I'm in the mood for...

                                                                                                                                        Mood:Fruity

Fruit..
I'm on a mission today, I want to eat a huge bowl of Fruit Salad..
I also want a Papaya Milkshake.
Being a woman of limited means, I must make everything from scratch. So today I've combed my neighborhood for the ingredients..Come take a walk with me again my lovelies, let's get started on this hot Summer Day in Miami..

First Stop the Bakery for a Cuban Coffee or "Colada." Gonna need all the energy I can get. Coladas are like espressos x1000..

Gran Paris Bakery

Colada

A pastelitos for my daughter Lil Miss B.



After the sugary rush, I'm off in search of the best fruit around..Burnt Calories Aaaawaaaaay!

Little Havana is a small place so you run into ppl you know..
"Anita"

Quick shortcut through the Famous Domino Park..

I've located fresh fruit, now to see what's good here..

I get what I can and keep moving along...

Off to Pinero's my favorite fruit stand.

Now to pay a visit to some of the known vendors, or "Vianderos." They sell fruits and vegetables out the back of their vehicles.

My neighbor, her stand is right across the street from my building, looks like I didn't have to go far for the best Fruit after all..



I've been up and down today, and now I'm ready, plenty of fruit for my Salad, my daughter is super excited at the thought of helping me..

Finally after much toil, the finished product is made, it's healthy and good for you and I don't care how many calories, I want to eat today and I won't feel guilty or mad because of it.

I've also made a Papaya Milkshake.

              

Cuban Papaya Milkshake recipe - Batido de Papaya

1 papaya, seeded and cubed
2 tablespoons sugar or honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
juice from 1 lime
½ cup cold milk (you can also substitute yogurt)
2/3 cup crushed ice

Puree in all ingredients in in a blender until smooth and frosty.


Serves about four.

Calories	Fat	Carbs	Protein	Sodium
125	1.6g	23.8g	6.0g	66mg

The Papaya Fruit is actually very good for you, and I think I will incorporate this more into my diet, my Shrink recommended it to me as one of the very colorful side effects of Wellbutrin is constipation..

Papaya is most famous for its enzymes. Papaya health benefits are primarily obtained from papain, which is a cysteine protease enzyme, which provides the digestive tract with very important health benefits. It is considered as the best remedy for many digestive disorders like bloating, abdominal pain or abdominal cramps and is excellent for improving poor digestion. The fiber found in papaya may also help with the symptoms of those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.

Prevent Cancer

One of the positive aspects of consuming papaya is that it helps to prevent cancer. Papaya is a rich source of antioxidants that the body needs to fight against cancer-causing cells. Vitamin C, E, and beta-carotenes are antioxidants that prevent all kinds of cancers.

Lower Cholesterol

Hardened cholesterol is the main cause for plaque buildup in the arteries. The antioxidants in papaya prevent cholesterol from becoming oxidized and, therefore, also from becoming stuck in the arteries.

Maintain Alkaline State

Papaya enzyme papain helps the body maintain an alkaline state to keep up a healthy functioning body. The body’s alkalinity is directly responsible for an excellent immune system, for having strong bones and muscles, for not being prone to skin irritations and allergies, for being able to cope faster when virus, bacteria and microbes invade our body.

Regulate Blood Pressure

Eating fresh papaya regularly is a natural medicine for regulating blood pressure. It is high in potassium, and potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, and helps control heart rate and blood pressure countering effects of sodium.

Lower Blood Sugar

Papaya enzymes help to lower blood sugar levels, thereby providing a steady supply of glucose and energy to the body throughout the day. The antioxidant property of papaya protects against free radicals, which are largely responsible for diseases like blood sugar.

Reduce Inflammation

Some papaya enzymes have potent anti-inflammatory qualities, including the enzymes chymopapain ad papain, and they have been proven in various situations to reduce inflammation and to support the healing of tissue, particularly in the case of burns. In addition, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya, including vitamin C, vitamins E and beta-carotene are also very good at reducing inflammation.

Increase Male Fertility

Papaya also contains the enzymes arginine, which is beneficial for male fertility. Arginine increases the blood flow around penis thus increasing nitric acid in the body and it is thus used to treat erectile dysfunction.

Regularize Menstrual Cycle

Consumption of unripe papaya juice helps to get relief from irregular periods. The muscle fibers of the womb are stimulated by unripe papaya juice, resulting in regular menstrual flow.

Improve Eye Health

Papaya is an excellent source of vitamin A, which plays a part in eye health. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucous membranes and skin.

Promote Skin Health

Using papaya can be a natural way to maintain a healthy skin tone as it contains restorative enzymes and the natural softening-agent papain, which helps maintain supple, healthy-looking skin.

Papaya, a great fruit with amazing qualities and rich nutrients is one of the best slices of health you can take. Adding more papaya to your diet will improve your overall health.