Okra, commonly known as lady’s fingers, is considered a superfood for healthy eaters. The term “okra” refers to edible seapods of the plant which emerges from the hibiscus and cotton plant family. A popular food in India and southern United States, it has been mentioned in ancient Ayurveda texts, and now its diverse health benefits are being recognised by modern science as well. A great source of vitamin B6, fibre, and folate, adding lady’s fingers to your diet will make your meal healthy and nutritious. Here are some other advantages of consuming Okra in your food.

Okra is a powerful source of antioxidants and vital nutrients like folate, beta-carotene, and lutein. Eating okra can reduce risk of inflammation, heart diseases and even cancer.
Okra is a great food for people who are watching their weight. Its low calorie-count, a mere 33 calories per 100 gms, ensures your body gets all the nutrients it needs without adding excess weight. It is also a rare vegetable with high-protein content so you feel energised without a rise in calorie count.
Okra is rich in several nutrients and vitamins that promote an active lifestyle. It is believed to aid the treatment of common maladies like constipation, depression, cholesterol, and sore throat. Okra seeds contain substances called polyphenols and flavonoids, which help in reducing fatigue.

Apart from the above-mentioned advantages, scientists have recently discovered another great benefit of eating okra. Due to its diverse nutrient count, it is being recommended as an efficient diabetic food. Even though research on the benefits of Okra for diabetes is in its early stage, scientists consider this savoury green vegetable a healthy choice for patients with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Here are some reasons why okra is considered a great food for diabetic diets.

1. Helps in managing blood-sugar levels

High blood sugar levels are quite common among diabetes patients. Since okra is rich in both soluble and insoluble fibres, it takes more time to break down and digest, which results in a gradual release of sugar in your bloodstream. This avoids a steep rise in the blood-sugar levels of diabetic patients while ensuring satiation.

2. A low starch food

Okra is ranked low in the glycaemic index of foods. The glycaemic index indicates the effect of carbohydrates on the blood sugar level. Since okra is a low GI food, with only 7.45 grams of carbohydrates per 100gms weight, it metabolises slowly and is considered a safe food for diabetic patients.

3. Diverse preparations

Diabetic patients often have to be more careful about what’s on their plate than everyone else. As okra can be prepared in a variety of ways, it can be suited to the palate to give them sufficient nutrients without being tasteless.

As mentioned earlier, okra can be prepared in a variety of delicious styles. In Indian households, it is traditionally served as a spiced fry vegetable (bhindi or okra vegetable) that is consumed with chapati. But, it can also be eaten raw, steamed, grilled, or even infused into detox water. Orka water is a trendy new way of consuming okra without adding extra fat or carbohydrates, added by sides like chapati or oil used in the preparation, to your diet. Here’s a simple okra recipe that you can infuse in water:

Take five medium-sized okra pods and wash them thoroughly.
Cut the ends of the pods and split them in half by cutting horizontally.
Take a jar of water, add the split pods into the water, and soak overnight
Squeeze the pods into the jar the next day and take them out.
Your okra water is ready to drink.

Whether you’re diabetic or not, okra will make a great addition to your diabetic food list. Make sure you benefit from its nutritious contents, but, before making any significant changes to your diet, please consult your doctor or nutritionist. For more tips on health and wellness check out the Fitness and Lifestyle sections of the Activ Living Blog.

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