- By Bornika Das
- Tue, 22 Apr 2025 12:44 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Foods To Avoid With Papaya: Papaya is the most loved fruits that is enjoyed especially during the summer season for its fresh, juicy and sweet nature. Their potent nutritional properties and health benefits make them the favourite tropical fruit that can be added to smoothies, salads and desserts. The fruit is known to have high fibre content, low glycemic index, sweet taste and vibrant colour. Moreover, papaya has the ability to soothe the stomach and support overall wellness. While it is a nutritional powerhouse on its own, pairing it with the wrong foods can cause adverse reactions like digestive discomfort, nutrient interference or even mild toxicity in some cases.
Papayas are loved for their juicy and sweet taste. Papayas can be eaten raw as well as ripe. Raw papayas are generally eaten as vegetables and cooked and made into several dishes. On the other ripe payapas are consumed as fruits and can be made into smoothies and salads. However, there are certain foods that must not be combined with papayas as they can hamper health instead of benefiting it. Take a look at the food pairings that need to be avoided with papaya.
Food Pairings To Avoid With Papaya
Milk And Dairy Products
Papaya contains enzymes like papain and chymopapain, which can curdle milk and affect the digestion process of dairy products. Thus, it is important to avoid consuming papaya with milk or yoghurt, which can instantly lead to bloating, gas or stomach discomfort.
Protein-Rich Food
Green or unripe papaya has a high content of latex. This latex can cause irritation in the throat and mouth, especially to those who have latex allergies. Ripe papayas, on the other hand, are delicious and nutritious. However, both of them are high-protein foods. Papayas break down protein, which can interfere with the digestion of certain high-protein foods. Thus, avoid pairing papayas with large amounts of meat, fish or tofu as it can cause digestive problems or discomfort.
Fermented Foods
Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi or pickles are a delicious and nutritious addition to the diet. These fermented foods contain probiotics and enzymes that can interact with papaya’s enzymes. This combination could potentially disrupt digestion or lead to gastrointestinal disturbances.
Spicy Foods
When paired with papaya, spicy foods can irritate the stomach lining, especially in individuals who have stomach sensitivity. This combination can also cause digestive discomfort and accelerate gastrointestinal issues. Papayas contain papain that aids in digestion, which can intensify the heat and cause irritation caused by sucy food. It can lead to stomach cramps, heartburn or acid reflux.
Spicy Food To Avoid With Papaya (Image Credits: Canva)
Citrus Fruits
As citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruits and papaya are rich in vitamin C, combining these two can cause acidity, or heartburn, in some individuals. It is advisable to indulge in these fruits separately to avoid discomfort, stomach ache or diarrhoea.
Tea
Combining tea, like black or green tea, along with papaya, may not be a good option as they can potentially interact and cause digestive issues. Papain in papaya can interact with certain compounds found in tea, like tannins and caffeine. Tannins in tea can inhibit the activity of the digestive enzyme papain in papaya, potentially reducing its digestive effectiveness when consumed together. Caffeine, the stimulant found in tea, can exacerbate gastrointestinal issues like acid reflux or indigestion in sensitive individuals.
