OKRA-nutritional powerhouse!
18:56Whitney HillsI found this fantastic article about Okra on Chatelaines website. I saw a bag of frozen okra and decided to try it out. I ended up eating it as a night time snack, cooked in the microwave with a bit of butter and lemon salt (if you haven't tried lemon salt, you are seriously missing out, if you can't find it, use lemon and salt). I also added a bit of tomato sauce and was pleasantly surprised with the textures of my snack. Less than $2 a serving and 33kcal a cup with over 3 grams of fiber! The information below is taken directly from chatelaine's website by nutrition superstar Julie Daniluk http://www.chatelaine.com/health/diet/health-benefits-of-okra-and-a-curry-recipe-to-heal-inflammation/
Botanically, okra belongs to the mallow family. Much like real marshmallow, the mucilage, a sticky substance containing polysaccharides, helps improve digestion and may be used in the treatment of gastritis, gastric ulcer and liver/gallbladder cleansing. Okra’s mucilage helps to lubricate and soothe the bowel, protecting it from chronic inflammation that can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
Try adding okra to your next soup, stew, or stir-fry to experience these five incredible benefits:
1. Eating okra helps to rid the body of toxins and excess cholesterol. During the process of digestion, bile which is largely made up of cholesterol soaks up acids and toxins from the body. The soluble pectin-based mucilaginous fibre in okra binds with this toxic bile and allows it to be eliminated quickly. If these toxic materials sit in the bowel too long they can be reabsorbed causing inflammation, leading to bowel disease. This same process eliminates excess cholesterol from the body thereby lowering serum cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Compared to over-the-counter constipation medications, okra is much cheaper and has none of the side effects associated with this type of medication. The insoluble fibre in okra absorbs water and ensures bulk in the stool, while the soothing and lubricating quality of the mucilage found in okra can aid in elimination and reduce colorectal cancer.
2. Okra helps to control blood sugar. Regulating blood sugar is a key factor in theprevention of diabetes and heart disease. The fibre in okra controls the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the small intestine into the blood stream.
3. Okra can boost your immunity. The fibre found in okra also feeds the good bacteria in your gut. Maintaining a healthy ratio of good to bad bacteria is crucial to keeping theimmune system functioning. Okra is also a great source of vitamin C, which can reduce episodes of cold and cough and protect the body from harmful free radicals.
4. Eating okra can protect you from developing stomach ulcers. The bacteriaheliobacter pylori (or h. pylori) is known to cause stomach ulcers. Okra containsglycosylated compounds which have been shown to inhibit h. pylori from attacking the lining of the stomach.
5. Okra reduces birth defects. Enjoy okra during the pre-conception period because it’shigh in folic acid, which is important for women trying to conceive. Okra’s also a good source of vitamin B6 and calcium. A half cup of okra provides you with 10 percent of the daily recommended levels of B6 and folic acid. Beyond making babies, B6 and folic acid helps reduce depression and PMS symptoms as well!
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