Lybrate Logo
Get the App
For Doctors
Login/Sign-up
Book Appointment
Treatment
Ask a Question
Plan my Surgery
Health Feed
tab_logos
About
tab_logos
Health Feed

Heealth Benefits of Okra And Its Side Effects

Last Updated: Aug 06, 2020

Topic Image

Okra is rich in Vitamin A and flavonoid anti-oxidants like beta-carotene, xanthin and lutein that help to protect us from lung and oral cavity cancers. The folates present in okra help to reduce the occurrence of neural tube defects in newborn babies.

You can consume okra to get health benefits such as improvement in digestion, vision, skin health and also help to strengthen bones. Okra also takes care of your heart and the entire cardiovascular system by helping to reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It further strengthens our immune system.

You can get helath benefits form Okra Water, Okra juice, Orka seed and orka leaves, so start inclucing some okra in your diet plan

What is Okra?

Okra or ‘lady’s finger’ or ‘bamia pod’ is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. It is a plant of the tropical and warm climates and the plant is highly valued due to its green pods. Okra vegetable is used in many dishes and cuisines and is rich in nutritional content. There is, however, some debate regarding the origin of this vegetable.

Nutritional Value of Okra Per 100 Grams

Okra contains a number of essential vitamins and minerals and so is beneficial for your health. Okra is very low in calories and has no saturated fats or cholesterol. It is rich in dietary fiber, mucilage and folates which have a number of pertinent nutritional benefits. Okra is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B-complex group of vitamins like niacin, thiamine, pantothenic acid and vitamin B-6. Essential minerals like calcium, iron, manganese and magnesium are present in okra.

Nutritional facts Per 100 Grams

33
Calories
0.2 g
Total Fat
7 mg
Sodium
299 mg
Potassium
7 g
Total Carbohydrate
1.9 g
Protein

Vitamins and Minerals

14 %
Vitamin A
0.08
Calcium
38 %
Vitamin C
3 %
Iron
10 %
Vitamin B-6
14 %
Magnesium

Health Benefits of Okra

Topic Image
Mentioned below are the best health benefits of Okra. Since okra can used with diiffernt vegetable easily and you can use okra in different terms such as you can use okra seeds, you can even make it juice, you can boiled some okra with water to get health benefits.

Helps to improve digestion

Okra contains mucilaginous fiber that helps to move food through the digestive tract as it adds bulk to the stool. This helps to prevent digestive issues like bloating, cramping, constipation and excess gas. It adds bulk to watery stools and even helps to prevent diarrhea. The fiber present in okra also helps us to regulate the absorption of sugar in our body as it clears out the excess cholesterol.

Okra good for immune system

Okra is rich in Vitamin C and other anti-oxidants that help to strengthen our body immunity by acting against the harmful free radicals in our body. Vitamin C also stimulates the production of more white blood cells which are our body’s primary defense mechanisms against foreign pathogens and other materials.

Okra Benefits for Eyes

Okra has high content of Vitamin A and other anti-oxidants which act against the free radicals in our body. These free radicals, which are formed as a result of cellular metabolism, can cause harm to the cells which allow us to see.

Okra helps to protect our eyes against the dangerous effects of these free radicals and prevent the onset of macular degeneration and cataracts. Orka also helps in dry eye problem and improve eyesight

Okra ford Diabetes treatment & Kidney disease

The high content of soluble fiber present in okra helps to regulate blood sugar levels. This helps to manage diabetes as the soluble fiber affects the absorption of sugars in the intestine. This further reduces the chances of developing kidney disease as half of such ailments develop from diabetes.

Okra Benefits for Skin

The dietary fiber in okla keeps digestive problems at bay and provides you with healthy skin. Vitamin C helps to repair body tissues and help your skin to look younger and more vibrant. The nutrients in okla also prevent skin pigmentation and helps to rejuvenate your skin.

Okra water for lower blood pressure

Potassium, present in okla, helps to balance sodium and thus maintains a proper fluid balance in the body. Okra also helps to reduce the pressure on the cardiovascular system by relaxing the blood vessels and arteries and thereby reducing blood pressure. Blood pressure regulation helps to prevent atherosclerosis and blood clotting.

Okra helps to control obesity

Containing no unsaturated fats or cholesterol and being very low on calories, Okla can be a useful substitute to calorific food if you are trying to lose weight. Okra also rich in nutrients and dietary fiber which helps to keep your digestive system in good health. This nutrition-rich food fills you up and prevents you from gorging on unhealthy food and thus helps to fight obesity.

Okra water good for asthma

It is recommended for people suffering from asthma to incorporate okra in their diet. Okra has shown some to have some positive effects in the treatment of asthma.

Okra water good for constipation

Incorporating okla in your diet helps your body to properly absorb water as this vegetable is rich in a number of essential nutrients. This, in turn, helps the stool to seamlessly traverse the digestive tract and get eliminated.

Uses of Okra

In tropical countries, okra pods are one of the most widely used vegetables. They can be consumed in a variety of ways – chopped, sliced, stewed or fried. The pods of okra can be pickled and preserved. The leaves of this vegetable are also edible and they are often utilized raw in salads. When okra is boiled with water, a transparent mucilage is formed which can be used to moisturize your hair. It also helps you hair to gain bounce and shine.

pms_banner

Okra Side-Effects & Allergies

It is advisable for people taking metformin not to consume okra as it interferes with the drug’s action. Metformin helps to keep sugar levels in control and okra intake may nullify its effects. Moreover, okra is rich in oxalates which may bind with existing gall and kidney stones and cause them to deteriorate. Therefore okra should be consumed in optimum quantities.

Cultivation of Okra

Okra plant is cultivated tropical, sub-tropical and warm temperate regions of the world but its origin is debatable. The Egyptians and Moors had known the use of this vegetable in the 12th and 13th century respectively. It spread to Eqypt from the Arab states while it is believed to have come to Arab from Ehiopia. However, there are different voices from different parts of the world such as from South Asia, from Ethiopia and also from West Africa which all claim that this vegetable originated in their respective areas.

The pods of the okra are rich in nutrients. The okra plant is grown in the tropical and warm temperate regions all over the world due to its nutrient-rich pods. It requires a long warm growing season and it is highly sensitive to frost. A temperature of less than 20 degrees celcius is harmful for the seeds. Although this plant can grow in a wide variety of soils, sandy loam and clay loam soils are best suited for its cultivation.

References

Popular Questions & Answers

View All

I am 25 year old male and I have calcium defici...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Urvashi Gupta

Homeopathy Doctor

You can take milk, tofu,yoghurt, green veggies like spinach, okra,broccoli, chia seeds, almonds,s...

I am 52 years old (men), I am having a calcium ...

dr-navneet-sharma-homeopathy-doctor

Dr. Navneet Sharma

Homeopathy Doctor

This is a very common issue now a day’s first you need to take some treatment for few days then...

I am a 18 years old girl. Since first I have pe...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Karuna Chawla

Homeopathy Doctor

Place a heating pad or hot water bottle on your lower back or abdomen. Rest when needed. Give you...

My serum calcium value is 6.12.which is lower t...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Nived Vasudevan

Homeopathy Doctor

No need of worries. Take a glass of cow's milk daily. Also include dates small fishes etc in your...

I am 24 year old. My calcium value is 6.12 whic...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Himanshu Vats

Homeopathy Doctor

Yes, it's low but it's not a medical emergency unless you have any other problem. This is the usu...

    Delhi
    Mumbai
    Chennai
    Bangalore
    Index

    Table of content

    Content Details
    Profile Image
    Written ByDrx Hina FirdousPhD (Pharmacology) Pursuing, M.Pharma (Pharmacology), B.Pharma - Certificate in Nutrition and Child CarePharmacology
    Reviewed By
    Profile Image
    Reviewed ByDt. Ms. Shilpa MarwahB.Sc (Home Science), Post Graduation Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health NutritionDietitian/Nutritionist
    chat_icon

    Ask a free question

    Get FREE multiple opinions from Doctors

    posted anonymously