BENEFITS OF EATING LADY'S FINGER (OKRA)



A person, suffering from constipation for the past 20 years and recently from acid reflux, started eating 6 pieces of “Lady’s Finger” or Okra within the last 2 months. Since then, he has not taken any other medication. Now, his blood sugar has dropped from 135 to 98 and his cholesterol and acid reflux are also under control.

According to Ms. Sylvia Zook PhD (Nutritionist) of University of Illinois, Okra has several benefits:

1) The superior fiber found in Okra helps to stabilize blood sugar by curbing the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract.

2) Okra's mucilage binds cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the filtering liver.

3) Okra helps lubricate the large intestines due to its bulk laxative qualities. The Okra fiber absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools. This helps prevent and improve constipation. Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, Okra's mucilage soothes, and Okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic. Okra binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids). These, if not evacuated, will cause numerous health problems. Okra also assures easy passage out of waste from the body. Okra is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming, has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically within reach of most unlike the OTC drugs.

4) Okra fiber is excellent for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics). This contributes to the health of the intestinal tract. These are similar to the ones proliferate by the yoghurt in the small intestine and helps biosynthesis of Vitamin B complex.

5) Okra is good for summer heat treatment. Okra is a supreme vegetable for those feeling weak, exhausted, and suffering from depression.

6) Okra is used for healing ulcers and to keep joints limber. It helps to neutralize acids, being very alkaline, and provides a temporary protective coating for the digestive tract.

7) Okra treats lung inflammation, sore throat, and irritable bowel.

8) In India, Okra has been used successfully in experimental blood plasma replacements. To retain most of Okra's nutrients and self-digesting enzymes, it should be cooked as little as possible, e.g. with low heat or lightly steamed. Some eat it raw.

Other benefits reported:

Okra is an ideal vegetable for weight loss and is storehouse of health benefits provided it is cooked over low flame to retain its properties. This also to ensure that the invaluable mucilage contained in it is not lost to high heat.

For adding bounce your hair, boil horizontally sliced Okra till the brew become maximally slimy. Cool it and add a few droops of lemon and use this as the last rinse and see your hair spring back to youthfulness and jump.

Okra is an excellent laxative treats irritable bowels, heals ulcers and sooths the gastrointestinal track.

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.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This anti-inflammatory activity may curtail the development of asthma symptoms. A large preliminary study has shown that young children with asthma experience significantly less wheezing if they eat a diet high in fruits rich in vitamin C. 1/2 cup of cooked Okra contains over 13 mg of vitamin C.

Diets high in insoluble fiber, such as those containing Okra, are associated with protection against heart disease in both men and women.

The insoluble fiber found in Okra helps to keep the intestinal tract healthy, decreasing the risk of some forms of cancer, especially colon-rectal cancer.

Eating plenty of flavonoid and vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables such as Okra helps to support the structure of capillaries.

1/2 cup of cooked Okra contains 460 IU of vitamin A. Some studies have reported that eating more foods rich in beta-carotene or vitamin A was associated with a lower risk of cataracts.

A study (JAMA July 23, 2003) showed that consuming a "dietary portfolio" of vegetarian foods lowered cholesterol nearly as well as the prescription drug lovastatin (Mevacor). The diet was rich in soluble fiber from oats, barley, psyllium, eggplant and Okra. It used soy substitutes instead of meat and milk and included almonds and cholesterol-lowering margarine every day.

A controlled trial showed that eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables containing folic acid, beta-carotene, and vitamin C effectively lowered homocysteine levels. Healthy people were assigned to either a diet containing a pound of fruits and vegetables per day, or to a diet containing 3 1/2 ounces (99g) of fruits and vegetables per day. After four weeks, those eating the higher amount of fruits and vegetables had an 11 percent lower homocysteine level compared to those eating the lower amount of fruits and vegetables. Okra is a storehouse of vitamins (A, B6 & C) and folic acid.

Bhindi always gives me stomach aches...

^ I knowwwww, They taste really good with meat but I end up having stomach ache specially at night

i love bhindi especially with gosht.....yummm

i thought you were talking about the cookie named Lady's Finger

Bhindi are yummy on their own or with bhuna hua gosht and lots of pyaaz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

khali bindi wid piyaaz is also v yummy

It's great that bhindi has benefits, but I don't like em. My mom cooks it with lots of fried onions, but they're a bit slimy and squishy for my taste.

ughh!! too much oil when cooked with fried onions !!

sorry to say guys...

but all the benefits of okra is gone when we pakistani's cook em the way we do (over cooking, frying etc). if you want to eat them for health benefits...steam them...which is totally yuck

Angel Eyes I heard from an old aunt that people drink okra juice due to its antioxidents and nutrients????????????????????????.. a bit like drinking kerela jice- bitter gourd juice Ive been told has similar nutrients???!!!!!!!!!!!!

i thought thread mean.. start licking ladies fingers .. .. .. well..

Uff Allah.............

I'm wondering...what would bhindis taste like just raw and maybe with ranch dressing for dipping sauce? Has anyone tried them raw? They sound like the ideal thing for my son to be eating.....if only I could get hm to eat them somehow!

Title is shararti!... The benefit is that the Lady is happy! ;-)



Okra is my favorite. In any cooked form.

Don't know if uncooked will even be tasty enough. Somewhat bitter.

Those who may have pain in stomach may need to eat the smaller sized Okra with little seeds and need to chew well also in smaller portion.

Originally Posted by poppies

Angel Eyes I heard from an old aunt that people drink okra juice due to its antioxidents and nutrients????????????????????????.. a bit like drinking kerela jice- bitter gourd juice Ive been told has similar nutrients???!!!!!!!!!!!!

sounds gross

Originally Posted by Mamaof3

I'm wondering...what would bhindis taste like just raw and maybe with ranch dressing for dipping sauce? Has anyone tried them raw? They sound like the ideal thing for my son to be eating.....if only I could get hm to eat them somehow!

will taste too bitter. okra tastes good in gumbos/soups though...you may want to try that.

Originally Posted by firenze