Okra [ Scientific Name: Abelmoschus esculentus; Hibiscus esculentus]
Okra is a vegetable that has been cultivated for more than 800 years originating somewhere in present day Ethiopia. It was introduced by Africa to America and has been an important part of the South American diet in the form of stews and gumbos (thick stews). In the Philippines, okra is used in the traditional “pinakbet†and “sinigang†and to some extent a plain roasted vege; some would eat it raw. It is a significant source of dietary fiber, Vitamin A, and potassium and Vitamin C. The seeds of okra can be dried, roasted, ground and brewed as a substitute for coffee. The ripe seeds can also yield edible oils. The leaves are used as medicinal remedy to reduce swelling and inflammation. This vegetable is rich in dietary fibers that help stabilize blood sugar. Okra can also help reduce cholesterol by binding along with bile acids which usually carry the toxins which the body should eliminate. The mucilaginous material in the fruit also facilitates the binding. This property is comparable to taking statins. As we know statins are the drugs that doctors prescribe in cases of high cholesterol or high dangerous fat in the blood. This however works in our intestines and virtually eliminating the source of high fat that is already attached with bile salts.
Furthermore, the bulk formed by okra in the stool promotes the growth of good bacteria. This property is similar to probiotics. So why take expensive anti-hyperlipedimic (high fat in blood) drugs when you can eat okra. Among ulcer suffering people, okra can be beneficial as anti-ulcer, comparable to a standard drug misoprotol with good results. The alkaline pH of okra could also contribute to its effect in gastro-intestinal ulcers by neutralizing the digestive acids.
So eat okra, it’s great for our health and digestion!
October 5th, 2006 at 4:22 pm
Okra had been recommended to me as a great food for the reduction of my blood sugar levels. Imagine my disappointment when it turned out to be a high source of potassium as well. Kidney complications from Type II diabetes mean I have to adhere to a strict low potassium diet. I confort myself by remembering a description of the little vegetable I heard years ago: “Flat as a lima bean and slimy as a rancid dhicken.” I guess I’ll stick to cinnamon.
October 31st, 2006 at 4:14 am
does okra seeds can cause arthritis?
December 26th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
There is mixed opinion on okra as contributory to arthritis. Some have said to avoid okra while advocates of natural remedies say that the carotenoids in okra can prevent arthritis. In the medical field the do’s and don’t (s) in food are best handled by the person, generally avoid beans but you can try to see what should be avoided by eating small amounts and observing the effects, i.e., arthritis. If you can remember what you ate that made your condition bad, then a diet recall should be a good basis for not eating certain foods. One of the most important factor in arthritis is the genetic predisposition or familiy history of arthritis; some people cannot metabolize uric acid well and so eating even a small serving of food with beans causes arthritic symptoms.Â
Doc Emil
May 16th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Hi Doc Emil
Is there any other way to get rid of ovarian cyst aside from surgery? Any herbal or fruits and vegeble that you can suggest…im trying to avoid a surgery as possible. my OV size is 10cm X 7.5cm X5cm. is it true that sambong can help to hasten or induces mentruations? because i am having a short monthly period. im 30yrs old and kidney transplant for more than 3yrs…i hope you can help me doc…im avid viewers of Salamat Dok…here in China….thank you and more power
Saloni
from.China
November 20th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Hi doc!
what are the nutrients can be found in okra seed?
thank you and God bLess!
December 8th, 2007 at 7:00 am
i really love tyo eat okra
December 12th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Are okra seeds digested? Or will they come out in your stool?
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:56 am
greetings!
I just want to know the other banefit of okra,a friend of mine told me that it eating raw okra helps your skin look younger.how true is this?Im afraid to eat raw veg in case farmers oversprayed it with pesticides.maybe half cook is better.
thanks,
elsa.
————————————————-
From Doc Emil: Okra belongs to the “Hybiscus family” and okra is a rich source of B-complex vitamins including folic acid. B-complex vitamins are important for skin health…so this vege is good for the skin. If your are in doubt about the presence of pesticides, soak the vegetables in vinegar solution for about 30 minutes -about 1 tablespoon vinegar in 1 liter of water. Soaking vegetables overnight in water is also a good practice to get rid of pesticide residue in plants.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:02 am
Doc emil,
Doc i have varicocele in the left testicle as per diagnosed by my Urologist. Is there any fruit or vegetables i will eat to help reduce or treat such abnormality?
thanks,
Philip
August 13th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I just want to ask if it istrue that people suffering from arthritis should avoid eating okra
August 16th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Good Site More Power
Busby SEO Challenge
September 24th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I have an Investigatory project which focuses on okra. What are the chemicals that makes it up?
January 13th, 2009 at 7:52 am
Gud day. My mother is diabetic.Lately she was diagnose to have higher uric acid and her blood sugar is only 7.5…Can I still recommend eating okra to her? Tanx for the info.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Thanks for the wonderful and fascinating information! I have been amazed read through, it is surprising, as such simple things can be such fascinating…. Thanks for interesting articles!
June 14th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
it helps a lot..
thank you Doc..
August 20th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I was wondering if okra seeds are digestible or do they just come undigested in the stool.
FROM DR. ALIGUI: Okra seeds are not digestible. If you are bothered by those, remove the seeds after boiling or just discard them when eating okra. It is not advisable to remove the seeds before cooking since the mucilaginous juice will come out.
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:10 am
Dear Doc Emil,
My mother, 75 yrs. old has a lymph nodes at her neck. the doctor gave her antibiotics, after few days the size decreases. The doctor advised us to see a surgeon for a biopsy. Is there a way to get rid of it thru other means by not using conventional procedures and medicine?
Thank you so much, and more power
Anne
From Doc Emil: No possible way for now until you know why there are enlarged lymph nodes. The biopsy can show the nature of the lymph node enlargement.
July 11th, 2010 at 7:10 am
good day!
I am Jonjie B. Saveron, a B.S. Chemistry student of Adamson University. I’m doing my thesis now which is related to okra. I just wanna ask if the okra seeds contains uric acid?Can you please give me a reference book where I can find it?
Thank You so much…I hope you can reply immediately….God Bless…
————
From Doc Emil: You cannot equate uric acid with seeds. If you are thinking that okra seeds would contain uric acid and it will cause gout or elevation of uric acid, review biochemistry and it is the purine levels of plants that cause the elevation of uric acid in patients. Since you are a chemistry student, explore the usefullness of the mucin property of okra. What does it contain and what are its characteristics. This would be important to infer it potential as a nutraceutical in ulcer disease.
September 2nd, 2010 at 1:00 pm
[...] The Ethnic Vegetable that is OKRA [...]
September 12th, 2010 at 2:52 am
hi doc emil.,i hav research about okra seeds., we used it as a paste(food paste)., is there no other important substance in okra seeds that can harm our body 2 8 ds one?.,tanx.
November 12th, 2010 at 7:54 am
I am type 2 diabetic. I learn form the friend that OKRA is useful for controlling sugar. He has given me the procedure as mentioned below.
01. take two piece of okra
02. cut it and place in glass of water over night.
03. Drink water in the morning removing okra before breakfast.
Pl. provide your guidance regarding use of OKRA for controlling sugar.
Regards
Shailesh Bhatt
————-
Okra is a health food and has a lot of fiber. It is less known to lower blood sugar. -Usually- these ampalaya, water cress, malunggay, luyang dilaw (turmeric) and banaba.
January 9th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Hello! Would you happen to know what the pH level of Okra is?