With age comes many changes in our bodies and one of those changes involves our immune system.

When we were younger, we often could fight off an illness or work through it. I worked as a laborer outside in Arizona when I had pneumonia and 102º fever. I was younger and stronger and a few days later and still working, I overcame the pneumonia. Now that I’m 66, every little illness will hit me hard and I’ll run a 102º to 103º fever for at least 7-10 days and I have no energy to do anything.

I know that my immune system has been greatly compromised and have blamed most of that compromise on the fact that I live in constant fairly intense pain and I don’t sleep well and haven’t for many years. But, now I’m learning that getting older also takes its toll on the immune system.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI):

“The effects of aging on the immune system are manifest at multiple levels that include reduced production of B and T cells in bone marrow and thymus and diminished function of mature lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid tissues. As a result, elderly individuals do not respond to immune challenge as robustly as the young.”

To put it in more laymen terms, as we get older, our bodies produce fewer white blood cells that fight off infections, which means we get sick easier and take longer to recover from many illnesses.

If you do a little research, you’ll find a number of websites that offer ways to help boost the immune system. A summary includes:

• Citrus – lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges, tangerines and clementines.
• Red bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Spinach
• Yogurt
• Almonds
• Turmeric
• Green tea
• Kiwi
• Poultry
• Sunflower seeds
• Shellfish

Green tea, yogurt and red bell peppers are the only things on that list that I don’t like and over the years, spinach doesn’t like me, although I love spinach. I have to be careful with citrus since I’m a type 2 diabetic and almonds as they contain a lot of fat and can cause weight gain.

Papaya has also been touted as a fruit that helps boost the immune system, but there has not been a lot of research to prove it, that is until now.

A study conducted in Sri Lanka may provide that proof:

“…researchers in Sri Lanka conducted a study on the immunomodulatory potential of mature papaya leaf concentrate using mice models.”

“For the study, they orally gave mice the mature papaya leaf concentrate at doses of 0.18, 0.36, and 0.72 milligrams (ml) per 100 grams (g) of body weight once a day for three consecutive days. They then assessed the treatment’s effect on the nonfunctional (enumeration of immune cells and cytokine levels) and functional (cell proliferation and phagocytic activity) immune responses. They also tested whether the oral intake of the mature papaya leaf concentrate was safe.”

“Based on the results, all doses of the papaya leaf concentrate significantly improved the counts of platelets, total leukocytes, lymphocyte and monocyte subpopulations, and bone marrow cells of the mice. These improvements indicated the effectiveness of enhancing the immune system. In addition, the highest dose of the papaya concentrate reduced inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF?), suggesting the anti-inflammatory effects of the treatment.”

“Moreover, the treatment also improved phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages, which suggested a modulation of the functional immunity of mice. It also modulated cytokine responses. The chemical profile of the mature papaya leaf concentrates also the presence of several immunomodulatory compounds.”

Another positive in the study was that there were NO side effects on the liver or kidneys, like there are with some items. There are additional benefits from papaya that includes:

• Papaya aids digestion – Papaya contains papain, an enzyme known to aid digestion by breaking down proteins. It is also rich in fiber and water content. Drinking papaya juice is often recommended as a remedy for digestive problems or constipation.
• Papaya helps prevent heart disease and cancer – The antioxidants, fiber, potassium, and vitamin content in papaya work against free radicals, therefore protecting the body from heart problems and cancer. The seeds of papaya also help detoxify liver and kidneys, fight cancer, and aid in digestion.
• Papaya helps maintain blood sugar and cholesterol levels – Studies have shown that eating raw papaya could help maintain blood sugar and cholesterol levels due to its high fiber content, thus preventing diabetes.
• Papaya supports skin health – Slices of papaya fruit can be used as a natural skin cleanser because of the fruit’s active enzymes that get rid of impurities.
• Papaya helps prevent arthritis – Papaya contains high amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and copper. Eating papaya regularly helps increase the calcium levels in the body, which in the long run, helps prevent arthritis.
• Papaya aids in weight loss – Because papaya is low in calories and rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, it can be a healthy food option for people who are trying to lose weight.

Note the first bullet that deals with digestion. Did you know that once popular meat tenderizers were largely made from papaya?

With all of the many benefits from papaya, including boosting the immune system, you may want to add papaya to your regular diet, I know I’m going to.