Okra, also known as ‘lady fingers’ is a well-known vegetable in Nigeria and Africa in general. It is a nutritious and delicious one. It is often dismissed because of its sliminess while its health benefits have largely been ignored. Okra is popular in hot climates where it grows well hence its popularity in places like Nigeria.
Health Benefits:
Prevents Gastritis
When there is bacteria in the stomach, inflammation can cause gastritis. There is an anti-adhesive compound in okra that binds to the surface of the gut, blocking the bacteria attaching to the stomach lining. It was found in a study that okra juice prevents this from happening and creating gastritis.
Kills Breast Cancer Cells
Lectin isolated from okra was found in a study to kill cancer cells in the breast. The growth of the breast cancer cells was inhibited by 63 percent.
Lowering Cholesterol
Almost half of the okra pod is soluble fiber, which helps lowers cholesterol, according to research. It binds to excess cholesterol and toxins in the bile to be eliminated.
Good for Heart Health
There is good soluble fiber in okra which helps reduce cholesterol and also lessens the chance of heart disease
Optimal Memory Function
Okra can boost the brain’s cognitive abilities. Studies have shown that okra extracts reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, protecting against other degenerative neurological diseases as well.
Source of Protein
Okra is a high-quality protein; it has an amino acid composition comparable to soybeans and the protein efficiency ratio is higher than soybeans. It is a top vegetable protein food.
For these reasons, adding okra to your recipe is a good idea.
