Here are a few of the health benefits of okra: Okra is a nutrient-rich vegetable high in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Okra can also be battered and fried or roasted and eaten as a healthy snack. It is used in stews and soups as a thickener. Okra can be eaten fresh, cooked, or pickled in different recipes. In the United States, it is most commonly associated with Southern cooking. It is popular in African, Caribbean, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Okra is a warm-weather crop cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The fruit is a green, oblong pod that contains tiny, white seeds. The plant grows up to six feet tall and produces yellow or white flowers. It is also called a lady’s fingers or gumbo. The scientific name for okra is Abelmoschus esculentus. Okra is a Native African flowering plant. In this blog post, you will learn about the health benefits of pickled okras and the different ways to enjoy this delicious vegetable! What Is Okra? Okra has a lot of health benefits, including being high in fiber and antioxidants. It is made by pickling fresh okra pods in vinegar or brine. For example, pickled okra is a vegetable often used in Southern cuisine. North Carolina Cooperative Extension: "Food of the Month - Okra."Īsian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine: "Therapeutic effect of okra extract on gestational diabetes mellitus rats induced by streptozotocin.Many people want to know about the health benefits of pickled foods like okra, but not many know where to find the answer. Department of Agriculture Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (via ): "Okra."Īrizona Department of Health Services: Arizona Health Zone: "Sauteed Okra with Onions and Tomatoes," "Lite Fried Okra." Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Micronutrient Information Center: "Fiber." National Institute on Aging: "Important Nutrients to Know: Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Fats."
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine: "Dietary Fiber Intake and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses."Ĭell Journal: "Okra (Abelmoscus esculentus) Improved Islets Structure, and Down-Regulated PPARs Gene Expression in Pancreas of High-Fat Diet and Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats." Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies: "A review on: Diabetes and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)." Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences: "The Effect of Abelmoschus Esculentus on Blood Levels of Glucose in Diabetes Mellitus."ĬDC: "National Diabetes Statistics Report," "Diabetes Meal Planning," "What is Diabetes," "Type 2 Diabetes." UMass Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment: "Okra: Abelmoschus esculentus."įlorida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: "Okra." Adding vinegar or other acidic ingredients ( tomatoes, for example), can help, too. That stickiness can be a turnoff, though some can't get past the idea that okra is "slimy." Quick-cooking or dry-cooking can get rid of that. It's key for thickening soups, gumbos, and stews. When you cut it, okra releases a sticky substance.
#Health benefits of okra free
When you head out to pick up some fresh okra, look for bright green fruit pods that are less than 4 inches long, free from bruising, and firm to the touch. Talk to your doctor before making any big changes to what you eat. Too much too quickly can lead to things like gas, bloating, and belly cramping. If you decide you need more fiber, raise the amount you get slowly. It's better to get your fiber through food, rather than supplements. The fiber in the fruit of okra - the green, seedy part of the plant - lowers blood sugar by slowing down the absorption of sugar from your intestines. But perhaps its biggest benefit, especially for people who have diabetes, is its high amount of fiber. It's also loaded with vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc. Okra is low in calories, with almost no fat.
How Okra HelpsĬontrolling diabetes is all about watching the level of sugar in your blood. If you or a loved one has it, it's worth asking your doctor, a dietitian, or a diabetes educator if there's a place in your diet for okra. Several studies say that it can help lower blood sugar, which makes it another possible tool for those with diabetes. It finds a home in soups like gumbos, or fried - with flour, cornmeal, and maybe a little bacon grease - as a side dish. with the slave trade in the 1700s and became a mainstay of Creole and Cajun cuisines. This flowering warm-season plant arrived in the U.S. In parts of the Southern United States, okra is a food staple, like pizza in New York City or beef brisket in Texas.
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