Okra/okro

Do you know???

Okra/okro Sometimes called “lady’s finger,” okra is a flowering plant with edible seed pods. It grows best in warm climates and is often cultivated in Africa and South Asia.

Though technically a fruit, okra often gets used like a vegetable in cooking. You might be familiar with okra as an ingredient in gumbo, for example. Though not necessarily a household name in healthy foods, okra still has plenty of nutritional value. 

Benefits of okra/okro

1.Cures Ulcers

Okra speeds up the healing of peptic ulcers as it contains mucilage, a sticky-gluey substance in the okra that neutralizes acids in the stomach and forms a temporary protective coating for the digestive tract.  

2. Genital Disorder Treatment

Okra aids in treating many genital disorders like syphilis, gonorrhea, leucorrhoea, dysuria, and excessive menstrual bleeding.

3. Rich In Protein

Okra seeds are an excellent source of vegetable protein, oils, and essential amino acids like tryptophan and Cystine. 

Our body converts L-tryptophan to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps control mood and sleep. 

4.Good For Skin

Okra is a natural skin cleanser that keeps toxins and impurities out of the skin pores and minimizes the risk of several skin problems like acne, pimples, and psoriasis.

Dietary fibers in okra eliminate toxins, pollutants, and other unwanted substances from our bodies.

When there are fewer toxins in the body, they are less likely to accumulate in our skin pores and this minimizes the risk of skin problems like acne, pimples, and psoriasis, etc.

Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols protect our skin cells from free radical damage and keep various signs of premature aging like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, dark spots, and skin blemishes, etc at bay.

Vitamin C enhances the production of collagen, an essential amino acid that maintains skin elasticity and minimizes wrinkles and saggy skin. 

Other nutrients like zinc, selenium, potassium, and magnesium, etc in okra also provide nourishment to the skin and keep it healthy.Better Digestive System

The laxative properties of the dietary fibers in okra improve bowel movement, helps in stool elimination, and thus relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating, flatulence and indigestion, etc. 

The slimy substance called mucilage in okra improves our digestive health.

Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols in okra protect our digestive system from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, abdominal cancer, pancreatic cancer, abdominal cancer, and intestinal cancer, etc.

5.Prevents Diabetes

With a low glycemic index of 20, okra slows down the rate at which sugar is released into the bloodstream, prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar level, and thus aids in managing diabetes.

Dietary fibers t slow down sugar absorption by the bloodstream and manage blood sugar levels. 

Even with this benefit, consume okra in moderation as excessive consumption may increase the risk of hypoglycemia with symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, shaking, hunger, fast heartbeat, confusion, and irritability.

If you are already on diabetes medication, then consult your doctor before adding okra to your diet to avoid the risk of food-drug intolerance. Improves Cardiovascular Health

Essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the okra improve our cardiovascular system.

Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols protect our cardiovascular system from free radical damage.

Pectin, a soluble fiber in okra minimizes LDL cholesterol and prevents atherosclerosis which is a leading cause of cardiovascular issues.

It also contains potassium that provides relief from hypertension and minimizes the risk of several cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, and, irregular heartbeat, etc. Good For Brain

Okra is good for the brain and improves our neurological health.

It contains vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols that protect our brain cells aka neurons from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of various neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and amnesia, etc.

Other nutrients like zinc, iron, potassium, and magnesium in okra improve nerve functioning and provide cognitive benefits like a sharper memory, better focus, improved concentration, reduced confusion, etc.

6. Beneficial During Pregnancy

Okra contains essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and dietary fibers, etc.

These compounds play an important role during pregnancy. 

Antioxidants in okra like vitamin C and vitamin A protect the uterus from free radical damage.

It also contains folate, an essential amino acid that aids in the brain development of the baby and minimizes the risk of spina bifida, neural tube defect, congenital disabilities of the brain, spine, or spinal cord.

Dietary fibers reduce LDL cholesterol and manage cholesterol during pregnancy.

As it has a low glycemic index of 20, it regulates blood sugar and minimizes the risk of gestational diabetes. 

Other nutrients like iron, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins, etc in okra also play a significant role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

However, to be on the safe side, it is advised to consult your doctor before adding okra to your diet. 

If you are on any prescription drug, ensure that there is no food-drug interference. 

7.Helps In Blood Clotting

Vitamin K, an essential mineral present in the okra helps with blood clotting and aids in the quick healing of cuts and wounds.

risk of several cardiovascular problems like heart attack, heart stroke, and, irregular heartbeat, wound etc

8.Better Digestive System

The laxative properties of the dietary fibers in okra improve bowel movement, helps in stool elimination, and thus relieve constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating, flatulence and indigestion, etc. 

The slimy substance called mucilage in okra improves our digestive health.

Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols in okra protect our digestive system from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, abdominal cancer, pancreatic cancer, abdominal cancer, and intestinal cancer, etc.

9.Prevents Diabetes

With a low glycemic index of 20, okra slows down the rate at which sugar is released into the bloodstream, prevents a sudden spike in blood sugar level, and thus aids in managing diabetes.

Dietary fibers t slow down sugar absorption by the bloodstream and manage blood sugar levels. 

Even with this benefit, consume okra in moderation as excessive consumption may increase the risk of hypoglycemia with symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, shaking, hunger, fast heartbeat, confusion, and irritability.

If you are already on diabetes medication, then consult your doctor before adding okra to your diet to avoid the risk of food-drug intolerance. 

10.Promotes Weight Loss

Okra has a low calorific value of 30 calories per 100 grams and promotes weight loss.

Dietary fibers in okra provide stomach satiety and control overeating, a major cause of obesity.

11.Good For Eyes

Okra is beneficial for our ocular health.

Antioxidants and relevant compounds such as vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carotene, phytonutrients, and polyphenols protect our eyes from free radical damage and minimizes the risk of age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and glaucoma, etc.

Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A which is an essential nutrient for the eyes as it improves vision prevents eye dryness and reduces the risk of night-blindness.