By Hope 103.2Tuesday 14 Oct 2014Health and WellbeingReading Time: 3 minutes
Aussies are being inspired to take the pledge of healthy eating starting with red papaya and yellow papaw. Consuming these sweet, nutrient-rich fruits can have life-long benefits for one’s digestive and immune wellbeing as well as skin hydration.
Leading Australian dietitian, Caitlin Reid, has partnered with local red papaya and yellow papaw growers to educate the public of the positive health effects of eating these two fruits.
“Red papaya and yellow papaw are loaded with inspired goodness. Eating them makes it easy to deliver essential nutrients to you and your family, plus, they are naturally low in energy and fat,” Reid explains.
Reid advises that red papaya and yellow papaw naturally contain a unique bundle of antioxidants including vitamin C and carotenoids, that can help bolster your body’s defences. She explains that one cup of diced red papaya or yellow papaw provides more than twice adults recommended dietary intake for vitamin C, and nearly a third of vitamin A. Reid adds that they are also a good source of fibre, which helps with digestive balance and keeps you feeling fuller, longer.
“Your skin will thank you this summer after consuming these fruits because they can assist with skin elasticity, and the formation and repair of skin cells. Plus they have a naturally high water content, which helps keep your skin glowing and you hydrated,” Reid insists.
To help Australians set good habits, Caitlin Reid has created some new recipes that are sure to inspire goodness:
Salmon with Papaya Salsa:
Serves 4
Preparation time: 5 minutesCooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
2 avocados, diced
2 cups papaya, peeled, deseeded and diced
150g cherry tomatoes, quartered
1¼ cups brown rice
Olive oil
4 x salmon fillets
Method:
Combine avocado, papaya and cherry tomatoes in a bowl and set aside.
Heat fry pan and add oil. Cook salmon skin-side down for 4-5 minutes before turning and cooking for about 4 minutes or until still slightly pink in the centre.
Meanwhile, cook brown rice in rice cooker or according to the directions on the packet.
Serve salmon on top of brown rice and top with salsa. Season to taste.
© Papaya Australia
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Papaya and Coconut Muffins
Serves 12
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cups wholemeal self-raising flour
½ cup shredded coconut, plus extra to top muffins
1 cup papaya, peeled, deseeded and mashed
¼ cup papaya, peeled, deseeded and finely diced (for decoration)
1 large egg, whisked
2 tbsp butter
½ cup honey
Pre-heat oven to 180oC.
Over a low heat, heat butter on stove until melted. Allow to cool.
Combine flour and coconut in a large bowl and mix.
In a separate bowl, combine mashed papaya, egg, melted butter, honey and mix well. Add papaya mixture to flour and coconut bowl and mix well.
Place muffin cases into a standard muffin tin and spoon a heaped tablespoon of mixture into each one.
Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the muffin tin.
Top with extra shredded coconut and finely diced papaya.
© Papaya Australia
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For more inspiring recipes and information about red papaya and yellow papaw visit www.facebook.com/papayaaustralia
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