Are you the one who is not willing to eat any vegetables in lunch? Do you prefer to eat fast food over home-made vegetables and curries? Then mind it, you are feeding your body extra carbs and unhealthy fats only. To get a balanced, healthy diet, you should include as many vegetables as you can in your diet. Okras are one of them and you will definitely include them in your diet after reading health benefits of this vegetable.
Okra/Lady-finger/Bhindi is one of those vegetables that is taken for granted by most of us. However, it is very nutritious and has a lot of health benefits. Okras are edible green seed pods grown on the plant from the mallow family. There are a variety of ways in which you can eat them. You can stir-fry it, or make curry, roasted okras, etc.
The main purpose of writing these points is to highlight the benefits of okras. So that you can not overlook them during this summer season.
Table of Content
Health Benefits of Okras:
Here are some important health benefits of okras/bhindi that will encourage you to include it in your diet.
Helps In Digestion:
Okra is rich in fiber content that’s why helps in digestion and improves your bowel movement. Its consumption can prevent constipation.
Keeps You Full:
It keeps you full for a longer period of time because of high fiber content. It helps in reducing your weight as you don’t need to munch junk items after eating okra for lunch or dinner.
Low Calorie-More Benefits:
Okra is low in calories, but it is full of many vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K are the prominent ones. Similarly, it is rich in folate. You can eat it in a larger portion as the calorie content is very low if you take them in roasted or baked form.
Controls Cholesterol:
Okra is rich in pectin that helps in lowering your bad cholesterol LDL and overall benefits your cardiovascular health.
Prevents Cancers:
Okra is packed with antioxidants that help in fighting free radicals. And we all know free radicals can lead to cancer. So eating okras helps you to prevent cancer.
Controls Blood Sugar Levels:
As this vegetable is rich in fiber, it slows down the rate of sugar absorption in the digestive tract.
Protects Your Kidney:
Studies show that okras help in slowing down kidney damage. That’s why they are good for those having kidney disease.
Good For Hair:
You can apply boiled okras with some lemon juice on your hair to make them shiny and bouncy.
Improves Eye-Sight:
As okra is rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, it is very good for your eyes’ health.
Makes Bones Strong:
Okras are rich in folate and vitamin K, which make them beneficial for your bones. Eating okras can also prevent osteoporosis.
Source Of Vegetable Protein:
Okras are a rich source of vegetable protein. That’s why they are a good choice for those who don’t prefer to eat meat and eggs.
Improve Fertility:
Folate present in okras is very beneficial for conceiving a baby. Similarly, okras are good for pregnant women as the folate present in okras helps in maintain your pregnancy.
Reduces Inflammation:
Okras have anti-inflammatory properties that help us to prevent joint problems and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
Nutritional Value of Okras:
One cup (100 grams) of raw okra contains:
- Calories: 33
- Carbs: 7 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Magnesium: 14% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin K: 26% of the DV
- Vitamin B6: 14% of the DV
- Folate: 15% of the DV
- Vitamin A: 14% of the DV
- Vitamin C: 26% of the DV
Read more articles related to healthy diet by clicking here!
You can add okras to your daily diet easily. They are easily available and cheap vegetables in the summer season. And you can eat them with whole wheat bread or rice as you like. You can also cook them with potatoes.
Eating vegetables and fruits daily is very important for your health. It is important to take vegetables in raw form or you can bake or stir fry them. Don’t add a lot of oil to your dishes as it ruins the nutritional value of vegetables.
You can also consult the best dietitian in Pakistan through Marham.pk
