3 Health Benefits of Okra Pods
Okra pods offers several health benefits due to its rich nutritional profile! These include the nutrients, fibre content and low calorie count.
What is Okra?
Okra is a versatile vegetable belonging to the Mallow (Malvaceae) family and native to regions in Africa and Asia. Okra is also known for its mucilaginous slimy texture.
Native names for Okra:
Okra has various names based on language and regions. Some include; Lady finger, Bhindi, Okro, Bamia, Quiabo, Vendakkai, Ngombo, Quimbombo
Top 3 health benefits of Okra!
Rich in fibre: Does fibre come to mind when planning a new diet or meals? It should! Unlike other vegetables, Okra has a high content of fibre making it important for digestive health. Consumption of Okra can promote regular bowel movement and, in turn, prevent congestion such as constipation.
Folate potency: Did you know that folate can be found in some fruits and vegetables? Well, Okra is one of them! Most commonly known as the medicinal name, Vitamin B9, is present in the aerial parts of Okra such as the pods. One of the top benefits of folate is the formation of red blood cells. Deficiency of folate can lead to specialised anaemia known as megaloblastic anaemia. Therefore consumption of okra will ensure a balanced diet as well as overall wellbeing.
Low in calories: Much like any other vegetable, Okra does contain calories but healthy calories! One cup of raw Okra contains up to 33 calories. Cooked okra has more depending on the method and added ingredients ranging from 50-60 calories. Lastly, fried Okra! Yes, it is delicious but if breaded or coated the calorie count is up to 200-250. However, this is subject to any additional sauces and other ingredients that will affect the overall calorie count.
Our Slide-out supplement contains less than 35 calories per packet and 3.2 grams of fibre!