How Do I Use Papaya Seeds? Can I Eat Them?

If you’ve ever cut open papaya, then you’ve probably seen their small black round seeds and discarded them, but did you know these seeds are actually edible? 

Papaya seeds can be used fresh in recipes, dried out as seasoning or just eaten along with the flesh, they do have an acquired taste, however, with a horseradish and black pepper type taste.

We’ve composed an informational guide below which will take you through the nutritional value of papaya seeds and their benefits, how much black papaya seeds you should eat per day, how to prepare papaya seeds and the negative health side effects of consuming them. 

What Are The Nutritional Values Of Papaya Seeds? 

Papaya seed extract and the seeds themselves are surprisingly full of health benefits which you might not know of. 

We’ve listed their nutrient facts down below to help you out. 

• They have around 225 calories for 50g. 
• Contain iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium. 
• High in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants.

Health Benefits Of Papaya Seeds 

Not only is papaya itself a good source of fiber and nutrients, but its seeds have lots of health benefits too which we will list below.

• Has anti-cancer properties – The antioxidants called polyphenols in papayas can help to reduce oxidative stress in the body and fight free radical cancer-causing cells.
• High in fiber – Important benefits of papaya seeds are that they are high in fibre, these black seeds could be excellent for digestive health thanks to their dietary fiber and treat issues such as constipation with ease. 
• Antioxidants – Rich in polyphenols and tannins these seeds can reduce oxidative stress in the body caused by free radicals.
• Anti-bacterial – Due to their anti-bacterial properties, papaya seeds can help to fight bacterial illnesses like Staphylococcus aureus and salmonella.
• Helps with a healthy gut – Papaya fruit seeds are not only great for our digestive health because of their high fibre, but also they have great anti-bacterial properties which can help to fight infections in the intestines and more.
• Can help with menstrual pain – Surprisingly fresh papaya seeds contain a substance called carotene which could help with menstrual pain when regular doses of papaya seeds are taken. For some people, they can also help to induce menstruation.
• Lowers cholesterol – The oleic acid in the consumption of papaya seeds can help to lower bad LDL cholesterol, and the fibre in these seeds also helps to reduce cholesterol. 

How To Use Papaya Seeds 

Now we know all the benefits one can have from the consumption of papaya seeds, let’s move on to how to use and prepare these seeds in your diet to get the most out of your papaya fruit.

• Use them in marinades – Due to the peppery taste of papaya fruit seeds they go well in marinades for meat, try mixing one or two teaspoon of papaya seeds with lemon zest, cream, and garlic and coriander.
• Keep them fresh in the fridge – For easy consumption of papaya seeds simply keep in the fridge and mix them into salad dressings or smoothies, do be aware that the taste of these seeds is very strong.
• Use them in seasoning – A great way to use seeds of papaya is by grinding them up once they are dried, this way they can be added with ease to seasonings for a strong peppery taste.

How Do You Dry Papaya Seeds?

If you want to use papaya seeds as seasoning you might curious as to how to make papaya powder by drying these seeds. 

To dry raw seeds, scoop them out with a spoon then rinse them under some water, and squeeze the seeds until they are released from their gelatinous sac. 

Pat the papaya flesh seeds dry then spread them out on a baking sheet, to dry them you can either place them in a sunny spot inside of your kitchen or on a low heat in the oven. Once dried they can be grinded in a blender or with a motoar. 

Store the seeds in a dry and cool place.

Side Effects Of Papaya Seeds 

If you’re new to the consumption of papaya seeds you might be wondering how much of these seeds you should be consuming and if there are any side effects. 

On average, you should only have around a teaspoon of papaya seeds each day, consuming too many could lead to the following side effects. 

• Can be harmful to pregnant women – Papaya seeds should not be consumed by pregnant women since they can harm the growing baby.
• Could affect sperm count in men – Papaya seeds should not be consumed by men trying to improve their fertility since it could reduce sperm count.
• Not good for breastfeeding mothers – Lactating mothers should avoid eating any dosage of papaya seeds.
• Might cause diarrhoea – Too many ripe papaya seeds might cause digestive issues such as diarrhoea.

Frequently Asked Questions About Using Papaya Seeds

Can papaya seeds help blood pressure?

Papaya seeds do help to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels thanks to their monounsaturated fats and compounds to fight free radicals.

How many servings per day can you have of papaya seeds? 

We would recommend starting at a teaspoon of papaya seeds per day if you are new to these fruit seeds.

How much fiber in papaya seeds? 

Papaya seeds have a high fibre content of 2.7 grams of dietary fibre making them rich in fiber for a small serving.

What health benefits do papaya seeds have? 

Papaya seeds are full of health benefits such as; anti-inflammatory properties, source of vitamin C, powerful antioxidants and high fiber.

Could papaya seeds help blood glucose levels? 

Since papaya seeds are high in fiber they can indeed help people who suffer from high blood sugar since fiber helps control glucose levels.

What do papaya seeds taste like?

Papaya seeds have a peppery flavour and a stronger taste than many other fruit seeds, it’s often compared to black pepper or horse radish for example.

Last Words 

To conclude, papaya seeds can be consumed rather than discarded and are full of nutritional benefits for your health, being a great source of fibre and full of antioxidants to help blood pressure, blood sugar and fight free radicals.

We recommend consuming these seeds dried as a seasoning and in moderation to avoid side effects such as digestive issues, they can be used in moderation in salad dressings, marinades and seasoning.