Health Benefits 101: OKRA
Okra is one of those vegetables wherein it’s you’ll either love them or hate them. Some people refuse to eat it because of its slimy texture and feeling in your mouth. But personally, okra is one if not of my favorite vegetables. I don’t find its texture gross, or maybe it’s just the way I got used to eating it. Okra’s taste is mild but it has a unique texture with peach-like texture on the outside, edible seeds on the inside of the pod that’s why some might find it unappealing. Little do they know how nutritious this vegetable is. Whether you consume okra stewed, boiled, fried, or even in pickled form, you can reap the health benefits of this little green vegetable any time of the year. In this blog, we’re going to talk about how nutritious Okra can be.

Okra helps to lower cholesterol by replacing all the foods you eat with high fat and cholesterol levels — okra contains no cholesterol and very little fat. Also, this vegetable is a good source of fiber; 1 cup provides 3.2 g of dietary fiber. According to the American Heart Association, foods rich in dietary fiber help lower bad cholesterol levels.

Okra’s high levels of vitamin A, B vitamins (B1, B2, B6), and vitamin C, and traces of zinc and calcium, make it a perfect vegetable to eat during pregnancy. Okra also serves as a supplement for fiber and folic acid. This helps prevent birth defects like spina bifida and can even stop constipation during pregnancy.

Okra holds significant amounts of vitamin C, which helps in the formation of collagen in the eyes, as well as prevents oxidative stress in eye tissue. Okra also contains substantial amounts of vitamin C, which supports in the formation of collagen in the eyes, as well as prevents oxidative stress in eye tissue.

ADDITIONAL FACTS
A single cup of raw okra has a little over 30 calories, about 3 grams of dietary fiber, 2 grams of protein, 7.6 grams carbohydrates, 0.1 grams of fat, 21 milligrams of vitamin C, around 88 micrograms of folate, and 57 milligrams of magnesium. This makes okra a nutrition hero and a very available food when it comes to our health. In addition with the many benefits of this amazing vegetable, below is a photo of the nutritional facts of okra.
