The lady finger or the okra as we commonly know is one of the usually consumed and grown in almost all the corners of the globe. This nutritious vegetable is popular for its high content of insoluble and soluble fiber. Okra, being a fiber-rich vegetable is commonly used in many recipes. Furthermore, it is also a part of various nutritional diets because it gives a lot of benefits. The health benefits of okra are wide-ranging and are not only for a certain part of the body but for the overall health as well. If you want to know more about this amazing vegetable, continue reading on to this article.
What is Okra?
Ladyfingers or okra is actually a green plant that is flowering. The plant actually belongs to the family that is the same as the cotton and hibiscus. The terminology, okra mostly refers to the edible seapods of it.
The okra actually belongs to the mallow family and is widely cultivated in warm and temperate climates. Since it is a vegetable, okra contains numerous vitamins and minerals which are all good for the body.
It has long been preferred as a food for those who are health conscious. The okra has vitamin C, vitamin B, potassium, calcium, and folic acid content. Furthermore, it is also low in calories and is high in dietary fiber. In recent times, they have considered that there is a new benefit of including okra in the diet. Moreover, okra is also suggested to be beneficial in gestational diabetes and in managing the blood sugar level in cases of types 1 and 2 diabetes.
Nutritional Value of Okra
A hundred grams of okra actually contains 1.5 percent of energy coming from its calorie content. Furthermore, it also has 2 grams of protein, 7.03 grams of carbohydrates, 9 percent of fiber, and 0.1 grams of fat. The fiber content of okra can already give a lot of good benefits to the body.
Some other nutrients in the okra are 88 milligrams of folate, 21.1 milligrams of vitamin C, 53 milligrams of vitamin K, 1 milligram of niacin, and 0.36 milligram of vitamin E. Other than those, the vegetable also has 81 milligrams of calcium, 0.094 milligrams of copper, 0.8 milligrams of iron, 0.99 milligrams of manganese, 0.6 milligrams of zinc, 63 milligrams of phosphorus, and 57 milligrams of magnesium.
Health Benefits of Okra
The following are some of the most amazing health benefits of okra:
Prevents kidney diseases. Regular consumption of okra is beneficial in inhibiting the occurrence of any kidney diseases.
Controls the cholesterol level. The okra inhibits the excessive consumption of cholesterol. Furthermore, it also helps in preventing illnesses like heart diseases and illnesses that occur because of the cholesterol in the blood.
Controls obesity. Regular use or consumption of okra to a great extent can control or avoid obesity.
Prevents colon cancer. They believe that all diseases begin in the colon. If you add okra into your meals, you can prevent colon cancer.
Prevents constipation. Okra helps in ensuring the free motion disposal of the body by facilitating the proper absorption of water. This will then prevent constipation.
Controls asthma. By including okra into the diet regularly, asthma you can treat. Professionals suggest that those who have asthma must consume okra.
Vitamin K. The essential vitamin, vitamin K is actually a co-factor in the process of blood clotting. Moreover, it also plays a role in strengthening the bones in the body.
Ample folate content. The folate content of okra helps in reducing the neural tube defects, especially in a newborn baby. Hence, it is highly preferable for women during pregnancy.
Prevents diabetes. Okra’s soluble fiber content is beneficial in reducing the sugar uptake in the blood. Moreover, it also helps in reducing the blood’s glucose glycemic load. This will otherwise disturb the function of the body to properly process the sugar which may lead to diabetes.
Rich fiber content. The soluble and insoluble dietary fiber content of okra is very rich. This is why it is beneficial in treating some digestive conditions. Furthermore, the fiber contents help in the process of digestion in the body.
Benefits of Drinking Okra Juice
Anyone who is suffering from anemia can acquire the health benefits of okra juice. The juice of the okra helps in producing more red blood cells in the bloodstream, hence, it is beneficial in treating anemia. Furthermore, the juice has many vitamins and minerals which all make the body strong and healthy.
Moreover, the juice of okra is beneficial also in treating various chronic and common illnesses and diseases. Some of these diseases are diabetes, sore throat, diarrhea, cough, constipation, and even asthma attacks. Furthermore, the okra juice also helps in strengthening the bones, improves the health of the skin, improves the immunity, and even lowers the level of cholesterol in the body.
So, what are you waiting for? If you want to acquire the amazing health benefits of okra, eat or drink of it now!
