What is okra?
Okra is a green flowering plant known as "lady's
fingers." Okra belongs to the same plant family as hibiscus and cotton.
The term "okra" most commonly refers to the edible seedpods of the
plant.
Okra has long been favored as a food for the health-conscious. It
includes the following:
- potassium
- vitamin B
- vitamin C
- folic acid
- calcium
It has high dietary fiber content and is low in calories.
Recently, a new benefit of including okra in your diet has been considered.
Okra has been suggested as a way to help people with type 1, type
2, and gestational diabetes manages high blood sugar.
Incidences of diabetes diagnoses are only increasing, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The verdict is whether okra can be used successfully as a natural
diabetes treatment. On the other hand, the okra plant has a long list of proven
health benefits. Read on to see if okra could be a viable part of your diabetes
treatment plan.
Studies on okra and diabetes
Okra is still in the early stages of medical study for diabetes
treatment. According to one study, we know that okra water improved the blood
sugar levels of pregnant rats with gestational diabetes.
Roasted okra seeds, which have long been used in Turkey to treat
diabetes, have also been studied and proven to lower blood sugar positively.
1. Dietary fiber
Okra contains much fiber. Eight medium-sized pods are estimated to
have 3 grams of fiber.
This bulk fiber quality has several benefits. It improves
digestion, reduces feelings of hunger, and keeps people fuller for longer.
Foods with high fiber content are essential for diabetes dietary
treatment options. Increased dietary fiber intake has improved insulin
sensitivity and glycemic control.
2. Anti-stress effects
There is evidence that the seed extracts of okra have an
antioxidant, anti-stress effect in the bloodstream of mice.
Managing stress levels is an essential part of managing diabetes.
Long-term, high-stress levels can cause blood sugar levels to spike.
Mental health should be a part of any diabetes treatment plan, and
using okra and its derivative seeds can be a part of that plan.
3. May help lower cholesterol
Okra has been found to lower cholesterol levels in lab mice with
diabetes.
Foods with high fiber content and antioxidant qualities are
recommended for those with diabetes because they lower cholesterol. The
American Heart Association points out that people with diabetes are more likely
to have unhealthy cholesterol levels.
When high cholesterol levels are combined with diabetes, the
outlook is not good. That's why it's critical to make sure that your diet has
healthy cholesterol levels.
4. Anti-fatigue benefit
One study indicates that recovery times and "fatigue
levels" can be improved by using the okra plant.
You may be able to work out for longer and recover more quickly
when you include okra in your diet along with a healthy exercise routine.
Cardiovascular activity is an essential part of preventing and
treating diabetes. As a result, the okra plant may help you live a more active
lifestyle.
Forms
Okra water
A popular new way to consume okra is to drink "okra
water." Some have even suggested that drinking helps lessen diabetes
symptoms.
By soaking okra pods in water overnight, you can make this drink.
The water will absorb some of the valuable nutrients found in the skin and seed
pods.
If you're not crazy about the taste of okra, drinking this okra
water solution is a quick and straightforward way to derive its benefits
without eating it.
Some people prefer to cut the okra into thin slices instead of
soaking the pods whole. If you're preparing okra water this way, be ready for a
slightly bitter drink.
Okra peel and powdered seeds
The most traditional way to use okra medicinally is to peel it.
In the preliminary studies done to investigate the benefits of
using okra, using shredded okra peel was the most favorable way to ingest it.
You can use a handheld kitchen grater or a lemon zester to prepare
okra peel. Though there's no known limit for how much okra peel someone should
eat at one time, half of a teaspoon of okra peel should be more than enough for
your body to benefit.
Powdered okra seeds are dried out before being ground down.
Ingesting the powder from the seeds as a supplement has also been researched
and beneficial.
The process of making the powder is a bit time- and
labor-intensive. However, you can easily buy powdered okra seeds from health
food stores and online suppliers.
Okra recipe ideas
Okra's gel acts as a thickening agent, making it a popular
ingredient in soups and stews. If you want to include okra into your diet, a
simple gumbo recipe is an excellent place to start.
Another popular okra variation is pickled okra, which has a sour
flavor instead of the bitterness of the okra pod. Pickling okra softens the
peel as well.
If you have a dehydrator, drying okra pods and seasoning them with
sea salt provides a delicious snack to satisfy your crunch craving.
Safety concerns
If you're already on a treatment plan for your diabetes, you
should let your doctor know if you're looking into holistic treatments like
okra.
In one study, it was shown to block the absorption of metformin.
Metformin is a medication that aids in the control of blood sugar levels.
If you are taking metformin currently, okra is not something you
should experiment with.
Takeaway
There isn't any solid medical evidence that okra is a natural
diabetes cure.
It's critical to remember that okra isn't an insulin replacement.
With so many possible benefits for diabetes, it may be worth researching
alongside regular treatment if your doctor agrees.
Keep your medical professional up to date with any tweaks or additions to your diabetes treatment plan.