Benefits of Okra

Benefits of Okra

It is essential to incorporate veggies in our nutrition everyday. Nowadays, there are several types of vegetable that it becomes difficult to identify all of them. Most people normally buy the more common veggies like broccoli, potatoes, carrots, and green beans. One popular vegetable known for its health benefits is the lady’s fingers or Okra, and is used in our every day meals to make salads and soups. The benefits of okra are as follows.

1. Help in weight loss

Okra is popular since it is low in calories, making it effective for people who desire to shed a few pounds within the shortest time possible. Okra contains no saturated fats or cholesterol, which are the main components you should avoid with regards to losing weight. On the other hand, okra has high fiber content which help to maintain function of the digestive system.

2. Contains essential vitamins

Okra contains high quantities of vitamin C, B6 and A. Large amounts of zinc, iron, folic acid, calcium, and riboflavin are all present in the vegetable. It is advisable that pregnant women incorporate this veggie into their nutrition since it has high amount of folic acid, which is important for healthy development of the fetus.

3. Absorbs water

The veggies are well- known for being able to retain water, which helps to trap certain toxins, and excess bile. Since Okra is able to retain so much water, consuming this veggie can prevent bloating and gas. Furthermore, it helps to eliminate toxins in the body.

4. Lower cholesterol

The mucilage and fiber that is present in Okra helps maintain sugar levels in the blood. These components also regulate the absorption of food in the small intestine. The veggie has healthy bacteria referred to as probiotics, which help the production of vitamin B complex. On the other hand, it has insoluble fiber that maintains the production of serum cholesterol which greatly reduces the risk of heart attacks.

The main disadvantage of Okra is that it grows through self pollination, a process that is not adaptive to hostile environment, hence vulnerable to pathogen attack.

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