Papaya is a tropical fruit that is a true superfood with high fibre, a low glycemic index and a juicy, sweet flavour. With so many benefits for good health, fruit lovers simply can’t get enough of it. From digestive support to increased uptake of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, the advantages are plentiful. However, to take full advantage of papaya, you need to pay attention to what you eat it with. There can be unwanted reactions, especially if you are eating it with wrong foods.Papaya has special enzymes such as papain that can have unwanted effects on foods when digested together i.e.uncomfortable side effects like bloating, gas, etc. Here, we’ve listed some foods that you should avoid eating with papaya to prevent adverse health effects.

Foods To Avoid With Papaya

Raw Papaya:  Eating raw papaya may provoke gastric distress and stomach cramps by virtue of possessing high levels of the enzyme papain. This enzyme can cause some burning in the stomach and lower abdomen; therefore, ripening papaya can reduce side effects.

Cucumber: Combining cucumber and papaya can cause digestive problems such as bloating, gas, tummy cramps and diarrhoea. Because cucumber is high in water, it can contribute to the digestive effect of papaya, causing excessive retention of water resulting in uncomfortable, bloated feelings.

Dairy Products:  Eating foods like milk, cheese or yogurt in combination with papaya may cause digestive discomfort and stomach pains. This is because the enzymes in papaya will disrupt the digestion of the dairy products and the body will accommodate this process. For better digestive comfort, it is not recommended to eat these foods together.

Fried Foods: Eating papaya with fried foods such as fried chicken or French fries may irritate the stomach. Fried foods are high in fat and papaya is loaded with digestive enzymes. Also, one can expect indigestion, mild discomfort and upset stomach.

Citrus Fruits: Combining papaya with citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges and grapefruits can cause a sour taste and digestive distress. Because papaya is high in vitamin C and citrus is also high in vitamin C, the excessive intake of vitamin C can lead to a combination that causes acid reflux, heartburn and irritation to the stomach lining.

Tomatoes: Merging tomatoes and papaya will cause digestive issues because of their high acidity. The mixture of the two foods can create acid reflux and heartburn, causing discomfort and interfering with digestive balance, so they are best consumed separately.