Once I started traveling South East Asia in February, I came across an abundance of delicious, weird-looking, color-bursting tropical fruits. Although I love to eat them all just by themselves, now and then it is time for an exotic smoothie. Of course, I didn’t want to miss the chance to introduce some of these tasty and exciting fruits and my resulting smoothie recipes to the foodie community here on Steemit. 

Since July means summer time in the Northern hemisphere and my current destination Malaysia has a lot of ripe fruits to offer in this time of the year, I will use this month to post a new smoothie recipe each week for a „Tropical Tuesday“ series, using some of these tasty tropical fruits I have the pleasure to enjoy. 

The start makes the sweet and creamy papaya, paired up with mango and mint for this recipe. Just throw the following ingredients into your blender. I often use some frozen bananas for my smoothies, since it gives them a much creamier texture:

• 1/2 cup papaya (without the seeds) 
• 1/2 cup mango 
• 2-3 bananas 
• 1/2 cup fresh mint  

Timing is everything - How to choose a ripe papaya 

Papayas are very sensitive to touch, especially when they are fully ripe. Therefore they are often picked when they are still unripe, which makes the transportation much easier for the vendors. Although we love our fruit to take its needed time in the good support of its mother plant, we can totally work with this, since papayas easy reach their mature state on your kitchen counter. Most varieties have a yellow or orange skin if ripe and become softer on the outside. The flesh inside should be really smooth and sweet. 

The power of papaya - Healthy benefits of this orange treat 

Papayas are a true powerhouse and especially known for their effect on your digestion. They go very gentle on the digestive system, help to get rid of toxins and at the same time reduce inflammation. Therefore papayas can be an excellent support in healing digestive conditions such as constipation, acid reflux, bloating but also pancreatitis or irritable bowel syndrome.  

"Papaya is one of the most nutrient dense and healing fruits on the planet." Anthony William, New York Times best-selling author of Medical Medium

They also contain all of the essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as well as protein and essential fatty acids required for rebuilding muscle, tissue, organs and bones. Therefore, if you are recovering from a health condition, papaya is an amazing food to get your strength back and help your body to become active and vibrant again.  

With their anti-viral and anti-inflammatory characteristics, papayas are able to sooth symptoms of joint pain, arthritis, cold and flu and even a range of autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular disease. And if you don't have any specific health issues you are trying to heal, you can still benefit from consuming papaya on a frequent basis, since it enhances the look and condition of your skin, hair and nails.  

Black pearls - Healing properties of papaya seeds 

Although your first instinct would be to throw the black seeds inside of the papaya away, don’t be too quick with your judgement. They are super rich in nutrients and contain numerous vital enzymes that can have many beneficial effects on your health. Especially interesting is their ability to getting rid of parasites and the overall detox effect on your body by helping to free it of any toxins. 

Only a very small portion of them and you can access their powerful support on your healing. Some people enjoy their spicy, peppery flavor in combination with the sweetness of the papaya, just like myself, but others just make a disgusted face and feel like it totally ruins their papaya meal. Since they do taste like pepper, you can also sprinkle them onto your salads or even dry them to use as flavor for future meals.  

While I was living in Germany they did offer imported papaya in a local supermarket, but it really never tasted that good. Once I traveled through Thailand, I finally learned how papaya is actually supposed to taste and immediately fell in love. No matter if you already crazy about this orange beauty or still haven’t had the chance to make a first try, this smoothie is definitely an amazing recipe if you want to transform your papaya into a sweet and still refreshing creation. Welcome to the tropics, my friends!

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Have a wonderful day and a fruitful journey ahead! 

Yours, Anais 

Nomadic adventuress since 2018 | Raw foodie | Health enthusiast | Minimalist | Freedom seeker | Passionate believer in a life full of bliss.

🍓Hungry for some more healthy nuggets? Check out my raw vegan posts:

• Vegan Herby Cream Cheese - Delicious, Healthy and Guilt-Free
• EATING THE RAINBOW - Delicious Red Cabbage Salad with Almond Dressing
• Daily Dose of Green - Moringa-Pear Smoothie
• My 10 Days on Watermelons - How to Regenerate Your Body

🗺 Time for some adventures - follow me around the world:    

• Hidden Treasure in the South of Bali - Melasti Beach
• Tropical Fruit Hunting in Kuala Lumpur - Chow Kit Market
• Hiking Under the Stars - Volcano Sunrise Trek in Bali
• Off the Beaten Path in Hpa-An - Discovering Myanmar's Beauty

🌟Let me inspire you to explore your full potential, with these lifestyle stories:  

• Bowel movement right after your morning coffee? Demasking a hidden constipation
• Travel Hack - How I Stay in Beautiful Homes Around the World FOR FREE
• Free Your Adventurer Within – How to Become a Daily Explorer!
• 6 Reasons why you should start meditating today

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Disclaimer: I am not a registered dietitian, doctor or trained detox expert. My goal is to share my knowledge from conclusive research and personal experiences to inspire you on your own raw adventure. I do not give medical advice and am not liable for any negative consequences you might face by following any information from this post - even if it is too much energy from a newly gained vibrant health and no idea how to deal with it. Always do your individual research when it comes to your precious health, it is absolutely worth the extra effort!