Okra - Nature Cures®

Also known as Abelmoschus esculentus, lady fingers, gumbo.

Okra is a highly nutritious green edible pod vegetable. This perennial flowering plant belongs to the mallow family and the pods are a very low-calorie vegetable providing just 30 calories per 100 g and contain no saturated fats or cholesterol.

Okra is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming, has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically within reach of most individuals unlike over-the-counter drugs.

During World War II, roasted okra seeds were given as a substitute for coffee beans. The benefits have not been studied but they are sure to be better than coffee’s.

The rich fibre and mucilaginous content in okra pods help in smooth peristalsis of digested food particles. It absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools relieving constipation It is also a probiotic food which feeds the good bacteria in the guts.

Okra binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids). These, if not evacuated, will cause numerous health problems. Okra also assures easy passage of waste from the body.

Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra’s mucilage soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic. Because of this, it can also help to relieve irritable bowel syndrome.

Okra has constituents such as polyphenolic molecules that can help reduce blood glucose levels and control diabetes. A 2011 study found okra to have both anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidaemic properties

Regular consumption is good for the vision and lowers the risk of cataracts. It also maintains healthy mucus membranes and skin and can treats acne and other skin disorders.

Okra helps to develop immunity against infectious agents, reducing episodes of cold, coughs, and sore throats and can treat lung inflammation which helps with asthma

It also helps to strengthen the bones and offers protect ion against colon, liver, kidney, lung and oral cavity cancers.

Okra is also the best vegetable to consume regularly for those feeling weak, exhausted and suffering from depression.

How to benefit from okra’s nutrients

Cut the ends off of a few okras and prick them in several places using a fork. Soak the okras in a glass of water overnight. In the morning, remove the okras and save for later use. Then drink the water on an empty stomach. Do this daily for several weeks. Also, include okra as a vegetable in the diet as often as possible.

NOTE: Okra should be consumed with a fat-rich natural food like coconut, nut, seed or olive oil or avocado so that the fat-soluble beta-carotene can be better absorbed by the body.

What are the nutrients in okra?

The pods contain healthy amounts of vitamin A, and flavonoid antioxidants such as beta carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. It is one of the green vegetables with highest levels of these antioxidants.

Fresh pods provide about 22% of RDA vitamin B9 (folate) per 100 g. Consumption of foods rich in foliates, especially during the pre-conception period and during pregnancy, helps decrease the incidence of neural tube defects in the foetus.

The gumbo pods provide about 36% of daily-recommended levels of the antioxidant vitamin C which helps the body develop immunity against infectious agents and protects the body from harmful free radicals.

Okra is rich in the B-complex group of vitamins and vitamin K which is a co-factor for blood clotting enzymes. Vitamin K, along with co-factor vitamin D, is required for the strengthening of bones.

Nutrients are in okra

What health issues are okra pods good for?

NOTE: Okra contains fructans, which is a type of carbohydrate that can cause diarrhoea, gas, cramping, and bloating in people who have an allergy to fructans. Okra should be avoided by people with kidney stones.

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