Health Benefits of Okra

However, you can always sauté it on low flame and add your favorite seasonings. Though, this vegetable is sticky, but when it is accompanied with something that is sour, it can become separated nicely and loses its sticky texture. Mostly, tomatoes or lemon juice is added to make okra lose its stickiness.

However, the sticky texture of okra is great for making gumbo, which can be made with your favorite vegetables, seasoned with spices, and added legumes and grains. Okra can be made by sautéing it with canola oil, and seasoning with salt and herbs.

You can also add fresh and sliced okra pods to your salads containing favorite vegetables and dressing of olive oil or fresh lime juice, and add your favorite seasonings.

Listed here is the okra nutritional value for a serving of 100 grams of raw fresh pods of okra. And further mentioned next are the various okra health facts.

Vitamins and their Amount:

• Folates - 88 mcg
• Niacin - 1 mg
• Pantothenic Acid - 0.245 mg
• Pyridoxine - 0.215 mg
• Riboflavin - 0.060 mg
• Thiamin - 0.200 mg
• Vitamin C - 21.1 mg
• Vitamin A - 375 IU
• Vitamin E - 0.36 mg
• Vitamin K - 53 mcg

Nutrients and their Amount:

• Energy - 1.5%
• Carbohydrates - 7.03 g
• Protein - 2 g
• Dietary Fiber - 9%
• Total Fat - 0.1
• Cholesterol - 0 mg

Phyto-nutrients and their Amount:

• Beta Carotene - 225 mcg
• Crypto xanthin Beta - 0 mcg
• Lutein Zeaxanthin - 516 mcg

Here is a list describing the various health benefits that okra offer.

● The fiber content of okra has many beneficial qualities, it helps in maintaining the health of the gastrointestinal tract.

● Okra helps to reabsorb water and traps excess cholesterol, metabolic toxins, and excess bile in its mucilage and slips it out through stool.

Because of the greater percentage of water in the bulk, it prevents constipation, gas and bloating stomach problems.

● This is a very good vegetable for weight loss, as it is a storehouse of health benefits, provided it's cooked on low flame, so that the nutrients are retained. This way the invaluable mucilage obtained from okra, is not lost due to high heat.

● To add volume and bounce to your hair, you can use this hair care tip. Boil horizontally sliced okra, till the brew becomes slimy. Then let it cool, add few drops of lemon to it and use it as a last rinse. This will bring bounce and volume to your hair.

● The mucilage and fiber present in okra, helps in maintaining blood sugar levels and regulating their absorption in small intestine.

● Okra facilitates in propagation of good bacteria known as probiotics. These bacteria are similar to the ones proliferated by yogurt in the small intestine, and helps in biosynthesis of vitamin B complex.

● Okra helps in preventing zits, and maintain a smooth clear complexion.

● Protein and oil found in the seeds of okra serves as a good source of high quality vegetable protein. It is rich in amino acids like tryptophan, cystine, and other sulfur amino acids.

● Okra is a very good laxative, as it helps in treating irritable bowels, healing ulcers and soothing the gastrointestinal track.

● Okra is good for summer heat and sun stroke treatment.

● Okra is good for atherosclerosis , and is good for asthma.

● It can help in prevention of diabetes.

It is important to choose the best quality of okra for cooking, because sometimes buying bad quality of okra can make the food difficult to cook and the dish unpleasant to taste.

• Always go for okra pods which are crispy and immature.
• Go for small pods, as they taste good and are tender.
• Avoid large pods. Also, look for pods which have a deep green color.
• Okra pods which are overripe, have cuts or spots should be avoided.
• You can store okra in refrigerator for 2 days, after that the nutritional value of this vegetable will decrease.

So, choose immature and crispy fresh okra pods for cooking, and eat it regularly to gain all the aforementioned health benefits.