benefits of ladys finger

Ladys Finger or Okra is commonly famous by the name Bhindi all over India. It is a very cheap and simply found green vegetable having great source of the vitamins, minerals, dietary fibres and other healthy nutrients required for the normal growth and development of the body. It is widely cultivated in the tropical, subtropical and other warm regions of the world. Some people like it eating raw as it tastes good. It is widely known for its availability of high level soluble and insoluble dietary fibres.

Okra is also known as ladys finger in some parts of Asia. And various other names in other parts of the world.The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.Okra is an edible pea pod and although can be eaten raw, Ive never acquired the raw taste. You can lightly blanch, steam or give it a quick stir fry to reduce the green taste. Use when its tender, as it gets very fibrous when its older. In the okra pods, the white soft seeds (edible) are arranged in 5 to 10 vertical columns, giving it the angled appearance on the outside.

Okra is very low in calories and dense with nutrients. It ishigh in fiber, vitamin A, C, and folate content. It is also a good source of the B vitamins, vitamin K, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, and traces of magnesium and manganese. Okra is one of those few vegetables which have the highest content of phytonutrients and antioxidants such as beta carotene, xanthin and lutein.

Helps red blood cells production and prevent anemia. Okra is better known by its common name as ladys finger or gumbo. This high fiber vegetable is known for its high soluble and insoluble fiber content. This vegetable is usually used in many recipes and is also a part of many nutritional diets, as it is highly beneficial.

The high antioxidants in okra helps protect the immune system against harmful free radicals and prevent mutation of cells. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench, Hibiscus esculentis Linn), known in many English speaking countries as lady s fingers or gumbo, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. Okra is an annual herb that is widely cultivated for its edible green seed pods in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate climates. Okra is a hardy plant that can grow even with less water and in hot conditions.

The high antioxidants and vitamin C content make okra useful for reducing asthmatic attacks. okra is a perennial flowering plant belongs to the Malvaceae (mallows) family, and named scientifically as Abelmoschus esculentus. The okra plant bears numerous dark green colored pods measuring about 5 15 cm in length. It takes about 45 60 days to get ready to harvest fruits. Internally, the pods feature small, round, mucilaginous white colored seeds arranged in vertical rows. The pods are handpicked while just short of reaching maturity and eaten as a vegetable.

Folate in okra builds strong bones and density, preventing osteoporosis. The pods are among the very low calorie vegetables. They provide just 30 calories per 100 g, besides containing no saturated fats or cholesterol. Nonetheless, they are rich sources of dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins; often recommended by nutritionists in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs.

The soluble fiber helps to lower serumcholesterol, thus also reducing atherosclerosis and the risk of heart diseases. The pods are one of the rich sources of mucilage substance that help in smooth peristalsis of digested food through the gut and ease constipation condition.

The rich fiber and mucilaginous (slimy) content in okra pods help increase bulk, bind to toxins and ensure easy bowel movements with its natural laxative properties. The pods contain healthy amounts of vitamin A, and flavonoid anti oxidants such as beta carotene, xanthin and lutein. It is one of the vegetables with highest levels of these anti oxidants. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision.Regularly eating okra also reduces the risk of colon cancer.

It has insulin like properties that help to reduce blood sugar level. Fresh pods are the good source of folates; provide about 22% of RDA per 100 g. Consumption of foods rich in folates, especially during the pre conception period helps decrease the incidence of neural tube defects in the offspring.