The world’s most beautiful women, Cleopatra of Egypt and Yang Guifei of China loved to eat okra in their diets according to the history record.

When we visited the world’s most productive land of okra, Kami rural area in Kowchi Prefecture, Japan, young and old are all in smile and look very healthy. When we asked the secret of their beautiful smile and good health in that area, their answers were great grace of okra.

The history of okra seems to be very old and it was cultivated in Egypt before the time of Cleopatra. The okra plant spread to many parts of the world during the Atlantic slave trade. During WWII, the shortage of coffee beans made them use okra seeds as a substitute for coffee. This incident made the word “okra fever”. Since then, okra’s popularity never disappeared from local markets to convenience stores throughout the world and throughout the year.

Okra contains vitamins A and C and is a good source of iron and calcium. It also contains starch, fat, ash, thiamine and riboflavin. No wonder, Cleopatra and Yang Guifei maintained their beauties.

BENEFITS OF OKRA

* The superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilize the blood sugar by curbing the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract.
* Okra’s mucilage binds cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the filtering liver.
* Okra helps lubricate the large intestines due to its bulk laxative qualities. The okra fiber absorbs water and ensures bulk in stools. This helps prevent and improve constipation. Unlike harsh wheat bran, which can irritate or injure the intestinal tract, okra’s mucilage soothes, and okra facilitates elimination more comfortably by its slippery characteristic.
* Okra binds excess cholesterol and toxins (in bile acids). These, if not evacuated, will cause numerous health problems. Okra also assures easy passage out of waste from the body. Okra is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming, has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients, and is economically within reach of most unlike the OTC drugs.
* Okra fiber is excellent for feeding the good bacteria (probiotics). This contributes to the health of the intestinal tract.
* Okra is a supreme vegetable for those feeling weak, exhausted, and suffering from depression.
* Okra is used for healing ulcers and to keep joints limber. It helps to neutralize acids, being very alkaline, and provides a temporary protective coating for the digestive tract.
* Okra treats lung inflammation, sore throat, and irritable bowel.
* Okra has been used successfully in experimental blood plasma replacements.
* Okra is good for summer heat treatment.
* Okra is a supreme vegetable for those feeling weak, exhausted, and suffering from depression.
* Okra is good for constipation.
* Okra is good in normalizing the blood sugar and cholesterol level.
* Okra is good for asthma. Okra’s vitamin C is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which curtail the development of asthma symptoms.
* Okra is good for atherosclerosis.
* Okra is believed to protect some forms of cancer expansion, especially colorectal cancer.
* Eating okra helps to support the structure of capillaries.
* Some information shows that eating okra lowers the risk of cataracts.
* Okra is good for preventing diabetes.
* Okra protects you from pimples and maintains smooth and beautiful skin. We understand the reason why Cleopatra and Yang Guifei loved to eat okra.
* There are other medicinal uses of okra, like its protection against trans fats.

Article Source: http://www.pyroenergen.com/articles07/okra...th-benefits.htm

Cheers!

Hi StayHealthy2009,

You know there is nothing like good research, and this is nothing like good research!!

I will say one thing positive about this stayhealthy2009, you did give the uninformed writer the credit for writing this piece of comedy.

This is probably the closest thing I could find to health benefits for Okra........


Health Benefits of Okra
The following information states the major nutrients found in okra. It also reveals
research findings on the health benefits of eating okra.
Okra is commonly used in Southern, Creole, and Cajun cooking. This is due to the
fact that it was initially introduced into the United States in its southern region. Since
there is little frost in the southern region, okra grows well there.

Okra is low in calories and is a good source of many nutrients including vitamin B6 and
C, fiber, calcium, and folic acid. It is effective for the prevention of neural tube defects
in developing fetuses mainly due to its high content of vitamin B6, calcium, fiber, and
folic acid.


References
Nutrient Values (# of calories, fats, vitamins, minerals, and more)

Cheers

Okra is commonly used in Southern, Creole, and Cajun cooking. Okra is low in calories and is a good source of many nutrients including vitamin B6 and C, fiber, calcium, and folic acid.

Okra is a nutritional benefits,it is not a complete diet.The worldwide used versatile vegetable called okra is characterized by green color, elongated and tapering ridged pods infused with double row of seeds and slimy texture when cut open.Okra is low in calories and is a good source of many nutrients including vitamin B6 and
C, fiber, calcium, and folic acid. It is effective for the prevention of neural tube defects in developing fetuses mainly due to its high content of vitamin B6, calcium, fiber, an folic acid.

Hi,

University of Illinois says Okra contains the following...


Nutritional Value & Health Benefits

Okra is a powerhouse of valuable nutrients. Nearly half of which is soluble fiber in the form of gums and pectins. Soluble fiber helps to lower serum cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease. The other half is insoluble fiber which helps to keep the intestinal tract healthy decreasing the risk of some forms of cancer, especially colorectal cancer. Nearly 10% of the recommended levels of vitamin B6 and folic acid are also present in a half cup of cooked okra.

Nutrition Facts (1/2 cup sliced, cooked okra)

Calories 25
Dietary Fiber 2 grams
Protein 1.52 grams
Carbohydrates 5.76 grams
Vitamin A 460 IU
Vitamin C 13.04 mg
Folic acid 36.5 micrograms
Calcium 50.4 mg
Iron 0.4 mg
Potassium 256.6 mg
Magnesium 46 mg

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/okra1.html

Cheers

obviously okra is very beneficial for our body because okra contains vitamins A and C and is a good source of iron and calcium. It also contains starch, fat, ash, thiamine and riboflavin. No wonder, Cleopatra and Yang Guifei maintained their beauties.

Okra is low in calories and is a good source of many nutrients including vitamin B6 and C,fiber, calcium and folic acid.It is effective for the prevention of neural tube defects in developing fetuses mainly due to its high content of vitamin B6, calcium, fiber and folic acid.The superior fiber found in okra helps to stabilize the blood sugar by curbing the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract.

Okra is a tall tropical Asian annual plant widely cultivated in warm regions for its edible,mucilaginous green pods.Okra is a good source of vitamin C and A,also B complex vitamins,iron and calcium.It is low in calories,a good source of dietary fiber and is fat-free.

Okra is a mucilaginous plant as such it gives off a slippery/sticky substance when cut. This substance gives okra it's thickening properties.