Hey there, viewers!
Are you a big fan of okra?
It’s getting more popular around the world.
And why shouldn’t it be?
It’s pretty easy to cook.
Gumbos with green okra are pretty big!
Red okra is also making the rounds these days.
In today's video, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about okra!
Can it make you look younger?
Should pregnant women stay away from it?
We’ll be talking about all that AND more...
Let’s first cover the basics.
Okra is an edible flowering plant native to Africa and South Asia.
Not only do they feel fuzzy, they can also be pretty sticky.
People often get annoyed at okra for how sticky it is.
Even the seeds on the inside will stick to your knife when you cut it up.
Luckily, okra gets thicker as you cook it.
Have you already tried some recipes with okra?
Share your recipe in the comments section,
and start a conversation with our Bestie community...
One can safely say that flavor-wise, okra is a little on the bland side.
I mean sometimes, it can be sweet, but that’s about it.
The ideal season to buy okra would be summertime.
You’re more likely to get a better taste out of it during this season.
It’s also a lot cheaper.
That’s a big plus in my books!
When you go shopping for okra, make sure the stems are still intact.
Choose the little guys, measuring no more than two to three inches.
This will ensure that the vegetable is tender.
If you don’t mind the tough texture of okra, you can go for the longer ones.
Look out for dark spots and blemishes.
Remember to chop off its stem and bottom end before cooking.
After buying it from the store, you can safely refrigerate it for 4-5 days until it goes
bad.
You can steam, pickle, bake, roast, and even saute thinly chopped okra.
This is done with bell peppers, garlic and spices to make a killer summertime okra recipe.
It also goes really well with corn, tomatoes and eggs.
A secret to making good okra is to cook it whole without cutting it into small wheels.
To remove all the sliminess, you can also try cooking it in acidic sauces like tomatoes
or vinegar.
For making healthy okra snacks, just slice them up and bake them in the oven with salt,
pepper, and curry powder.
My personal favorite is grilling them until they’re charred.
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So let’s get into some reasons why you need more okra in your life.
I mean, all these recipes sound great!
But what can okra do for your body?
1.
Nutrient-dense
Vegetables and fruits will fill you up with nutrients.
Okra is no exception.
When we're looking for fat-free food options, we tend to forget about okra.
Okra has absolutely zero fat, and carries a decent amount of carbs and fiber.
Most fruits and veggies don’t have much protein.
Okra on the other hand will surprise you.
Okra is a goldmine of magnesium, folate and all the vitamins you need.
These are all essential for keeping your body working like a well-oiled machine.
Vitamin C is especially important.
It helps safeguard your immunity, and protects you from infections and germs.
Vitamin K can bring on faster blood clotting after a cut or wound, and prevent an excess
of blood loss.
2.
Packed with antioxidants
Okra’s star antioxidant is polyphenol, which gets help from flavonoids, vitamin A and Vitamin
C in order to work properly.
The job of antioxidants is to fight off free radicals.
These damage your cells, causing your body to deteriorate faster.
Antioxidants reduce free radicals and keep your body healthy.
Free radicals can age you quickly, giving you dull, wrinkled skin.
If you’re getting the proper amount of antioxidants,
you’ll look younger for a longer period
of time.
Studies have shown that polyphenols improve your heart health by freeing your blood vessels
of unwanted clots, and oxidative damage.
Polyphenols also work to improve your brain health.
They make your memory much sharper, helping you store knowledge and learn things quicker.
Polyphenols will also stop inflammation of the brain.
3.
Keeps your heart healthy
Heart disease is the number one cause of death around the world.
This is normally due to high cholesterol.
That gel-like, sticky substance in okra that people don’t like…
Well that’s actually what helps your heart.
This material is called mucilage (muse-ill-ij).
The cholesterol from all the junk food you eat can bind with mucilage during digestion.
Once it’s mixed with this sticky substance, it won’t be absorbed by your body.
Instead, it will be excreted.
In other words, okra can stop cholesterol from hurting you.
There is an animal study supporting this fact.
Mice that ate a high-fat diet mixed with okra powder had lower blood cholesterol levels
than the mice that didn’t have okra.
This is again thanks to polyphenols.
It’s like there’s nothing it can’t do.
Inflammatory markers can point out inflammation in major organs of your body.
A long-term study showed that people eating a diet rich in polyphenols had these inflammatory
markers.
As a result, their risk of heart disease was much lower.
Before we continue, do you get sick a lot?
You’re probably not getting enough Vitamin C. Take a quick look at these 9 signs your
body needs more vitamin C. Now back to the benefits of okra...
4.
Reduces your risk of cancer
Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth in your body.
A specialized protein called lectin is found in okara, and can stop the growth of cancer
cells.
Today, breast cancer is becoming more and more common among women.
A test-tube study showed that the lectin from okra can stop the growth of breast cancer
up to 63%.
It was also helpful against skin cancers.
The credibility of these studies isn’t as strong, as they are all done in test tubes.
More detailed human research needs to be done to draw any kind of hard conclusion.
But having okra on the regular won’t hurt, and may be able to save you from cancer as
a whole.
What do you have to lose?
5.
Can lower your blood sugar
Okra can be beneficial if you're diabetic.
Research has shown us this over the years.
Animal studies have found that eating regular okra extracts can prevent your blood sugar
level from spiking.
This is because okra doesn’t let your digestive tract absorb the extra sugar.
In the end, your blood sugar levels are stable.
But if you’re a diabetic and on regular medication, okra can interfere with your blood
sugar.
It causes your levels to go up and down.
If you’re taking drugs to combat diabetes, talk to your doctor before you start eating
okra.
6.
Great for pregnant women
Are you about to have a baby?
Are you planning on getting pregnant?
Well, start eating more okra.
It boosts up the health of your child.
You see, okra is loaded with folate.
This mineral protects the unborn baby, while strengthening its spine and fetus.
Experts suggest that pregnant women should consume 400 micrograms of folate on a daily
basis.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that they’re not getting this amount.
Just one cup of okra is said to give you up to 15% of your daily folate needs.
This is a great way to make your baby strong and smart even before it is born.
Want to learn more about unusual foods?
Watch what happens to your body when you start eating flax seeds daily!
The way you cook your food will determine how many nutrients you get from it.
Watch and learn 12 ways you’re cooking your vegetables wrong.
Go ahead, click one.
Or better yet, watch both, and learn more about how to become healthier.
Have you been eating okra?
What are some reasons you love it?
Let us know in the comments below.