OKRA

Okra (Hibiscus Esculentus), is a green vegetable (also known as ladies fingers) It comes from the okra plant, where the immature seed pods form the vegetable. You might have noticed them in your local ethnic restaurant. 

Okra’s benefits comes from its significant anti-oxidant properties, and its nutrient rich profile.

Okra is a viscous fibre, like oats(oat beta-glucan in Cholestero-low).With respect to the cholesterol lowering, diabetes controlling and appetite curbing, these benefits mainly stem from its viscous fibrous nature. (Shameless shout out for the benefits of Cholestero-low!)

Cholesterol Lowering : Read the diet sheet from a cholesterol lowering study that used okra, oats and other heart healthy ingredients here! 

(The okra/oat group lowered cholesterol almost as much as the statin (33%v 30%). Read that here)

Curb Cravings– similar to the oat beta-glucan in (Cholestero-Low!!), the okra, is a vicious/soluble fibre that encourages/tricks the gut into feel fuller for longer.

Controls Diabetes Increasingly, research into its anti-diabetic properties is being investigated and whilst the exact mechanism hasnt been fully figured out. In a broad range of studies, the results are similar. A reduction in blood sugar, and HbA1C as well as improvement in cholesterol or lipid profile.

 

Animal Research

It is important to highlight, that whilst there are human studies, much of the research on okra has been carried out on animals. How? By getting mice and rats to eat okra and checking for the outcomes!

 

How do you cook OKRA ??

Read more here

How ??

Where do I get OKRA ?

 

You can get okra in various supermarkets, local markets & asian markets. A link to one place I found that delivers is here