A popular green vegetable consumed extensively by people across India and many other warm countries in Africa, Asia, incorporated into their staple diet in soups, dal, sambar, curries and stir-fries, okra is undoubtedly loaded with good health and nutrition. Imbued with dietary fibers, antioxidants, vitamins A, B, C, K, folate, besides vital minerals of calcium, potassium, magnesium and being low on calories, fat, sodium, okra, also called bhindi, gumbo and ladies finger, confers umpteen merits for overall wellbeing. These include strengthening bones and joints, enhancing digestion, alleviating symptoms of diabetes, elevating brain power, accelerating weight loss, bolstering immunity and promoting optimal eyesight.
Designated by the scientific name Abelmoschus esculentus, okra is a flowering plant that develops thick, medium-length edible seed pods having an outer green covering with a slimy mucilaginous inner flesh containing seeds. These okra seed pods, apart from being eaten as part of the regular diet in India and many tropical countries in Southern Asia, West Africa, are also taken in the form of okra water. This is a simple, relatively bland concoction that is widely regarded as a proven wellness trend and a revitalising drink, especially for regulating blood glucose levels in diabetics.
How To Make Okra Water:
Cut 5 – 7 okra pieces slightly at the edges and chop each pod into two.
Pierce small holes on the external skin of all the sliced okra pieces.
Put these okra pieces in a large container filled with water.
Let it soak for at least 8 hours or keep it covered with a lid, at room temperature, overnight.
Squash the pods until all the remaining fluid oozes out.
Toss the pods, filter the water and consume it on an empty stomach or before meals.
The beneficial components present in the exterior green peel, inner white pulp and okra seed pods are assimilated in the liquid potion, which is known as okra water, to supply a plethora of essential nutrients and improve overall wellness.
Splendid Wellness Incentives Of Okra Water:
Controls Blood Sugar Levels
Okra water is an excellent natural remedy for mitigating uneasy signs of chronic diabetes. The richness of dietary fibers in okra combined with myricetin flavonoid antioxidants boosts energy metabolism and increases the absorption of sugar by muscles, to considerably decrease high blood glucose levels.
Remedies Constipation
Blessed with laxative properties, vitamin C, okra water effectively resolves constipation by cleansing the intestinal tract and aiding in unhindered bowel movements. Okra abounds in insoluble fibers, vitamin K, which help add bulk to stool and assist in the smooth excretion of body wastes from the gut.
Uplifts Nervous System Functions
Okra water is brimming with vitamin B6, choline, which significantly improves brain capacity and enriches memory, concentration, intelligence. Furthermore, the wealth of polyphenol antioxidants in okra scavenge harmful free radicals from the nervous system, to prevent neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Fosters Sturdy Bones
Drinking a small glass of okra water daily before meals confers superb merits for fortified bones, flexible joints and averting debilitating illnesses of osteoporosis, arthritis. Okra is a powerhouse of key minerals – calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, which reinforce bone density and support tough joints.
Augments Eye Health
Okra water is bestowed with vitamin A, which enhances eyesight and lowers the risk of acquiring vision-related illnesses of AMD, glaucoma, cataracts. It also possesses a treasure trove of carotenoid antioxidants – lutein, zeaxanthin, which protect optic cells, tissues in the system from oxidative damage.