Sacha Walters, Staff Reporter

The seeds of the papaya are also rich in nutrients and the green fruit was used as a meat tenderiser by Jamaicans of old. Many of the fruits now on the market have still not returned to their deep orange shade after last year's hurricanes. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

Papaya, reputedly called the 'fruit of the angels' by Christopher Columbus, is great to have in your diet arsenal. It's rich in vitamin C, folate, potassium, dietary fibre as well as vitamins A, E and K. Any fruit for that matter is good to eat when you are trying to lose weight, according to Frances Mahfood, dietitian at the Heart Foundation.

"All fruits are good when dieting because they all have vitamins and minerals," Mrs. Mahfood said, the papaya being no exception. The most important thing is to monitor your servings. "If you are trying to lose weight, three servings of fruit per day are recommended," she said.

Low Calorie

Explaining that the size of a serving of fruit is equivalent to the size of a tennis ball, she said that is the recommended amount of papaya you should eat for a day. If you are combining fruits, the servings remain the same.

The low-calorie fruit, containing 40 calories in 100 grams, is versatile as it can be had not only by itself, but within a fruit salad, as a smoothie combining the fruit, non-fat yoghurt and honey, as well as it can be added to cereals.

It also helps the body to heal. "It contains one of the anti-oxidants beta carotene," she said. It can also help in prevention of atherosclerosis, the build-up of fatty deposits in the walls of the arteries and diabetic heart disease.

Additional information - www.whfoods.com.

Papaya Pie

Ingredients

1 lb (454g) ripe papayas

6oz (168g) sugar

2tsp flour

1/8tsp salt

1/4tsp nutmeg

1/8tsp cinnamon

1tbsp butter

For the pastry

6oz (168g) flour

1/2 tsp salt

4oz (113g) shortening

5 tsp iced water to mix

1tsp lemon or lime juice

Method

1. Make the pastry. Sieve together the flour and salt. Add the shortening and rub into the flour till it looks like fine breadcrumbs. Bind with water and lemon or lime juice.

2. Peel and slice papayas thinly in the same way you slice apples for apple pie.

3. Mix sugar, flour, salt

and spices.

4. Line a pie dish with the pastry.

Fill with the sliced papaya and cover with sugar mixture.

5. Add one tablespoon water and dot with butter.

6. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 50 minutes or until the fruit juice looks clear and thick.

7. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees

F to allow the fruit to cook slowly but thoroughly. Serves 8

(Lime or lemon juice gives a flaky tender crust to the pastry. This dessert is even more delicious when served with ice cream.)

For exciting recipes, see: An Adventure in Caribbean Cuisine - Caribbean Association of Economists).

Papaya Smoothie

2 cups papaya juice

1/3 cup whole milk (substitute fat-free milk)

3 tablespoons honey

6 to 8 cubes ice

Method

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until frothy. Pour into 2 glasses and serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com