{"id":42915,"date":"2025-03-27T23:06:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T23:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=42915"},"modified":"2025-03-27T23:06:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T23:06:09","slug":"papain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/papain\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Papain the Digestive Lifeline You Need? Here\u2019s What It Is and Where to Find It"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to 2022 data<\/a> from the American Gastroenterological Association, an estimated 40 percent of people in the United States have had to pause daily activities at some point in the year prior due to digestive issues. If you\u2019re among them, you likely know how taxing (and sometimes embarrassing) it can be to deal with the likes of bloating<\/a>, gas<\/a>, and constipation when you\u2019re simply trying to live your life. Those seeking fast-acting relief might wish to turn to natural digestive aids, such as papain. While it might not be a household name, papain may rightly earn a spot in your supplement lineup if you struggle with digestion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn more about papain\u2014including where to find it, its key benefits, and recipe ideas from a registered dietitian.<\/p>\n\n\n

What Is Papain?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"papain\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Papain is a naturally occurring enzyme in the latex of unripe papaya. \u201cIt\u2019s most abundant in green papayas and it\u2019s also found in the leaves and fruit of the plant,\u201d adds Christiane Matey, MSHS, RDN<\/a>, an integrative dietitian and the founder of MINT Nutrition<\/a> in Mooresville, North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n

Per a 2019 entry<\/a> in Enzymes in Food Biotechnology<\/em>, papain is a \u201chighly efficient enzyme\u201d that breaks down dietary protein<\/a>. As such, it\u2019s also been used in industrial settings to make meat more tender.<\/p>\n\n\n

4 Benefits of Papain<\/h2>\n\n\n

According to Matey, papain offers some impressive health benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

1. Aids Digestion and Absorption of Protein<\/h3>\n\n\n

\u201cDue to its enzymatic nature, papain helps break down proteins to aid in digestion and absorb amino acids,\u201d she shares.<\/p>\n\n\n

2. Promotes Bowel Movements<\/h3>\n\n\n

When you enjoy papaya, you encourage regular, healthy BMs. Papaya helps with digestive motility courtesy of its mild laxative properties, says Matey, which can help those with occasional constipation as well as those with irritable bowel syndrome<\/a> (IBS) and leaky gut<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one small papaya offers just under 3 grams of dietary fiber<\/a>, or about 10 percent of the recommended 25 grams per day for women. Fiber<\/a> famously supports gut health plus digestive function and regularity<\/a>\u2014yet an estimated 90 percent of women and 97 percent of men in the U.S. don\u2019t meet the daily recommended intake for fiber,<\/a> per the 2020\u20132025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t
Related Stories<\/div>\n\t\n
\n
\n\t\"best<\/div>\n
\n
The Best Supplements to Mitigate Bloating and Promote Weight Management<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/article>\n\n
\n
\n\t\"gas<\/div>\n
\n
The Difference Between Bloating and Gas plus, Foods that Prevent the two!\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

3. Offers Antioxidants<\/h3>\n\n\n

Research<\/a> shows that both papain and papaya juice offer antioxidant effects. Because of this, Matey says that both can help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n