Menu
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
eMediHealth Logo
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result

Home > Nutrition > Is Papaya Bad for the Kidneys?

Is Papaya Bad for the Kidneys?

December 23, 2022
4 min read
By Shiza Khan, M.Sc. – Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics | Dietitian/Nutritionist

In this article:

  • Papaya and the Kidneys
  • Most-Asked Questions
  • Final Word

Papaya is a tropical fruit cultivated in countries such as Malaysia, South America, Indonesia, and South East Asia. All parts of the papaya plant are used including its fruit, roots, leaves, and seeds. Many of these regions also use the plant as a medicinal remedy. (1)

is papaya consumption harmful for kidney health?

Some of its benefits include:

  • Being a potent antioxidant, papaya can protect against diseases caused by free radicals such as arthritis, asthma, fatty plaques within the blood vessels, and Alzheimer’s disease. (1)
  • Improved immunity (2)
  • Papaya may protect against obesity and is useful in a weight loss diet. (3)
  • Papaya seed is a useful remedy against intestinal parasites. (4)
  • Unripe papaya is used in folk medicine to relieve menstrual pain and heal wounds. (1)
  • Papaya offers antiaging effects due to its antioxidant capacity. (1)
  • Papaya fruit is useful in reducing blood sugar levels and lowering hypertension. (5)

Papaya has a lot of benefits, but there are some claims that papaya may be harmful to the kidneys and there is always a doubt about whether people with kidney diseases can consume the fruit.

So, is papaya really harmful to the kidneys?

Advertisements

Papaya and the Kidneys

papaya consumption and kidney health

The kidneys are responsible for clearing the body of toxins and breakdown products of medicines as well as maintaining blood pressure and fluid balance. (6)

Much like papaya protects against oxidative damage to organs, it also protects the kidneys. In animal studies, papaya leaf extract was useful in protecting kidneys from toxicity of gentamicin, which is an antibiotic that has the potential to cause severe kidney damage. (6)

Papaya also contains phytochemicals that have a protective effect on the kidneys. Studies have found its seeds to prevent kidney damage caused by paracetamol. It was effective in reducing the high levels of creatinine and uric acid caused by excessive paracetamol use. (7)

High creatinine levels are a measure of acute kidney damage, (8) and papaya consumption can be beneficial.

In conclusion, papaya does not damage the kidneys but actually has a protective role.

Most-Asked Questions

How much papaya will benefit kidneys?

how much papaya will benefit the kidneys

One cup of papaya cubes is safe for daily consumption. In addition, 1 tablespoon of cleaned papaya seeds can be chewed daily to detox the kidneys.

Advertisements

Who should avoid papaya?

Anyone with papaya allergies needs to avoid its consumption. In addition, it is better for pregnant women to avoid eating the fruit.

What are the disadvantages of papaya?

Papaya contains the potential to increase blood sugar levels when eaten in excessive amounts. Moreover, the high fiber content can lead to diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Is consuming papaya before bed good?

According to some traditional schools of medicine such as Ayurveda, fruit is better consumed during the day and needs to be avoided 4–5 hours after meals. However, if you struggle with midnight cravings, fruits such as papaya can be a healthy alternative.

Final Word

Papaya is a rich and nutritious fruit and is used in many regions as a remedy for ailments. It has a protective effect on organs including the kidneys.

Studies have found papaya seeds to protect the kidneys against damage from medication such as paracetamol and reduce the levels of creatinine and uric acid in the blood.

Against claims that papaya may be harmful to the kidneys, it actually protects the organ and aids in its detoxification.

Advertisements
References
  1. Kong YR, Jong YX, Balakrishnan M, et al. Beneficial role of carica papaya extracts and phytochemicals on oxidative stress and related diseases: A mini review. Biology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8066973/. Published April 1, 2021.
  2. Mohamed Sadek K. Antioxidant and immunostimulant effect of Carica papaya Linn. aqueous extract in acrylamide intoxicated rats. Acta informatica medica: AIM: journal of the Society for Medical Informatics of Bosnia & Herzegovina : casopis Drustva za medicinsku informatiku BiH. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3508853/. Published September 2012.
  3. Od-Ek P, Deenin W, Malakul W, Phoungpetchara I, Tunsophon S. Anti-obesity effect of carica papaya in high-fat diet fed rats. Biomedical reports. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7412661/. Published October 2020.
  4. LA; OJAOTAOOAA. Effectiveness of dried carica papaya seeds against human intestinal parasitosis: A pilot study. Journal of medicinal food. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17472487/.
  5. Santana LF, Inada AC, Espirito Santo BLSdo, et al. Nutraceutical potential of carica papaya in metabolic syndrome. Nutrients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6682863/. Published July 16, 2019.
  6. Gheith I, El-Mahmoudy A. Novel and classical renal biomarkers as evidence for the nephroprotective effect of carica papaya leaf extract. Bioscience reports. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6147914/. Published September 20, 2018.
  7. Naggayi M, Mukiibi N, Iliya E. The protective effects of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seeds in paracetamol induced nephrotoxicity in male wistar rats. African health sciences. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4480493/. Published June 2015.
  8. Renal function tests – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507821/.
  • Was this article helpful?
  • YES, THANKS!NOT REALLY
Spread the Love❤️
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements

Newsletter

Get our BEST updates delivered to your inbox:



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Categories

  • Nutrition
  • Wellness
  • Oral Care
  • Eye Care
  • Heart Health
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Women’s Health
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Respiratory Health

Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
eMediHealth

This site provides content for informational purposes only. The information provided is not intended for use as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In case of a medical concern or emergency, please consult your healthcare provider.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation.

Our Network: Little Extra

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Nutrition
  • Skin & Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Yoga & Meditation
  • Women’s Health
  • Heart Health
  • Allergy & Immunology
  • Bones & Joints
  • Child Health
  • Digestive
  • Ear, Nose & Throat
  • Eye Care
  • Glands & Hormones
  • Health News
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mental Health
  • Nervous System
  • Oral Care
  • Pain Management
  • Respiratory Health
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Urological Health

© 2019 eMediHealth. All rights reserved.