregnancy?
An immature and semi-ripe form of the fruit can increase the risk of miscarriage. The risk is high during the early stages of pregnancy, as the latex in the fruit can trigger unnatural contractions that lead to miscarriage.
Can you eat papaya when pregnant in the third trimester?
Avoid raw papaya in the third trimester. The latex it contains could stimulate the hormones responsible for contractions. Also, eating green papaya can lead to hemorrhage and hemorrhage at the corners of the placenta (2).
Therefore, immature papaya is not recommended during the last months of pregnancy. In fact, papaya is given to induce labor during the third trimester, in rare cases.
Why should I avoid latex in papaya?
Latex (the milky liquid) is a mixture of papain, endopeptidases, and chymopapain (3). This substance is considered unsafe because:
- The enzyme papain is known to stimulate contractions that can cause abortion (4). In addition, it hinders the production of the hormone progesterone, which is important for a healthy pregnancy.
- Latex acts like oxytocin and prostaglandin, hormones that could start labor (5).
Latex is found in immature and semi-ripe papaya, and also in the leaves of the fruit. Therefore, try to avoid immature or semi-ripe papaya throughout pregnancy.
But the proportion of latex decreases as the fruit ripens and thus the ripe fruit can be eaten to enjoy its goodness.
Nutrients In Papaya (Ripe)
Ripe papayas are rich nutrients, including:
- Antioxidants such as beta-carotene
- Minerals such as potassium (6)
- Vitamins
- Iron
- Calories
- Folic Acid (7) Although ripe papaya is good for pregnancy, there are conditions where you should avoid it.
When not to eat papaya during pregnancy?
Your doctor may advise you not to consume the fruit during pregnancy if:
- Has an allergy to latex (8)
- has undergone some infertility treatment and is conceiving after a long time
- You had a miscarriage, miscarriage, preterm birth, or those concerns before.
Also, as mentioned above, you should avoid raw papaya as it could lead to some adverse effects.
Effects of eating papaya during pregnancy
Immature and semi-ripe papayas are not recommended for pregnant women for the following reasons.
- May be harmful to fetal development: Teratogenic enzymes can be harmful to fetal development. And papaya contains two of them: chymopapain and papain. Women with a history of miscarriages and abortions should stay away from immature papaya.
- May cause edema: Eating several pieces of raw papaya regularly can cause edema (1), which means fluid retention in the body. This, in turn, puts pressure on the blood vessels and can even slow down the blood circulation process. More pressure could cause internal bleeding and affect the embryo.
- A risk of kidney stones: Papaya, a rich source of vitamin C, can form kidney stones when consumed in excessive amounts. This can lead to stomach cramps that are not good for pregnant women and the baby (9).
- May weaken fetal membranes: The papain content in papaya could weaken the membranes of the fetus.This could slow down the development of cells and tissues in the fetus, affecting its health (10).
- Exerts pressure on the stomach: The presence of latex in immature and semi-ripe papaya can trigger uterine contractions. Papaya is also considered a powerful emmenagogue, leading to miscarriage. The fiber content in papaya could put pressure on the intestines and stomach (11).
- Produces estrogen: A hormone imbalance is common during pregnancy. Papain helps regulate the menstrual cycle. But during pregnancy, it can increase body temperature and cause bleeding.
In the next section, we answer a few more questions about papaya during pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is cooked papaya safe during pregnancy?
As long as you are cooking a fully ripe papaya, it is safe to consume. Avoid unripe and semi-ripe papayas, even when cooked.
2. Can I drink papaya juice when pregnant?
Juice made with raw papaya should be avoided (1). However, if you are making fresh papaya juice from the ripe fruit, you can.
3. Can I have papaya smoothie while pregnant?
Yes, if you are using the fresh pulp of ripe fruit. A fresh papaya smoothie made with fruit pulp, honey, and milk can be a good source of nutrition.
Ripe papayas, when eaten in moderation, offer nutrition to pregnant women. On the other hand, semi-ripe and immature papayas could be harmful. You can talk to your doctor and get their opinion before consuming papaya.
Have you eaten papaya during pregnancy? Share your experience with us in the comment section below.
References
1. Adebiyi A, Adaikan PG and Pasad RN; Consumption of papaya (Carica papaya) is not safe in pregnancy: fact or fable? Scientific evaluation of a common belief in some parts of Asia using a rat model; The British Journal of Nutrition (2002) 2. Aravind G, Debjit Bhowmik, Duraivel. S and Harish. SUN; traditional and medicinal uses of carica papaya; Journal of Medicinal Plant Studies 3. L.G. Silva, O. García, M.T.P. Lopes, and E.E. Rooms; Changes in protein profile during coagulation of Carica papaya latex; Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research (1997) 4. Meera Sumanth and Ugendra K. Effect of immature carica papaya in the uterus. Int J Res. Ayurveda Pharm (2013) 5. Options for induction of labor; Barwon Health 6. Common Discomforts During Pregnancy; UNM Health Sciences Center 7. Philippines The fruit that heals; International Tropical Fruit Network 8. Ogbodo S. O., Okaka A. N. C., Nwagha U. I., Ejezie F. E., Status of free radicals and antioxidants in pregnancy: need for pre and early pregnancy assessment, American Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, vol. 4 No. 6, 2014, pp. 230-235. doi: 10.5923 / j.ajmms.20140406.06. 9. Dr. Neethu S Kumar, Sreeja Devi PS; The Surprising Health Benefits of Papaya Seeds: A Review; Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 10. Sumana Reddy; Latex allergy; American Academy of Family Physicians (1998) 11) 5 Common Myths About Kidney Disease Prevention; National Kidney Foundation 12. Tarun Vij and Yash Prashar; A review on the medicinal properties of Carica papaya Linn, Asia Pacific Journal of Tropical Diseases (2015) 13. K L Krishna, M Paridhavi and Jagruti A Patel; Review on the nutritional, medicinal and pharmacological properties of papaya (Carica papaya Linn.); JSS College of Pharmacy, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University of Science & amp; Technology (2008)
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