Recently, I shared my soon-to-be-famous Okra Chip recipe with you. But, I wanted to take another opportunity to talk to you about why I love okra so much. And I want to go into a little bit of depth on why okra (and especially okra extract) is so good for you….
Okra 101
Now, okra is a pod vegetable, and it is harvested in every season. Of course, summer is the best season for okra, as it does particularly well in warmer temperatures.
And, I think you’ll recall from the last time I mentioned okra to you, it can be a little slimy. But, that being said, it can be delicious when baked, fried, boiled or steamed. And baking it is a great way to take care of the slime problem, too.
What makes okra so healthy?
One of the best benefits okra has to offer is how rich it is in insoluble fiber. Remember, insoluble fiber doesn’t dissolve. It remains unchanged as you digest your food, so that it can essentially make your waste heavier and softer.
But, beyond being rich in insoluble fiber, okra is also extremely low in calories. In fact, 100 grams of okra has less than 30 calories. Furthermore, there are no saturated fats and cholesterol in okra.
And okra extract is filled to the brim with important nutrients. Take a look at what you’ll get in a ½ cup serving of sliced okra –
- 2 grams of dietary fiber
- 1.52 grams protein
- 13.04 mg Vitamin C
- 50.4 mg of calcium
- 256.6 mg of potassium
- 46 mg of magnesium1
But, the most exciting news about okra, is that because it’s such a great, concentrated source of polyphenols, it’s been shown to have powerful antioxidant and anti-fatigue properties.2,3
The Takeaway
Try to add okra extract to your diet. Look for supplements that contain okra extract, or go ahead and brave the slimy texture and cook it on your own. Of course, if you haven’t tried my Okra Chip recipe, give it a go. Your family will beg for it every week!
Sources
1.http://extension.illinois.edu/veggies/okra.cfm
2.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26516905
3.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814608003117
One Response
Dr. Gundry, thank you for this post! I am including a link to it on X. Since the beginning of 2023, I eat a bowl of okra EVERY DAY! I bake it for 20 minutes, sprinkle my favorite seasonings, and put them under the broiler for 5 minutes. I feel so satiated afterwards. I awake in the mornings so energized, and have tremendous energy throughout the day!