Okra
Okra known in many English-speaking countries as
lady's fingers,
bhindi or
gumbo, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins. The plant is cultivated in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions around the world.
Cooking
It is popular in Indian and Pakistani cuisine, where chopped pieces are
stir-fried with spices,
sauteed,
pickled, salted or added to
gravy-based preparations such as
bhindi ghosht and
sambar. It is also simmered in
coconut based curries or
Masala Bhindi Sabji,
Fried. In India, it is also used in curries. In curries, okra is used whole, trimmed only of excess stalk and keeping the hard conical top, which is discarded at the time of eating. In South India, Okra is cut into small circular pieces about 1/4 inch thick and stick fried in oil with salt and hot pepper powder to make delicious curry. However, when used in sambar it is cut into pieces which are 1 inch thick to prevent it from dissolving when the sambar is let to simmer.
Okra is a popular
health food due to its high fiber,
vitamin C, and
folate content. Okra is also known for being high in antioxidants. Okra is also a good source of
calcium and
potassium.
Health benefits of Okra:Okra Promotes a Healthy Pregnancy - An extremely important
B vitamin for producing and maintaining new cells, folate is an essential compound for optimal pregnancy. The vitamin helps prevent birth defects like spina bifida and helps the baby to grow sufficiently.
Vitamin C is also essential for fetal development. Okra is rich in both folate and vitamin C.
Helps Prevent Diabetes – Thanks to fiber and other nutrients, okra proves beneficial in normalizing blood sugar in the body, helping with diabetes.
Helps with Kidney Disease – One study published in the October 2005 Jilin Medical Journal found that regular consumption of okra can help prevent kidney disease.
Supports Colon Health – Okra is full of dietary fiber, which is essential for colon health and digestive health as a whole. The
fiber Okra provides helps to clean out the gastrointestinal system, allowing the colon to work at greater levels of efficiency.
Additionally, the
vitamin A contributes to healthy mucous membranes,
helping the digestive tract to operate appropriately.
Could Help with
Respiratory Issues like Asthma - Okra contains vitamin C, which has been shown to help with respiratory issues like asthma.
Promotes Healthy Skin - Vitamin C helps keep the skin looking young and vibrant.
Read More at
Wikipedia .
Recipes Using Okra see
Here and
Here.
