14 Health Benefits of Okro

Fresh okro

Okro is one of the best medicinal vegetable although it is not everyone’s favorite. The world’s most beautiful women, Cleopatra of Egypt and Yang Guifei of China loved to eat okra according to the history record. This integral member of the cotton family is indigenous to regions around the Nile in North Africa and the Middle East for it was discovered dating as far as 3500 years ago in Ethiopia. Early Egyptians are known to love its taste. Okra later transcended to North America enroute slave trade and then to Europe, Asia and South and Central America.
NUTRIENTS IN OKRA:
Besides being low in calories, it is loaded with vitamins like A, Thiamin, B6, C, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, zinc and dietary fiber. Eating Okro is much recommended for pregnant women besides others. It is rich in folic acid which is essential in the neural tube formation of the fetus during 4-12 weeks of gestation period.
ITS HEALTH BENEFITS INCLUDES:
1. Blood Sugar regulation: The superior mucilaginous fiber in okro makes it stand out amongst other vegetables. This fiber helps regulate sugar by curbing the rate at which sugar is absorbed in the intestinal tract.
2. Cholesterol Control: Okro’s mucilage binds cholesterol, metabolic toxins, and surplus bile in its mucilage and slips it out through the stool. Due to greater percentage of water in the bulk it thereby prevents gas and bloating in the intestine.
3. Vitamin K benefit: Vitamin K is a co-factor in blood-clothing process; It also plays a major role in strengthening the bones in our body.
4. Controls Asthma: Asthma can also be managed by including okra in your meals.
5. Prevents constipation: It facilitates proper absorption of water. Okra ensures free motion disposal by the body and hence prevents constipation

6. Prevents Colon Cancer: It is believed that all diseases begin in the colon. Adding okro to your meals ensures prevention of colon cancer and related diseases to a great extent.
7. Controls obesity: With regular usage of okra, either raw or cooked form, you can avoid obesity to a great extent. Obesity is not necessarily due to consumption of fatty and calorific foods but also due to lack of nutrients.
8. Good bacteria: Okro facilitates the propagation of good bacteria referred to as probiotics. These are similar to the ones proliferate by the yoghurt in the small intestine and helps biosynthesis of Vitamin B complex.
9. Okro is an excellent laxative: Helps treat irritable bowels, heals ulcers, and sooths the gastrointestinal track.
10. Protein and oil: contained in the seeds of okra serves as the source of first-rate vegetable protein. It is enriched with amino acids on the likes of tryptophan, cystine and other sulfur amino acids.
11. Maintains the health of the intestine: This is achieved by the presence of
vitamin K.
12. Improves Sight: This is due to the presence of vitamins A and C in okra.
13. Avoid Anaemia: This is due to the fact that okro is nutrient dense including iron, calcium, folic acid and zinc, all work together to prevent anaemia . Anaemia i.e insufficient iron in the blood. The nutrients also work together for blood production and formation.
14. Vitamin C: This helps maintain younger looking skin. It aids in repairing body tissues. This in turn helps keep your skin younger also more vibrant.