Okra or okro, known in many English-speaking countries as ladies' fingers, ochro or gumbo, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. It is also used in making soups, stews and sauces, but can also be eaten raw as a snack. In Nigeria, it is used for the popular Okro Soup, and Ogbono-okro soup, and can be used be boiled and mixed with stew sauce. Abelmoschus esculentus (okra fruit) is a shrub that grows to about two metres with yellow flower and succulent seed pod emanating from the flower. If you plant the agric specie, it should start to produce in 30 days from the day of planting.
As an African proverb goes, "an okro does not grow taller than its planter", but these agric species of okro are short and produce faster. Also, both the leaves and the seed pod are major ingredients in several local dishes across West African countries. The seed pod is used to thicken soup, stews and sauces. The roasted seed can serve as coffee substitute.
The stem is used in making paper, because of its high fibre content. As a green vegetable, it is a good source of Iron, Vitamin C, Calcium and dietary fibre. Okra which is indigenous to tropical Africa and it is said to be boiled in salted water and eaten as a cure for heartburn, in particular the heartburn of late pregnancy. It has has several other benefits; the superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilise blood sugar by curbing the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract. Its mucilage binds cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the filtering liver. Decoction of its young fruit is useful for catarrh.
Okra helps lubricate the large intestines due to its bulk laxative qualities. The okra fiber absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools. This helps to 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).
Okra is a supreme vegetable for those feeling weak, exhausted, and suffering from depression. It has been used for healing ulcers and to keep joints agile.
Usually, in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility among couples the male factor is now been taken seriously. This is because several reports have put the male factor in infertility among married couples at different degrees ranging from 36.8 per cent to 70 per cent. It is a fact that eating the right diet may not worry you if you are told that inappropriate eating can put you at risk of heart problems and even poor mood. If you are an African man, it should be your concern that a wrong choice of food may make you unable to father a child. Is this true with okro?
In a nutshell, being a vegetable, it is obvious that okro is healthy and should be included in your menu. Here are a few specific health benefits of okro:
01) Prevents Colon Cancer: – By cleaning out the intestinal tract, Okro is able to improve colon health by allowing the organ to work at a higher rate of efficiency and reduce the risk of colon cancer.
02) Prevents Diabetes: – The presence of Eugenol in Okra helps fight against diabetes. The fibre also helps stabilize blood sugar level by delaying sugar absorption from the intestines.
03) Prevents Constipation: – Okra is one of the best vegetable sources of dietary fibre essential for the digestive system. Dietary fibres in okra help prevent and relieve constipation. The soluble fibre in okra absorbs water and adds bulk to the stool thus preventing constipation.
04) Prevents Anaemia: – The iron content of okra forms haemoglobin in the blood and prevents anaemia. Vitamin K helps in blood coagulation.
05) Aids Weight Loss: – The dietary fibres contained in this vegetable helps people who are on weight loss programs. Okro has a very low caloric value so it is a great addition when losing weight. 100g of raw okro contains 30 calories and has lots of dietary fibers that gives you a feeling of fullness.
06) Improves Heart Health: – The soluble fibre in okra helps to lower serum cholesterol and thus reduces the risk of heart disease. Eating okra is an effective way to control the body’s cholesterol level. Okra is also high in pectin that helps in lowering high blood cholesterol by altering the production of bile in the intestines.
07) Improves Hair Problems: – Okra can help you get healthy hair and be free from dandruff. For bouncy hair, boil water with horizontally cut okra, strain on cooling, squeeze half a lemon and use as a hair rinse. Another method is to Cut some okro pods and boil in little water until the juice mucilage begins to come out. Strain out and add a teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply mixture to hair and wash off after 10 minutes. Your hair will feel stronger and have more glow to it. Experts say that it can even get rid of lice too.
08) Improves Immunity: – The high Vitamin C content in okro helps fight cold and cough by encouraging a healthy immune system. The Vitamin C and many essential minerals like magnesium, manganese, calcium and iron in okra also fight against harmful free radicals and therefore promote an overall healthy immune system.
09) Improves Eyesight: – It improves vision. Vitamin A and beta carotene found in okro are essential nutrients for maintaining good eyesight. In addition, these essential nutrients also help prevent eye related diseases such as cataracts. The Vitamin A promotes good eye health and protects against age related eye disorders.
10) Contributes to a Healthy Pregnancy: – The high amount of folate contained in the okra is beneficial for the foetus during pregnancy. Folate is an essential nutrient which improves the development of the foetus’ brain. The high amount of folic acid in okra plays an important role in the neural tube formation of the foetus from the fourth to the twelfth week of pregnancy
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