Product Review

Dried papaya spears are made from fresh papaya fruit, which is grown in many tropical areas. The spears are thin strips of fresh papaya that have been heated to remove moisture. This process reduces the weight of the snack and increases its shelf life exponentially. A serving of minced papaya spears goes well in yogurt, over ice cream, in cookie or bread dough, with trail mix or in smoothies. Since the length and weight of papayas vary, use weight, rather than the number of spears, to determine serving size. One serving of dried papaya spears is 1.5 ounces. On average, a healthy adult woman should consume between 22 and 28 grams of dietary fiber per day, and a healthy adult man between 28 and 34. Regular consumption of dietary fiber regulates bowel movements, lowers cholesterol, helps control blood sugar levels and aids in weight loss. One serving of unsweetened dried papaya spears provides around 3 grams of dietary fiber; sweetened dried papaya spears contain the same amount. One serving provides women with 11 percent of their DRI of fiber and men with 9 percent. Vitamins and minerals provide your body with the required nutrients for proper cellular function. The exact vitamin and mineral content of dried papayas is typically unlisted on the nutritional labels. This is because the heating process can damage vitamin content. Papayas contain notable amounts of vitamins C, B, A, E and K, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese and phosphorus.