benefits of ladys finger

It is the richest source of antioxidants and phytonutrients (vitamin C, beta carotene, xanthin, lutein and etc) thus prevents from the early ageing. The okra is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. High in dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, protein, riboflavin, niacin iron, zinc and copper.

It helps in improving the memory level by regulating the mental functions as it contains folate which plays great role in producing some important compounds required for brain functioning. Okra plant grows in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate areas and is believed to be a native of South Asia, Ethopia or West Africa. The plants grow to about 6 7 feet tall. Okra pod has a slimy feel due to the presence of mucilage.

Juice of the ladys finger leaves helps in treating various disorders of urinary tract including painful urination, gonorrhoea, syphilis and etc. This sliminess is not preferred by many people and can be reduced by adding vinegar, tomatoes, tamarind paste,dry mango powder, curd or some drops of lemon. It can also be reduced by slicing the pods thin and cooking till the mucilage dissolves or okra can be added as the last ingredient to the preparation of the dish so as to cook it for as little time as possible.

Ladys finger should be bought fresh from the market instead of saving it in the freeze for days in large amount. Always select small, dark green, soft, spots free, closed ends and organically grown. Avoid buying wrinkled, dehydrated, long, tough, hard, inorganically grown, spotted and dull colored. It can be stored in the refrigerator for two to three days in the plastic bag after proper wash.

Before using ladys finger for cooking purposes, it should be washed thoroughly under running water. It should be dried completely using towel before cooking. It can be enjoyed as a soup, bhujua, curry, kalaunji, pickles, whole fried and etc.

Eating ladys finger needs some precautions as it has some side effects and disadvantages. Some of are mentioned below: It contains oxalic acid which promotes kidney stone formation and causes kidney failure. Oxalic acid may also cause joint problems like joints pain due to the accumulation of some precipitates in the joints. It may cause acidity problem.

It contains lots of beneficial health effects as discussed above in the article however, should be eaten within limit to avoid the side effects of oxalic acid found in it. The seeds can be roasted and ground to form a drink very similar to coffee but without coffee s caffeine content. In fact during World war II there was shortage of coffee and the seeds were ground and used as a replacement coffee.

Okra, also known as lady finger , is one of the popular nutritious vegetables of North Eastern Africa origin. They usually gathered while the pods are green, tender, and at immature stage. The plant is cultivated throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions around the world for their fibrous fruits or pods. It grows best in well drained and manure rich soil.

In general, some of the hybrid varieties of okra may have beensubject to insecticide/pesticide sprays. Therefore, wash the pods thoroughly in the cold water in order to remove dust, soil and any residual insecticides.Trim the top stem end using a paring knife. Some prefer trimming tip ends as well. Then, cut/slice the pod as desired.

The high allowance of folate contained in ladys finger or okra is beneficial for the fetus during pregnancy. Folate is an essential nutrient which advances the development of the fetus body. The high allowance of folic acid in ladys finger or okra plays a significant role in the neural tube formation of the fetus through the fourth to twelveth week of pregnancy.