Okra is a flowering plant regarded for its edible seed pods. It’s cultivated in warm and tropical climates, including Africa and South Asia.
Sometimes called “girl’s finger,” okra comes in two colors: pink and inexperienced. Both sorts taste the same, and the crimson one turns green while cooking.
Biologically labeled as a fruit, okra is generally applied like a vegetable in cooking.
It’s regularly used in Southern American delicacies and is a popular addition to gumbo. It may have a slimy texture, which some humans find unappealing.
Though it’s no longer one of the most commonplace foods, okra is packed with vitamins.
Here are seven nutrition and fitness blessings of okra.
1. Rich in vitamins
- Okra boasts a unique nutrient profile.
- One cup (one hundred grams) of raw okra includes (1):
- Calories: 33
- Carbs: 7 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Fat: zero grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Magnesium: 14% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Folate: 15% of the DV
- Vitamin A: 14% of the DV
- Vitamin C: 26% of the DV
- Vitamin K: 26% of the DV
- Vitamin B6: 14% of the DV
Okra is an excellent source of vitamins C and K1. Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that contributes to your common immune characteristic, while diet K1 is a fat-soluble vitamin acknowledged for its role in blood clotting (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
Additionally, okra is low in calories and carbs and carries a few proteins and fiber. Many fruits and greens lack protein, which makes okra rather precise.
Eating sufficient protein is associated with advantages for weight control, blood sugar management, bone shape, and muscular tissues (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Summary
Okra is rich in vitamins and unusually high in nutrients C and K. This fruit is specific because it provides protein, a nutrient that many other fruits and greens lack.
2. Contains beneficial antioxidants
Okra packs many antioxidants that help your health.
Antioxidants are compounds in food that fend off damage from dangerous molecules known as free radicals (6Trusted Source).
The most important antioxidants in okra are polyphenols, flavonoids, iso, quercetin, and vitamins A and C (7Trusted Source).
Research suggests that consuming an eating regimen high in polyphenols may also improve coronary heart health by decreasing the threat of blood clots and oxidative damage (8Trusted Source).
Polyphenols may also gain brain fitness because they can enter your brain and shield against inflammation (9Trusted Source).
These defense mechanisms may additionally assist in defending your brain from signs of getting older and improve cognition, getting to know, and memory (9Trusted Source).
Summary
Okra is rich in antioxidants that could lessen your chance of significant diseases, save you from infection, and contribute to natural health. Most significantly, it contains polyphenols that can contribute to coronary heart and brain health.
