Okra
Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Cures for Diseases, Ailments & Illnesses that afflict Humans and Animals
Aloe Vera •
Astragalus •
Bankoro •
Bilberry •
Bitter Gourd (Ampalaya) •
Bitter Orange •
Black Cohosh •
Cat's Claw •
Chamomile •
Chasteberry •
Coconut •
Cranberry •
Dandelion •
Echinacea •
Ephedra •
European Elder Tree •
Evening Primrose •
Fenugreek •
Feverfew •
Flaxseed •
Garlic •
Ginger •
Ginkgo •
Ginseng (Asian) •
Golden Seal •
Grape Seed •
Green Tea •
Hawthorn •
Hoodia •
Horse Chestnut •
Kava •
Lavender •
Licorice •
Malunggay Moringa Oleifera •
Milk Thistle •
Mistletoe •
Passion Flower •
Peppermint Oil •
Red Clover •
Ringworm Bush (Akapulko) – Cassia alata •
Saw Palmetto •
St. John's Wort •
Tawa Tawa •
Turmeric •
Valerian •
Yohimbe •
accept the bitter to get better
Health Benefits of Okra
- Stabilizes blood sugar.
- Prevents constipation and improves bowel movement.
- Acts as lubricant for the large intestine.
- Neutralizes acids
- Helps prevent diabetes
- Fruits and leaves can be used to treat urinary problems.
News About Okra
What Is Okra (Lady's Finger) And 6 Benefits Of Adding The Medicinal Vegetable To Your Diet
- By Lizette Borreli
The beginning of September signals that fall is on its way, along with leaves, and... okra? The exotic medicinal and culinary vegetable (available year-round), is best to get in early fall when crops in Southern states reach their peak. Typically, okra is used as a thickening agent in soups like gumbo because of its ooey-gooey texture, but it can double as a nutritional powerhouse filled with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that provide an array of health benefits from treating diabetes to preventing kidney disease.
A single cup of raw okra has a little over 30 calories, about 3 grams of dietary fiber, 2 grams of protein, 7.6 grams carbohydrates, 0.1 grams of fat, 21 milligrams of vitamin C, around 88 micrograms of folate, and 57 milligrams of magnesium. This makes okra a nutrition hero and a very available food when it comes to our health.
Whether you consume okra stewed, boiled, fried, or even in pickled form, you can reap the health benefits of this little green vegetable any time of the year. Here's how:
- Alleviates Asthma
Consuming even small amounts of fruits or vegetables rich in vitamin C, like okra (21 milligrams per cup), can alleviate asthma symptoms. A 2000 study published in the journal Thorax found the intake of citrus or kiwi fruits conferred a highly protective effect against wheezing symptoms in childhood. The protective effect was seen even among children who ate fruit only one to two times per week. The researchers found this to be especially true among already susceptible patients.
- Lowers Cholesterol
Okra not only promotes good digestive health, but also good cholesterol levels due to its high fiber content. Soluble fiber can be dissolved in water, which means that it breaks down in the digestive tract. There, it also binds to cholesterol in other foods so that it can be excreted along with other wastes. In turn, total cholesterol levels plummet, according to the Harvard Health Publications. Okra also helps to lower cholesterol by replacing all the foods you eat with high fat and cholesterol levels — okra contains no cholesterol and very little fat.
- Manages Diabetes
Soluble fiber can help diabetics because of its ability to keep blood glucose levels stable — it affects how sugar is absorbed in the intestines. In a 2011 study published in the journal ISRN Pharmaceutics, researchers soaked sliced okra pods in water and then gave rats the solution through a gastric feeding tube — a control group wasn't fed this solution. The researchers found okra helped reduce the absorption rate of glucose and in turn reduced blood sugar levels in the treated rats.
- Boosts Immune System
Okra’s rich vitamin C content and antioxidant components also double as decent immune boosters against unsafe free radicals, while also supporting the immune system. Vitamin C stimulates the immune system to create more white blood cells, which can help battle other foreign pathogens and materials in the body.
- Prevents Kidney Disease
Regularly eating okra can be helpful for preventing kidney disease. A 2005 study published in the Jilin Medical Journal found patients who ate okra daily reduced clinical signs of kidney damage more than those who were on a diabetic diet. This is helpful since nearly half of kidney disease cases develop from diabetes.
- Promotes Healthy Pregnancy
Okra’s high levels of vitamin A, B vitamins (B1, B2, B6), and vitamin C, and traces of zinc and calcium, make it an ideal vegetable to eat during pregnancy. Okra also serves as a supplement for fiber and folic acid. This helps prevent birth defects like spina bifida and can even stop constipation during pregnancy.
Nutritionist Urges Diabetic Patients To Consume More Okra
- By Genevieve Aningo
Miss Yemisi Olowookere, a Nutritionist with Garki Hospital, Abuja, has advised Nigerians to cultivate the habit of consuming okro as the eugenol in okra helps fight diabetes.
According to her, the okro is one of the best vegetable sources of dietary fibre essential for the digestive system, the fibre also helps stabilise blood sugar level by delaying sugar absorption from the intestines. “Dietary fibres in okro help prevent and relieve constipation. The soluble fibre in okra absorbs water and adds bulk to the stool thus preventing constipation.
“Being a vegetable, it is obvious that okro is healthy and should be included in one’s menu,’’ she said. Olowookere said okro was good to improve colon health by allowing the organ to work at a higher rate of efficiency and reduce the risk of colon cancer. She said the iron content of okra forms haemoglobin in the blood and prevents anaemia, saying that vitamin K helps in blood coagulation. Olowookere said the dietary fibres contained in this vegetable helps people who are on weight loss programs, adding that okro has a very low caloric value so it is a great addition when losing weight. “The soluble fibre in okra helps to lower serum cholesterol and thus reduces the risk of heart disease. Eating okra is an effective way to control the body’s cholesterol level. “Okra is also high in pectin that helps in lowering high blood cholesterol by altering the production of bile in the intestines,’’ she said. Olowookere said okra can help improve healthy hair and reduces dandruff. She said the high Vitamin C content in okro helps fight cold and cough by encouraging a healthy immune system.
“The Vitamin C and many essential minerals like magnesium, manganese, calcium and iron in okra also fight against harmful free radicals and therefore promote an overall healthy immune system. “Vitamin A and beta carotene found in okro are essential nutrients for maintaining good eyesight. “The essential nutrients also help prevent eye related diseases such as cataracts. The Vitamin A promotes good eye health and protects against age related eye disorders,’’ Olowookere said. She said the high amount of folate contained in the okra is beneficial for the foetus during pregnancy, adding that folate is an essential nutrient which improves the development of the foetus’ brain. Olowookere said the high amount of folic acid in okra plays an important role in the neural tube formation of the foetus from the fourth to the twelfth week of pregnancy.