Many foods naturally contain enzymes, which are molecules that speed up chemical reactions. Digestive enzymes, as you may have guessed, support various digestive processes. One food that contains important digestive enzymes is papaya.
A deep yellow, sweet tropical fruit, papaya is rich in papain, which contains the digestive enzyme called protease that helps breakdown protein. If the body is deficient in this enzyme (due to genetics, illness, or food allergy), then protein-rich foods cannot be properly digested; consequently, you may experience indigestion or heartburn. The protease enzymes in papaya (among other tropical fruits), have been shown to help ease symptoms associated with an upset stomach and heartburn.
To reap the benefits of the enzymes in these foods, eat them raw at their peak freshness and chew mindfully as saliva activates many enzymes. If you are taking papaya as a digestive enzyme supplement, check with your holistic health practitioner about taking it individually or in combination with other enzymes as this can make a significant difference in effectiveness for your health concerns.
References
Rathnavelu, Vidhya et al. "Potential Role of Bromelain in Clinical and Therapeutic Applications." Biomedical Reports 5.3 (2016): 283–288. PMC. Accessed 8 Aug 2019: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4998156/
WorldsHealthiestFoods.com "Papya." http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=47
Muss, C., Modgoelier, W., Enler, T. "Papaya Preparation in Digestive Disorders." Nuero Endocrinol Lett. (2013) 34:1, 38-46. PMID: 23524622: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23524622
Rama, R. "12 Foods that contain Natural Digestive Enzymes." Posted 2018, May 15 at Healthline.com. Accessed 8 Aug. 2019: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/natural-digestive-enzymes