Adding okra to your diet can do wonders. Known as Bhindi in most Indian households, it is one of leading sources of some of the important bioactive components. The phytochemicals of okra have been found out to be extremely useful for potential therapeutic activities on several chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and digestive diseases as well as antifatigue effect, liver detoxification, antibacterial properties, chemo preventive activities etc. Moreover, okra mucilage has been widely used in medicinal applications such as a plasma replacement or blood volume expanders.

One of the astounding facts about okra is the different parts of the okra fruit (mucilage, seed, and pods) contain different important bioactive components allowing it to be consumed in whatever way we want. Believed to have originated from north African nation of Ethiopia, okra is perhaps the most underrated dietary constituent which has not yet been adopted as a superfood by large part of the world population.

Let us talk a brief about how it helps out body in various ways.

Antitumor properties

It is well documented that okra contains substantial amounts of flavonoids and phenols. A recent report elucidated that purified fractions of flavonoids from different parts of okra including its flowers, had a significant antitumor effect on colorectal malignancy both in-vitro, as well as in vivo, exerting a strong antioxidant potency concomitantly with substantial antiproliferative effects on tumor growth.

Antidiabetic properties

Okra plant parts have been widely reported to reduce hyperglycemic levels helping people out in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Okra mucilage, along with ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the pods, have been reported to lower the glucose levels in the blood of various diabetes models . Okra can also be used to treat Diabetes nephropathy which is a common complication of diabetes that has become a serious threat to human health and is expected to become the common cause of end-stage renal disease and cardiovascular events.

Antioxidant properties

Polyphenols in okra pods carries out the antioxidant activities by lowering MDA levels and increasing the SOD and glutathione peroxidase levels. A recent study concluded that immature okra pods contain large amount Polyphenols (almost 30%) unparallel to any other regular vegetables.

Overall, we can say okra is as an easily available, low-cost vegetable with various nutritional values and immense health benefit that must take up a place on your plate.