Papaya is part of tropical fruits; it is relatively medium in size; it can reach up to 45cm in diameter. As part of tropical fruits, many people cannot stay without consuming Papaya. But is it healthy to be consumed by people affected by chronic kidney disease?
Some people with CKD need to limit the intake of potassium assumed through fruits and vegetables because their kidneys may be unable to remove the extra potassium from their bodies. So, does Papaya contain potassium?
Papaya is part of tropical fruits that don’t contain a rich amount of potassium; if consumed with caution and in moderation, it can be a good fruit with important benefits to be integrated into a low potassium diet.
Papaya ripe vs unripe papaya potassium content
Papaya is a fruit native to tropical America, but that is now practically cultivated in other parts of the world such as India, Australia, and Africa.
Papaya can be eaten in two ways :
- unripe but cooked
- ripe in a raw version
Consuming unripe Papaya raw is dangerous, mainly because of its latex content.
There will be no difference in potassium content between the unripe and ripe versions of Papaya.
Is Papaya good for kidneys?
If consumed in small quantities, Papaya could not represent a risk for your kidneys-friendly diet. Furthermore, compared with other fruits, Papaya contains a much lower potassium content than them.
Papaya has many benefits associated with is, as for example its high level of antioxidants, vitamins A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
For those that have to limit the assumption of potassium because they suffer from chronic kidney disease, it has been observed that renal dieticians, in the majority of the case, suggest a maximum intake of potassium per serving not more than 200mg and a maximum amount of 2000mg per day.
Since Papaya’s content is 182 mg per 100g, we can assume that consuming it may not create any problem for a person who has to follow a low potassium diet.
Does Papaya have more potassium than bananas?
Bananas are 96% higher in potassium than Papaya.
Is Papaya healthy?
A small papaya contains approximately 68 calories. Being low in calories and rich in vitamin C, antioxidants and fiber, consuming Papaya may help you keep a healthy blood flow, reducing the cholesterol and risk of heart disease.
Furthermore, Papaya contains the enzyme papain, playing an important role in fighting against inflammation.
Does Papaya contain too much potassium?
The amount of potassium present in Papaya is low to medium. Still, it will only depend upon the quantity you will decide to consume, which will dictate the final amount of potassium intake.
If you consume Papaya in moderation and as part of a healthy diet, it will not create any problems in your low potassium diet. But, opposite discussion if you start to consume more than 100g per time.
In that case, you can easily overcome the recommended daily intake of potassium, putting you in a risky situation.
Anyway, it is important to remember that assuming potassium is fundamental for our health, and the amount of potassium will depend upon your health conditions and your doctor’s recommendation.
Final thoughts
Papaya is a tropical fruit; it can be easily integrated into almost all diets due to its health benefits. In addition, the low to medium amount of potassium makes the Papaya an excellent fruit to be incorporated into a kidney-friendly diet too.
