Now is an era that pays attention to health preservation. It is recommended to consume more vegetables for health preservation, and in ancient China, okra, which is known as the top of the five vegetables, is an excellent choice. Why is okra the top of the five vegetables? First of all, okra has strong vitality. When people harvest okra, as long as the roots are left, okra will quickly grow new leaves. At the same time, okra has high nutritional value. Regular consumption of okra has great health benefits. Today, let’s thoroughly understand okra at once!
Okra is often referred to as coffee okra or yellow okra due to its color when ripe. Okra has become a popular nutritious vegetable for many people. Regular consumption of okra is beneficial for health. Okra has strong vitality and high economic value. Additionally, it is rich in nutrients and is often referred to as the king of vegetables.
Okra is very nutritious. Its pods contain a lot of sticky juice, which contains many nutrients such as pectin, galactose, and arabinogalactan. The pectin in okra is a soluble fiber and has great benefits for maintaining gastrointestinal health and nourishing the body.
Okra pods also contain a certain amount of protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and various other nutrients. Okra also contains various sugars, making its nutritional value extremely high.
Firstly, regular consumption of okra has the effect of nourishing the yang for men and nourishing the yin for women. Okra contains special medicinal components that can strengthen the kidneys for men and help stimulate estrogen secretion for women.
Secondly, okra has the effects of enriching the blood, nourishing the qi, beauty, and weight loss. Okra has extremely low fat content but is rich in soluble fiber and various nutrients. Regular consumption of okra does not lead to fat accumulation but promotes digestion and bowel movements. Okra also contains high levels of iron, which helps in blood augmentation. Additionally, the vitamins and pectin in okra nourish the skin, and the carotenes inhibit the growth of free radicals, contributing to anti-oxidation and beauty benefits.
Thirdly, okra can help relieve fatigue and improve the body’s resistance. The pods of okra contain various sugars and abundant protein elements, which help alleviate fatigue and boost vitality. These polysaccharides and other nutrients can enhance the body’s immune system, inhibit the deposition of lipids, effectively prevent various cardiovascular diseases, and to some extent, enhance the body’s resistance.
Finally, the soluble fiber, mucoproteins, galactose, and other nutrients in okra can promote the body’s digestive system. The mucoproteins secreted by okra can protect the stomach and stimulate the secretion of gastric mucus. The pectin and mucoproteins in okra can also inhibit excessive sugar absorption, suppress cholesterol absorption, and have a certain effect on stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Okra has high nutritional value and is generally suitable for consumption by the vast majority of people. However, due to the cool nature of okra promoting digestion, it is best to avoid excessive consumption for those with weak digestion or prone to diarrhea as it may worsen the condition.
Okra has a high potassium content and contains a lot of calcium oxalate. Therefore, individuals with kidney discomfort or stone diseases should avoid excessive consumption. It is recommended to blanch okra before consumption to prevent the potassium content in the body from increasing excessively, exacerbating the problem of stone formation.
When storing okra, it is best to wrap the okra in newspapers or similar materials and store it in the refrigerator. When cooking okra, it is advisable not to use copper or iron containers, as okra may discolor when in contact with copper or iron, affecting its taste. Discolored okra does not produce any toxic substances but significantly impacts the taste.
When cooking okra, do not wash away the slimy substance on the okra. The slimy substance in okra is highly nutritious and is the essence of okra. Okra should not be cooked for too long to prevent the loss of nutrients.
