Q My girlfriend eats papaya almost every day and I notice her skin has become yellow. Is there anything she can do?

A Papaya is rich in beta-carotene, a type of vitamin A that is generally safe even when consumed in large amounts. This is because the body automatically slows down absorption of beta-carotene when its stores are full. Frequent consumption of foods high in beta-carotene such as papaya, tomato juice or carrot juice leads to a condition known as hypercarotenaemia, where beta-carotene levels become high enough to colour body fat, including those just beneath the skin. This causes the skin to appear yellow.

This is not dangerous to health, and when intake of high beta-carotene foods decreases, the skin returns to its normal colour.