Everyone knows what a papaya is, but not many people realize how beneficial these wonderful fruits can be for your body. The papaya is a fruit that comes from the Carica papaya tree. They are a bright orange color that holds the active ingredient papain that helps the body to digest food. They are originally from southern Mexico and nearby countries, but now the papaya is cultivated all over the world in tropical countries. The papaya is an extremely rich source of antioxidants, nutrients, minerals and fiber that can benefit your body in numerous ways. The papain enzyme is what is used to treat various sports injuries, allergies, and other sources of trauma. Papain is also used in some chewing gums and is sometimes extracted to make a papaya supplement. This is because it is well known for treatment and prevention of heart disease, especially in the case of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C, E and beta-carotene which are three very powerful antioxidants that work well together to keep your body running smoothly and giving you an overall wellbeing that you may not have had previously. Together the nutrients in papaya supplements help to prevent the oxidation of the cholesterol which means that it makes it harder for it to stick and build up on the blood vessel and artery walls. This can help with the prevention of dangerous plaque that can cause a heart attack or stroke. Since papaya supplements also have fiber in it, it can work to lower the overall cholesterol levels as well. Papayas also contain folic acid which helps convert homocystein into the amino acids that you need to stop heart attacks as well. Lastly, studies are being conducted now to see if papaya supplements may work to help prevent cancer. In particular, papayas are thought to reduce the risk of colon cancer because it helps protect the colon cells from free radical damage.