Eating Too Much Papaya Side Effects Everyone Must Know

Papaya is a super food packed with lots of nutrients needed for the body. It is low in calories and fat, and high in dietary fibre. By consuming a medium sized papaya you will get 300% of the Vitamin C that you require daily. So, papaya is ideal for people on weight loss programme. It is a safe food even for toddlers.

Side Effects of Papaya are:

Avoid while breast feeding:

Women in Asia are advised to include papaya in salads to improve the production of breast milk. But it is also said that in certain parts of the world breast feeding women are advised to avoid papaya whether it is ripe or unripe. It is said that the enzyme in papaya can have a negative impact on the infant. So, it is better to consult your doctor and make things clear.

Can cause constipation:

Papaya is known to be an effective remedy for constipation. But excess intake of papaya can affect you negatively. Make sure that you drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day to prevent constipation. When the intake of fibre is high, you must increase the amount of water you drink also. Otherwise you may suffer from constipation.

Can cause abortion:

Raw papaya is often consumed as a natural way to terminate unwanted pregnancies, while ripe papaya is safe. Raw papaya can cause uterine contractions because of the presence of latex in it. This may cause abortion, miscarriage, premature labour, still birth and abnormalities in the infant. Papain, the enzyme in the leaves of papaya, functions similar to oxytocin and prostaglandin. These two hormones are known to cause labour and contraction of the uterine wall. So, it is better to avoid papaya for the safety of your baby and you.

Can cause carotenemia:

Consuming papaya in large quantities can cause discolouration of the skin, which is medically called carotenemia. This is because of the presence of beta carotene in papaya.  This is a condition in which your eye white, palms and soles turn yellow, as if you have jaundice.

Can develop respiratory disorders:

Papain is an enzyme found in papaya. It is a powerful allergen. So, if you consume papaya in excess, you may suffer from respiratory disorders like obstructed breathing, continuous congestion of the nasal passages, hay fever, wheezing and asthma.

Can develop renal stones:

A 5 inch lone papaya is said to contain 60 mg of Vitamin C. this is about 300% of the Vitamin C that you need daily. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant and is great for making your immune system stronger, protect you from cancer, hypertension, blood vessel disorders and even premature ageing. But according to studies made, increased intake of this vitamin can lead to renal stones.

Can upset the stomach:

Consuming papaya in excess can upset your gastrointestinal system. This can cause stomach upset. Some of its symptoms are:

• Stomach ache
• Bloating
• Abdominal cramping
• Flatulence
• Nausea

The reason for this is the presence of high amounts of fibre in it along with the latex present in the skin of papaya.

Not safe for consumption when you suffer from diarrhoea:

When you are suffering from diarrhoea, you should not consume papaya as it is rich in fibre. Fibre can bind with the stools and make your condition even worse. It can even make you dehydrated.

Not safe for infants below 1 year:

Although studies have not yet confirmed the actual reason behind this, mothers are advised not to feed it to infants below the age of 1 year. This may be because of the presence of fibre in high amounts in papaya.

Papain can interact with blood thinning medications in a negative way:

Papain, the enzyme present in papaya, has blood thinning properties. So, if you are on any blood thinning medications or are taking anticoagulants, then you should be careful when consuming papaya.

If you have a surgery, the try to avoid papaya some days before surgery, as it has anticoagulant properties. According to research made on papaya, people suffering from haemophilia and thrombosis also should avoid consuming papaya.

Toxic when consumed in high amounts:

The leaves, flesh and the seeds of papaya contain carpaine, the anthelmintic alkaloid, in high amounts. This chemical is good for removing worms from the stomach. But high amounts of this chemical can affect you negatively. It can lower your pulse rate and affect the function of your nervous system.

Your skin may develop rashes:

Presence of papain and antioxidants in high amounts in papaya make it great for using as an anti-ageing agent. This makes it an important ingredient in many of the anti-ageing creams. But all types of skin are not benefited this way. Some people experience itchy and dry skin on topical application of papaya. Some even develop rashes on the skin.

You could be allergic to papaya:

If you are suffering from respiratory disorders like asthma or any allergic conditions, you should be very cautious when you consume papaya. Sometime the pollen from the flowers of papaya may stick on the skin of papaya. So, it is better to wear gloves if you are allergic. Peel off the skin and throw it away before you remove your gloves. You can also cover your nose and mouth with a towel.

You might experience slower heartbeat:

People suffering from cardiac problems should try not to consume papaya. This is because of the presence of papain in this fruit. This can slow down the rate of heartbeat drastically.