Today’s recipe share comes on the heals of others who have been discovering the benefits of Papaya, particularly in light of the new(ish) threat to those living in the Southern USA. I say new(ish) because North American natives had recipes for addressing this condition back before the USA became a full-fledged nation. Mainstream media is once again warning of another “existential threat” to humanity, as mosquitoes in Florida begin spreading a strain of Malaria. Papaya is one of the fruits listed in the Anti-Malaria PDF that I send out by email to anyone who requests it. It’s reason for being in that list is because it is accessible to those who live where the tree grows here in North America. As the actual threat of Malaria is now being trumpeted as “the next big scare”, here are two ways you can enjoy Papaya seeds in your efforts to prevent any unnecessary illness.
Papaya Dewormer Tea:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup crushed Papaya seeds
3 cups water
(Amounts according to The African Gourmet)
1 tbs Unpastuerized Honey
Lime
Instructions:
1) Dry the seeds out in the sun, on your counter top for a few days, or in your oven around 150F for 2 to 4 hours, then crush them to a fine powder using either a mortar and pestal, coffee grinder, or a food processor
2) Take lime slices and steep them in near-boiling water
3) Add the papaya seed powder and honey to the tea
4) Steep for 5 to 10 minutes
Drink three times per day until parasites or worms are gone.
Papaya Dewormer Decoction:
Ingredients:
14 Papaya seeds
2 cups water
1 tbs unpastuerized honey
Instructions:
1) Add water and seeds to a pot and boil for 5 minutes
2) Remove from heat and allow to steep for a further 10 minutes
3) Place strainer over mug and strain seeds from water as you pour the water into a mug
4) Add honey
According to an author of a wikihow article in their Q&A section, moderation when eating fresh papaya is important! They recommend no more than 3 slices of fresh papaya per day, or digestive issues can result. The same intestinal upsets can happen if you eat too many papaya seeds, so it is recommended by other authors as well, to go slow on the seeds too, not just the flesh of the fruit. One source claims to start with one or two seeds to begin with and monitor your body. If you are fine, increase to a few more. 1 or 2 teaspoons of whole seed is often what many can handle on a daily basis. It is recommended to have protein together with the seeds you eat, to aid your stomach in processing them.
Several authors talk about using the papaya seed powder as a substitute for pepper or cinnamon, as a dusting on food, in smoothies and salad dressings etc. Some of the links here share those recipes, so be sure you go back and click on them.
