FRUIT OF THE ANGELS

More than just a superfood, papaya is a super ingredient in a range of nourishing skin treatments.

WHEN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS set sail into the unknown, the Spanish hoped he would find a new route to Asia and bring back untold riches from the New World. Things didn’t quite work out that neatly, but he did stumble upon a host of culinary riches that changed the flavour of the world as we know it: cocoa beans and vanilla are two of his more famous finds, but Columbus is also credited with shipping home new and exotic fruits, including papaya. Legend has it that the explorer was introduced to papaya after a bout of indigestion and loved the orange flesh so much he dubbed the native Mexican Carica papaya plant ‘fruit of the angels’. Regardless of whether that tale is true, science shows that papaya really does help an upset tummy (and a whole lot more to boot). “The enzymes in papaya promote healthy digestion, which is also important for skin,” says Melissa Argiro, naturopath and business manager of skincare brand P’ure Papayacare. “Eating papaya will help your skin from the inside out.” According to Mukti, founder of Mukti skincare and author of Truth in Beauty (Mukti Organic, $59.95), papaya is “up to 20 times more powerful than vitamin E” and it contains a range of nutrients and amino acids to help skin produce more collagen and elastin, the fibres that keep it looking youthful. “It improves moisture retention and preserves the natural barrier function of the epidermis,” writes Mukti. It’s also a vitamin C bomb — around two-thirds of a cup of papaya is all you need to achieve the recommended daily dose — and, as such, a genuine antioxidant powerhouse. “Papaya fruit is incredibly high in nutrients including vitamin C,” says Melissa. “It also contains a unique enzyme that helps to clear away dry and damaged skin.” That enzyme is papain. Found in both the juice and leaves, it works to break down protein, carbs and fats (it’s also an excellent meat tenderiser) and, equally, can easily ‘digest’ dead skin cells on the epidermis. “Papaya promotes wound healing and skin renewal by clearing away dry skin,” says Melissa. “Collectively, the nutrients in papaya — such as vitamins A, B, C and E — help to promote healthy, firm and elastic tissue formation as well as moisturising the skin.” In Australia, you’ll find two different varieties — red papaya is pear-shaped and has a sweeter, bright orange flesh, while yellow pawpaw is rounder and, as the name suggests, a buttery colour. Both are from the Carica papaya family and are not to be confused with what the Americans call pawpaw, a totally different fruit altogether, from the Asimina triloba tree. Many Australian beauty brands use papaya that is grown in tropical Far North Queensland. “Always choose Australian papaya,” says Melissa. “It’s not genetically modified and is grown to Australian standards.” While you can use fresh papaya on your face as a mask, it is usually fermented before being added to skincare products and lip balms. “Fermenting concentrates the nutrients and reduces the levels of carpaine alkaloids, making it more gentle on the skin,” says Melissa. “A ferment made from the mature green fruit, using the flesh, skin, seeds and leaves, optimises the nutrient profile as well as the enzyme content.” Papaya ointments have gained quite a cult following, not just at home but also in the growing global market. Millions of tubes of papaya lip balm are produced in Australia each year and pharmacists have, at times, resorted to restricting sales when they couldn’t keep up with supply. The popular multipurpose balms are not all created equal, though. Melissa recommends looking closely at the ingredients list to determine how high the papaya content is (it can be as low as three per cent; P’ure Papayacare says its balm contains six per cent papaya ferment concentrate), and whether the base carrier is petroleum jelly or plant oils. “Although refined, mineral oil is an inexpensive base that provides no nourishment to the skin and is heavily processed using harsh chemicals,” says Melissa. “There are many natural oils and butters that can add moisture and nutrients to your skin. Shea butter is rich in vitamins A, E and F, and provides lasting moisture to skin making it the perfect base for a rich, nourishing skincare product. It makes sense to use a food-grade base that gives assurance regarding its safety, and that actually contains nutrients to nourish your skin.” Given the increasing influence of health-food trends on beauty products, papaya may well join the ranks of kale and cauliflower as a skin superfood. “Papaya has been used in skincare and as a first-aid remedy for more than 100 years,” says Melissa. Studies have shown that papaya promotes skin repair after burns and can even fight acne due to its antibacterial properties. “The new research into the topical use of papaya is confirming the anecdotal data regarding its benefits for promoting wound healing,” says Melissa. Thanks to science, we now know that Columbus was right on the money when he called papaya a heavenly fruit: the potential health benefits are as sweet as the divine taste.

“The enzymes in papaya promote healthy digestion, which is also important for skin.”