The Benefits of Okra for Health
The Benefits of Okra for health, including its ability to reduce total cholesterol, improve digestive health, improve vision, improve skin health, protect infant health, prevent certain types of cancer, strengthen bones, improve cardiovascular health, helps the immune system, lowers blood pressure, and protect heart health.
Nutritional Information Okra: The okra may not be the most conventional vegetable garden, but its rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B, C, E and K as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Furthermore, okra mucilage contains high levels of fiber.
Digestive Health: Perhaps the best part of the addition of okra in your diet is the significant increase that might have on their total intake of fiber. Mucilaginous fiber that you find in the okra can help move food through your digestive tract, adding bulk. This means that bowel movements are more regular, and there is a reduction in gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, cramps, constipation, and excess gas. Strangely, it also helps prevent diarrhea Finally, fiber can help clear excess cholesterol in the body.
Eye Health: The okra contains a high content of vitamin A and antioxidant compounds, such as beta carotene, and lutein xanthein. Antioxidants are powerful compounds that destroy or neutralize free radicals, which are hazardous byproducts of cellular metabolism. The free radicals are responsible for the degradation of the cells in the body, including those responsible for vision. With high levels of okra in your diet, you will have more protection for your vision, including macular degeneration and cataracts.
Skin Health: Vitamin A Antioxidants are also able to protect the skin, promoting faster healing, reducing the appearance of scars and acne, and eliminating wrinkles. This is because antioxidants are able to neutralize free radicals, which can damaged skin cells.
Immune system: The various antioxidant compounds that are in okra, make it very beneficial to fight free radicals, but the high content of vitamin C also means that the immune system is usually driven. Vitamin C can stimulate the immune system to create more white blood cells that can fight other pathogens and foreign substances in the body that can compromise the immune system.
Blood and Heart Health: Okra is a good source of both vitamins and minerals, including potassium, which is an essential aspect of human health. Potassium is needed to maintain fluid balance in the body because it balances sodium. In addition, potassium helps to relax blood vessels and arteries which therefore lowers blood pressure and reduces the strain on the cardiovascular system. This means that coagulation and atherosclerosis will be greatly reduced.
Side Effects: One thing you have to worry about okra, is its high levels of oxalates. Oxalates can cause kidney and gall bladder, such as oxalates have link with existing stones can also cause them to grow more. Fry okra may also contain dangerously high levels of their cholesterol intake for the day, so cook it in other ways it is wise if you want to keep a good balance of cholesterol in your body. Apart from these considerations, enjoy okra.