Okra – Benefits, Uses and Side Effects!

Okra – Benefits, Uses and Side Effects! Okra is very rich in nutrients that favor our health . In addition,  okra is well known for its many properties that benefit our body. Okra  is the fruit of the okra tree of the Malvaceae family, a shrub plant native to Ethiopia, which was introduced in Brazil by African slaves. The cultivation of quiabo  has adapted very well to the high temperatures of the Tupiniquin lands.

Okra is known for  its high concentration of vitamin C , vitamin K , and folic acid content. In addition, okra  is known to have superior fiber, which aids digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, and helps control the rate of sugar absorbed.

Due to its many nutrients, okra  greatly favors our health , providing us with many benefits, Here are some of the many health benefits of okra  :

• Promotes Weight Loss;
• Helps the Diabetic Diet;
• Promotes  hair health ;
• Promotes  skin health ;
• Increases gestational health  ;
• Strengthens the bones;
• Controls cholesterol levels;
• It is a rich source of antioxidants;
• Facilitates  digestive health ;
• Prevents colon cancer.

Benefits of Okra for Weight Loss: Okra is  a low-calorie vegetable that should be included in your food plan to lose weight and have a healthier life. The famous “drool” of Okra  has a good amount of mucilage, fibers that delay the gastric emptying process and thus promote a feeling of satiety. Thus, consuming okra  daily will provide a smaller amount of calories to your diet.

Thanks to these fibers contained in okra , okra  is considered a low glycemic index food, which means that its consumption does not promote glycemic spikes.

Benefits of Okra in Diabetic Diet: Research has revealed that okra  has antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects. In the study, one of the groups of animals consumed the powder extracted from okra seeds ; another the powder obtained from its husks.

Powders extracted from okra  administered orally at the following dosage: 100 and 200 mg/kg. Compared to the diabetic rats in the control group, the animals treated with okra  powder had a reduction in their blood glucose levels (even more evident with the seed powder, and, for both cases, at a dose of 200 mg/kg) , increased level of HDL (good cholesterol) and reduced levels of total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglycerides.

Benefits of Okra For Hair and Skin Health: The benefits of Okra  are also valid for the skin and hair. The antioxidant power of vitamin A contained in okra , protects the largest organ of the human body, softening the appearance of wrinkles, scars and acne. As for the hair, the application of okra  “drool” on the strands provides shine and works as a conditioner for them.

Benefits of Okra in Pregnancy: Okra also  has excellent health benefits for future mothers. The folic acid and vitamin B complex contained in okra  is essential for the process of neural tube formation in fetuses. It is not for nothing that doctors recommend that pregnant women consume okra  during pregnancy, but also months before becoming pregnant.

Benefits of Okra for Healthy Eyes: The significant amounts of vitamin A and carotenoid compounds found in okra  prevent eye diseases.

The antioxidant action of these nutrients contained in okra  protect the eyes from free radicals , whose effects are associated with the occurrence of cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Benefits of Okra in Strengthening Bones: Okra  is a great source of vitamin K which, in addition to its two anti-bleeding properties, is important forbone health . Osteoblasts, cells responsible for the formation of bone matrix, produce a non-collagenous protein called osteocalcin. Carboxylation of this protein, which regulates bone maturation, depends on vitamin K.

Studies indicate that vitamin K deficiency appears to be associated with a decrease in bone mineral density, as well as cases of osteoporosis. It is also believed that vitamin K can increase calcium absorption by the intestine and reduce its excretion in the urine. That is why it is highly recommended to consume okra  for strengthening and maintaining bones.

Benefits of Okra to Control Cholesterol Levels: Studies indicate that okra  helps to regulate the absorption of cholesterol, preventing various heart diseases and diseases that occur due to cholesterol in the blood.

If you have problems like high or dysregulated cholesterol, consume okra  daily and fight these conditions immediately.

Benefits of Okra As Rich Source of Antioxidants: Okra contains  a large number of antioxidants such as quercetin, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin and rutin. Thus, it not only prevents and treats diabetes , but a host of other health problems ! Undoubtedly, it is called a super food.

Therefore, Okra  is widely used and recommended by people who suffer from low immunity, as the antioxidants present in Okra  strengthen the immune system.

Benefits of Okra To Facilitate the Digestive System: Okra  consumptionalso favors organs such as the intestine and liver. Mucilage improves the movement of the food bolus along the gastrointestinal tract, binds to toxins and fats and stimulates the excretion of these and the faeces as a whole.

Research reveals that the alcoholic extract extracted from okra  protected the liver of rodents against carbon tetrachloride toxicity. The animals that previously ingested this ethanolic extract extracted from okra , at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body, showed a reduction in the level of liver enzymes, triglycerides, cholesterol, malondialdehyde (product of lipid peroxidation of hepatocytes) and an increase in proteins total and non-protein sulfhydryls.

Therefore, the consumption of okra  is very suitable for people who suffer from digestive problems such as constipation and constipation.

Benefits of Okra to Prevent Colon Cancer: It is believed that all diseases start in the Colon. Adding okra to your meals ensures the prevention of Colon Cancer and other related diseases to a great extent.

See right now, through the video below, other benefits of okra for your health:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJe0hEYLrHs

 What  is Quiabo for: Quiabo  is used to prepare various recipes, such as the traditional chicken with  okra  from Minas Gerais cuisine and the Bahian caruru (shrimp and  okra ). Quiabo can also accompany other types of meat or be consumed in the form of salads and stir-fries . Okra  can even  be fried or baked.

In addition to being commonly consumed in African countries,  Okra  is also common in the cuisines of Eastern countries and the United States. In addition, an oil can be extracted  from the seeds of  okra  for culinary and medicinal consumption. Check the Properties of Okra:

Okra Properties:  In addition to all these nutrients present in  okra , it is also known to contain medicinal properties. It is anthelmintic, antiparasitic, demulcent and indicated for the treatment of various diseases such as diarrhea, worms, dysentery, inflammation and irritation of the stomach, kidneys and intestines.

The health benefits of  okra  are undeniable . As mentioned above,  okra  is rich in vitamin B, C, calcium, folic acid and fiber, consumption of  okra  will bring very few calories.

Okra Side Effects:  In general terms, consumption of okra  is considered safe for everyone, including pregnant women and children. However, a study published in the Journal of Phytology 2009 linked okra  consumption to testicular atrophy. Other previous studies make the same type of relationship.