Does Eating Papaya Induce Miscarriage in Pregnant Women

Papaya is known as the ‘fruit of the angels’ because of its taste and qualities. However, when it comes to consuming papaya in pregnancy, it requires some precaution. It is okay if a pregnant woman eats a small bowl of ripened papaya; however, consuming semi-ripe or unripe papaya can lead to the risk of miscarriage.

Papaya is a fruit loaded with multiple benefits, and thus it is recommended to consume during pregnancy. However, it is important to consider the amount a pregnant woman consumes and ensure that she only eats fully ripened papaya, not the raw ones.

In normal cases, papaya is recommended for girls if they want to induce periods in case the date gets delayed. But pregnancy is a completely different scenario. This is the phase of life that every woman looks forward to so that they can meet their little one. Hence, people, especially our elders (parents, grandparents, etc.), advise not to eat certain food items, including papaya, during pregnancy. It is believed that the fruit can be the cause of miscarriage among pregnant women.

However, pregnancy is a phase when a woman requires enough nutrition and care for the healthy growth of the mother and the fetus (developing within her). Thus, it is important to ensure what to eat and what to leave by the expecting mother during the nine months of pregnancy. Papaya is one fruit that has the taboo of causing risk in pregnancy, which is why women avoid it during this phase. So, the question is, can a pregnant woman eat papaya during her pregnancy?

Can Expecting Women Consume Papaya? 

The answer is yes, they can. However, make sure to eat only ripe papaya to reap the benefits of the fruit. Do not consume unripe or semi-ripe papaya, as they are not good for pregnant women. Unripe papayas contain papain and latex, which are sometimes perceived by the body as prostaglandins. These components of the body encourage labour and may cause miscarriage. Further, the papain present in unripe papaya is harmful to the fetus as it makes the membrane around the fetus weak.

Benefits of Eating Ripe Papaya

Papaya has a high nutrient density, and it grows all year round. You can eat papaya to treat your dull skin, to lose weight, or to get hydrated. Here are some other benefits of eating papaya:

• They protect the eyes
• They help in keeping the joints healthy
• They help prevent cancer
• They are good for keeping your cholesterol level low
• They enhance your immune system

Benefits of Eating Ripe Papaya During Pregnancy

Papaya is a wholesome fruit packed with nutrients. Certain papaya compounds help in improving heart health and have anti-cancer properties. Below are some papaya benefits for women who are pregnant:

• Ripe papaya contains sufficient vitamins A, B, C, and E.
• It also has beta-carotene and potassium, which boosts the neurological development of the baby during pregnancy
• Since papaya is an excellent source of vitamins, it improves immunity and prevents infection
• Papaya is good for digestion and helps in curing pregnancy-related constipation that most women face
• Papaya is also effective in helping expecting mothers overcome morning sickness
• Papaya increases the platelet count in blood and can help women recover from viral illnesses during pregnancy
• Having ripe papaya in proper proportion aids in enhancing milk production in women

Eating papaya during pregnancy in moderate proportion is safe for expecting mothers. So, if a pregnant woman craves papaya, she can eat ripe papaya in moderate quantities throughout her pregnancy. However, do not eat semi-ripe or raw papaya if you are pregnant or you are trying to conceive.