6 benefits of okra, side effects, how to eat - Vegetables that are good for diabetes

Okra Nutrition

Okra is a type of vegetable belonging to the mallow family. They are green and are also called lady fingers because they resemble the shape of a woman’s fingers. It looks similar to a green pepper. This vegetable grows well in subtropical climates, so it does not grow well in cold weather. Okra has a unique taste, so when the fruit ripens, you can eat it or make it into alcohol. You can also eat it by adding it to salads or soups. Okra seeds are also used as a coffee substitute.

2. Okra Benefits

1. Cardiovascular Health

Okra contains a variety of antioxidants. Among them, polyphenols help prevent blood clots. Okra also contains sticky mucilage, which has the function of clearing the arteries. This helps prevent various vascular diseases. And okra contains various minerals such as pectin and mucin. They help lower the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood. It also prevents waste from accumulating in the blood vessels and helps excrete sodium.

2. Organs Health

Okra contains various components such as pectin and mucin. These are the ingredients in the sticky mucilage in okra, which acts as a lubricant in the intestines. First, pectin stimulates intestinal movement, making it effective in preventing and improving diseases such as constipation. And mucin helps strengthen the intestinal mucosa. Mucin is also effective in stimulating bowel movement.

3. Anticancer Effect

The various antioxidants contained in okra play a role in fighting free radicals. Free radicals are components that can cause cancer, and consuming okra helps eliminate these free radicals. Additionally, various ingredients such as selenium and zinc contained in okra are effective in improving the body’s anti-cancer ability. Beta-carotene contained in okra also helps prevent various cancers, and lectin also helps prevent the growth of malignant cells that cause cancer.

4. Pregnant women’s health

Okra is rich in folic acid, which belongs to the B vitamin group. Folic acid is an essential compound needed by pregnant women and women trying to become pregnant. Therefore, folic acid intake by pregnant women has the function of preventing the brain development of the unborn fetus and various diseases and disorders. Therefore, when pregnant women consume okra, it is effective in preventing various defects that may occur in the fetus.

5. Improvement of diabetes

Okra contains an ingredient called pectin. Pectin has the function of delaying the absorption of sugar in the body, helping to control blood sugar. And pectin helps people suffering from diabetes by helping excrete glucose through urine. Additionally, the fiber contained in okra helps stabilize blood sugar and increases insulin sensitivity, which can help treat diabetes.

6. Skin health

Okra is rich in various vitamins and beta-carotene. They are effective in removing free radicals, which are the main cause of accelerated aging. It also helps promote the production of collagen, which is essential for skin health. This prevents skin aging and helps create elastic skin. In addition, the soluble dietary fiber contained in okra helps make the skin soft and helps skin health by removing waste products from the body.

3. Okra How to eat delicious

4. Okra Side Effect

• People with weak gastrointestinal tracts who consume too much okra may experience symptoms such as diarrhea.
  
  
• Long-term excessive consumption of okra may reduce prostate weight and testicular size in men.
  
  
• Because okra contains potassium, people with kidney disease may worsen their condition if they consume too much.