Grandma Knew Best: Rediscovering the Wisdom of Papaya Seeds
As a little girl growing up in Grenada, I remember my grandmother cutting open a ripe papaya from the garden—its golden-orange flesh glistening in the sunlight. She’d scoop out the seeds and, without fail, hand them to us to eat. I’ll be honest—I didn’t like them one bit. They were peppery, slightly bitter, and far from the sweet, juicy treat I had hoped for.
But now, as a woman who has journeyed through breast cancer and embraced a life of holistic wellness, I find myself reaching for those very seeds with deep reverence and gratitude. Isn’t it funny how life circles back to the wisdom we once resisted?
From Backyard Fruit to Healing Food
Growing up in Grenada, we were blessed to pick fresh fruit from our back gardens. Papaya—or “pawpaw”, as we often called it—was a staple. We used every part of it: the sweet flesh, the bitter seeds, and yes—even the skin, although I’m still unsure what benefit we got from that! But there was something powerful about it. Nature nourished us, even when we didn’t understand the science behind it.
Now I see it. My grandmother wasn’t just giving us fruit. She gave us prevention, protection, and a gentle push toward resilience.
What I’ve Learned About Papaya Seeds Today
Fast-forward to today, and I’ve discovered what those peppery seeds were doing for my body all along:
- They support digestion with enzymes like papain.
- They help eliminate parasites naturally, especially valuable in tropical climates.
- They detox the liver and are rich in antioxidants.
- They reduce inflammation and help the body rebalance.
- Some even say they have anticancer properties—a thought that humbles me deeply, considering my health journey.
Those seeds I once spat out now sit in a jar in my kitchen, dried and ready to be ground into smoothies, sprinkled on salads, or used as a natural health tonic. My gran was onto something long before Google caught up.
A Return to Wholeness
In many ways, my journey with breast cancer led me back to the soil, the sun, and the seeds of my childhood. It brought me back to my roots—not just the land I come from, but the ancestral wisdom that has always lived in me.
Today, I don’t just eat papaya. I honour it.
I bless the fruit.
I bless the hands that taught me to love it.
I bless the woman I’ve become—more mindful, more resilient, and more connected to the healing power of food.
Let’s Not Forget Our Roots
Sometimes, the very things we resist in childhood become the pillars of our strength in adulthood. My grandmother didn’t have a degree in nutrition, but she had a deep, intuitive knowing that came from generations of women before her.
To every woman reading this: what wisdom from your past might you be ready to reclaim
Call to Action:
If you’re ready to start nourishing your body from the inside out, I invite you to add dried papaya seeds to your wellness routine. Want a simple recipe to begin with? Download my free Papaya Seed Smoothie Recipe Card and start your day with purpose.
Together, let’s heal naturally—one seed at a time.