The okra plant is the most common edible pod-like flowering plant in South Asia. This plant is also common among Africans, especially in Nigeria, and it is used to prepare “okra soup” or “soup soup”. Because of its physical architecture, it is sometimes called “the wife’s finger”.
However, okra is sometimes marked as a fruit, but from a cooking point of view it is just a vegetable, as it can be used to prepare soups like “soup soup”. Okra has become a household name in the culinary world.
Although it can be used to make certain delicious dishes, it also provides us with benefits and nutritional value that the body needs to run and develop.
We will share useful tips about okra and the nutritional value and benefits you get from it by adding it to your diet.
4 health benefits of okra plant
Okra is a very healthy vegetable because it has few calories but is rich in nutrients.
Also, you should know that okra contains vitamin C, an essential vitamin that helps support your immune system.
It also contains vitamin K, which helps your body with blood. Here are some of the benefits of okra that you may not know.
1. Cure cancer
Okra contains the best amount of antioxidants. These antioxidants are very important because they help your body fight free radicals that may damage cells.
These free genes are known to cause oxidative damage in the body, which can lead to cancer. However, okra contains very important antioxidants called polyphenols.
Like vitamins A and C, polyphenols are very important because they also contain a protein called lectin, which helps inhibit the growth of cancer cells in the body.
Studies on okra have also been shown that the compounds contained in them inhibited 63% of cancer cell growth in some patients.
Although further testing and research are still needed to quantify the assertion that okra is a “cancer block” property.
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2. Supports heart and brain health
Antioxidants called polyphenols in okra have also been shown to help reduce the risk of heart problems, help prevent blood clots, and greatly reduce the presence of free radicals in the body. These antioxidants can help reduce brain inflammation.
You should also know that thick gel-like substances found in okra called mucus can greatly help lower blood cholesterol levels in the body.
3. Control blood sugar
Okra also contains compounds that can help control blood sugar levels. According to researchers, okra prevents your body from absorbing sugar during digestion.
Although, more concise evidence is still needed to confirm that okra helps control blood sugar levels in humans.
4. Prenatal support
Based on our research, we found that a cup of okra is said to contain 15% of the daily value of folic acid, a very useful nutrient that is crucial to our body and health, which is very helpful for pregnant women.
However, folic acid helps reduce neural tube defects that affect the brain and spine of a developing fetus.
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Nutritional value of okra plants
Okra, including fried okra, is very rich, minerals and vitamins are very important, and is very important for the proper growth and development of the body.
It contains vitamins A and C, which will help reduce the risk of severe health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
Here are the nutrients and minerals contained in okra;
magnesium
Folic acid
Vitamin A.
Vitamin C
Vitamin K.
Vitamin B6
Nutrition per serving
A cup of cooked okra slices contain;
Calories: 35
Protein: 3 grams
Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 7g
Fiber: 4 grams
Sugar: 4 grams
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Important tips to consider
You should note that people with diabetes should be very careful when preparing okra to add it to the okra soup.
Although from the benefits of okra mentioned above, we must know that it can control your blood sugar, it can also interfere with metformin, which is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes. But for people, adding okra to their diet may help reduce the risk of diabetes for non-diabetics.
How to prepare okra at home
Okra has many uses because it can be used to treat certain diseases. But it is mainly used to make okra stews and okra soup.
It is usually prepared in Nigeria for “soup soup” and can be eaten with FUFU, SEMO, YAM and GARRI (EBA).
Recall that when heated, the gel-like substance of okra is called mucus membranes that may have a gelatinous or viscous texture. There are benefits, but when cooking, you can remove this fudge or sticky texture by cooking the okra in a pot with high heat.
You can also marinate okra to reduce the gum flavor. So you can benefit from everything mentioned in okra by adding it to your diet or using it for soups and stews.
Here are some healthy okra recipes.
1. Bake healthy snacks in the oven.
2. Cook okra in tomato sauce and serve on pasta.
3. Grill the charred okra until slightly burnt.
4. Stir okra with garlic.
5. Add the okra to the vegetables and stir-fry.
6. Make pilaf with okra and quinoa.
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