Okra contains very low amounts of fats, and very good amounts of many essential vitamins and minerals.
Okra, also known as lady finger or gumbo, dates back to antiquity. It’s a highly nutritious tiny vegetable which has numerous beneficial effects on the human body. Consuming okra on the regular basis can greatly improve your health as well as your overall well-being.The plant is cultivated through the tropical and warm temperate regions all over the world for its fibrous fruits or “pods.” It grows very best in well-drained and manure rich soil. The plant bears numerous dark green colored pods measuring about 5-15 cm long. It takes about 45-60 days to get ready-to-harvest fruits.
Okra usually make reference to the green seedpod of the okra plant which has multiple common name for example lady’s finger, bindi, gumbo or bamia. While most people know it through the name okra. It grows in warm areas however, many Northern gardeners now have okra plants because it only requires about 2 to 3 months for production of the pods utilized in cooking.
As part of a well balanced diet, okra is a good food choice like a vegetable. It provides a nutritious alternative to most from the vegetables normally served. The low calorie count of okra causes it to be a logical choice in weight control along with other special diets. Its rich fiber content also helps with digestion by aiding smooth peristalsis and eliminating constipation.
Nutrition Facts
The primary health benefit of Okra is its high fiber content, it assistance to stabilize our blood sugar and lower the cholesterol degree of our body, hence reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It’s also one of the best foods for weight loss program.Another important health advantages of Okra is that it demonstrates a bulking effect within our large intestine and together with the mucilaginous juice it secretes during cooking, thereby is good in preventing or relieving constipation.
Okra Health benefits
The Okra is really a tropical plant that cultivated and grew well within the warm and tropical region. It may grow to about 5 ft . tall and usually takes about 50 to Two months to produce flower after germination. The yellow flower then become dark green slender seedpods with soft white seed clustered within the pods. The pods can be harvested inside a week time after the petals and leaves have fallen.- The fiber content of okra has numerous beneficial qualities, it helps in maintaining the health from the gastrointestinal tract.
- Okra helps to reabsorb water and traps excess cholesterol, metabolic toxins and excess bile in the mucilage and slips it out through stool. Due to the greater percentage of water in the bulk, it prevents constipation, gas and bloating stomach problems.
- This can be a very good vegetable for weight loss, because it is a storehouse of health benefits, provided it’s cooked on low flame, so the okra nutrients are retained. This way the invaluable mucilage from okra, is not lost due to high temperature.
- To add volume and bounce for your hair, you can use this hair care tip. Boil horizontally sliced okra, up until the brew becomes slimy. Then allow it to cool, add few drops of lemon into it and use it as a last rinse. This can bring bounce and volume for your hair.
- The mucilage and fiber present in okra, works well for maintaining blood sugar levels and regulating their absorption in small intestine.
- Okra facilitates in propagation of good bacteria referred to as probiotics. These bacteria are similar to the ones proliferated by yogurt within the small intestine, and helps in biosynthesis of vitamin B complex.
- Okra works well for preventing zits, and maintain a smooth clear complexion.
- Protein and oil based in the seeds of okra serves as a good supply of high quality vegetable protein. It’s rich in amino acids like tryptophan, cystine along with other sulfur amino acids.
- Okra is a very good laxative, because it helps in treating irritable bowels, healing ulcers and soothing the gastrointestinal track.
- Okra is good for summer heat and sun stroke treatment.
- Okra is good for atherosclerosis , and it is good for asthma.
- It can help in protection against diabetes.