Is Okra Helpful To Treat Diabetes?

Are you suffering from diabetes? Have you been looking for a natural remedy for diabetes, but could only find those insulin injections? What if you could rid yourself off diabetes by just consuming an ingredient from your kitchen? Unbelievable, isn’t it?

This is where okra comes into play! A diet rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals offer a number of health benefits. Okra contains all these nutrients and can actually control blood sugar levels in the body.

Here is all you need to know about okra and diabetes. Then go ahead give a read!

What Is Okra?

Okra is commonly referred to as lady’s finger and its botanical name is Abelmoschus esculentus. Here are some facts about okra you need to be aware of:

The tender pods of okra are generally used as a vegetable in tropical countries.

It helps control blood sugar level in the body along with offering various health benefits.

Okras are very low in calories and provide just 30 calories per 100 gm with no saturated fats or cholesterol.

Okras are rich in nutrients as they contain vitamin C and K, as well as significant amounts of magnesium.

How To Take Okra For Diabetes?

The best way to use okra for controlling diabetes is with the use of okra water. Following are the steps to prepare okra water:

1. Take two okra pods and cut off their ends.
2. Sticky liquid will ooze out once you slit the pod. Do not wash it.
3. Take a glass full of water and drop these pods into it at night and cover with a dish.
4. In the morning, take out the pods and drink the water in the glass.

You have to prepare okra water daily and drink daily in the morning to control your raised blood sugar level. It is important to note that okra water helps cure diabetes much better than cooked okras. It is fine to add okra to your curries and soups, but take raw okra soaked in water for faster recovery from raised blood sugar levels.

How Does Okra Cure Diabetes?

Okra possesses some anti-diabetic properties because:

The soluble fiber present in this pod helps slow down the sugar uptake into the blood.

This is done by lowering the rate of sugar absorption from the intestine.

It reduces the glycemic load of glucose in the blood, which otherwise disturbs the body’s function to properly process the sugar leading to diabetes.

The soluble fiber forms a type of gel inside the bowel, which slows down the sugar absorption of food from the intestine. This soluble fiber also helps lower cholesterol by drawing in the bile acids, which contribute to raised cholesterol levels. This allows the body to pass acids out of the system and prevents its re-absorption.

What Makes Okra A Powerful Natural Remedy For Diabetes?

Some of the health benefits of okra that help diabetic people are:

1. Low GI (Glycemic Index) Food:

If you are diabetic, your health practitioner will advise you to eat food with low GI value. Okra is one of the foods that come with a GI index of 20 and as per medical standards, the GI value of okra is considered to be very low.

2. Soluble Fiber:

Soluble fibers are beneficial in treating diabetes as they play an important role in carbohydrate digestion. Okra contains rich amounts of soluble fiber, which helps in slowing down the digestive process and reduces the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels.

3. Prevents Kidney Diseases:

Kidney problems are a threat if you are diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. Almost half of the diseases related to kidneys are caused by diabetes. If you take okra regularly in your diet and okra water as well, it will help prevent kidney diseases.

4. Helps In Digestion:

Due to its soluble fiber content, okra helps accelerate the digestive system, improves blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of heart diseases. It is extremely good for the digestive system.

5. Good Source Of Antioxidants:

If you take foods rich in antioxidants, it helps prevent cancer, heart diseases and premature aging. Okra contains a large number of antioxidants like quercetin, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin and rutin. So, it not only prevents and treats diabetes but a host of other health issues! No doubt it is called a super food!

6. Minerals And Vitamins:

Okra is a good source of minerals and vitamins. It contains vitamins A, B6, C and K along with minerals like copper, magnesium, folate, calcium, potassium and manganese. These minerals and vitamins help to make the immune system strong and flush out toxins from the body.

Have you ever used okra for diabetes treatment? These health benefits of okra help maintain blood sugar levels and prevent the development of kidney diseases in case you are diabetic.

Scientific Evidence Of Okra Curing Diabetes:

Is okra good for diabetes? There are a few scientific studies that show the benefits of okra in diabetic people:

One such study was published in the journal of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences, 2011.

Researchers in India found that mice, which were fed dried and ground okra seeds and peels, showed reduced blood glucose levels.

The other batch of mice, which were on regular feeding of okra extract for about ten days, showed gradual decrease in blood sugar levels.

American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends a minimum of 3 to 5 servings of non-starchy vegetables everyday and okra fits the bill perfectly. Half a cup of cooked okra is equal to one serving suggested by ADA.

There is a need for more controlled clinical trials to support this anecdotal evidence. Some constituents of okra like polyphenols provide encouragement to such scientific studies. But one thing is for sure – consuming okra will not harm you in any way! So, make some okra water and start beating diabetes.