Okra: More than just ‘draw soup’

In her article on the benefits of okra, Rosy Vohra expatiated further. “Besides being low in calories it is aplenty with vitamins of the category A, Thiamin, B6, C, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, zinc and dietary fiber. Other experts define okra as a valuable plant with nutrients, almost half of the soluble fiber in the […]

In her article on the benefits of okra, Rosy Vohra expatiated further. “Besides being low in calories it is aplenty with vitamins of the category A, Thiamin, B6, C, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, zinc and dietary fiber.

Other experts define okra as a valuable plant with nutrients, almost half of the soluble fiber in the form of gums and Pectins. The soluble fiber they say, help to lower serum cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart disease. The other half is insoluble fiber, which helps healthy intestinal tract, reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, especially colon-rectal cancer. Almost 10% of the recommended amount of vitamin B6 and folic acid is also present in half cup of cooked okra.

Food specialist Dr. Sylvia W. Zook, goes on to outline the various benefits of eating okra. Superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilize blood sugar levels as speed limits, which the sugar is absorbed from the intestine.

Okra’s mucilage not only binds cholesterol but bile acids toxins dumped in the implementation of filtering liver.

The okra fiber, absorbing water and ensuring bulk in stools, helps prevent constipation.

Fiber is generally useful, but okra is one of the best, along with ground flax seed and psyllium. Unlike the hard wheat bran, which can irritate or damage the intestinal tract, okra’s mucilage soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably its characteristic slippery scares many people. In other words, this incredibly valuable vegetable not only binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids), which leads to many health problems, if not evacuated, but also allows easy passage of the body.

The vegetable is completely non-toxic, non-habit (except for many who have much food), has no negative side-effects, is full of nutrients, and it is within the reach of most.

Further contributing to the health of the digestive tract, okra fiber (as well as flax and psyllium) has no equal among fibers for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics).

To retain most of okra’s nutrients and self-enzymes, it should be cooked as little as possible, at low temperature or light steamed or eaten raw.

Vohra’s article also states that, eating okra is much recommended for pregnant woman besides other for it is rich in folic acid which is essential in the neural tube formation of the fetus during 4-12 weeks of gestation period in the mother’s womb.

Dermatologists also use the plant as part of beauty and health therapy and state that, okra protects against pimples and maintains smooth and beautiful skin. Cleopatra famous for her beauty therapies is said to have eaten it a lot.

More experts on foodandhealth.com inform that, okra helps lubricate the large intestines due to its bulk laxative qualities. The okra fiber absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools. This helps prevent and improve constipation. 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. Okra binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids). These, if not evacuated, will cause numerous health problems. Okra also assures easy passage out of waste from the body.

Just as there are other medicinal uses of okra, like its protection against trans fats, there are a variety of ways you can eat the veg. You can either: cut it raw and mix with vinegar and pepper; cut it raw and mix with mayonnaise as is the case in some part of Asia; steam, cut, with mayonnaise dressing; or, cook with stew or soup.

In as much as okra is said to be nutritional beneficial and is economically within reach of most individuals unlike some over-the-counter drugs, it is not a complete diet and should be balanced with other healthy foods.