Description
Okra also known as gumbo or ladies’ fingers, is a warm-season vegetable. It is a good source of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. It contains a sticky juice that people use to thicken sauces.
Some of the other health benefits of okra include:
Fights Cancer – Antioxidants are natural compounds that help your body fight off molecules called free radicals that can damage cells. Okra contains antioxidants called polyphenols, including vitamins A and C. It also contains a protein called lectin which may inhibit cancer cell growth in humans.
Support Heart and Brain Health – Polyphenols decrease your risk of heart problems and stroke by preventing blood clots and reducing free radical damage. The antioxidants in okra may also benefit your brain by reducing brain inflammation. Mucilage—a thick, gel-like substance found in okra—can bind with cholesterol during digestion so it is passed from the body.
Prenatal Support- One cup of okra has 15% of the daily value of folate, a helpful nutrient for pregnant women. Folate helps reduce the risk of neural tube defects, which can affect the brain and spine of developing fetuses.
Okra can be cooked in many ways, whether fried, breaded, pickled, or grilled, no other vegetable tastes quite like okra. Try pickled okra for an addictive, tangy treat or even tenderized okra in pork sinigang soup.
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