Papaya

Christopher Columbus called papaya, “the fruit of the angels”. Papaya is rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, potassium, magnesium and fiber. Vitamins A and C help the immune system prevent respiratory diseases. This fruit contains papaina, a digestive enzyme that serves as an auxiliary in trauma and allergy related health problems. Also, thanks to its richness in fiber, papaya helps to prevent the onset of colon cancer, because it absorbs toxins and protects healthy cells. In a recent study conducted by Doctors Jian, Lee, and Colin of the Medical College of Zhejiang in China, they found that men who consumed foods rich in lycopene, like papaya, showed an 82% decrease in their risk of getting prostate cancer. Look for papayas that show a yellow color. However,  you can speed up the process of ripening a green one by placing it in a paper bag or wrapping it in a sheet of newspaper.