Lady’s finger (Okra) has edible green seed pods. The scientific name of the lady’s finger is Abelmoschus esculentus. Lady’s finger is a flowering plant in the mallow family and the scientific English-speaking countries as ochro or lady’s finger. The alternative name of the lady’s finger is Okra.
Lady’s finger is often used as an ingredient in Indian and Pakistan cuisine
Size: plant height 5ft
Shape: oblong shaped vegetable, tapering at the end with tiny seeds inside
Color: Fresh-looking long, and dark green
Flavor: lady’s fingers typically have a mild flavor
Lady’s finger (Okra): Supplements, Uses, and Properties
Supplements
Lady’s finger facilitates the production of hemoglobin, blood clotting, and red blood cells because of the production of Vitamin K, folate, and iron. All these actions assist in the protection.
Okra contains vitamins C and collagen thus, it is beneficial for the skin.
Uses/ways
Soo many people use lady fingers in soups, dar, curries, and stir-fries.
Usually, consumed in hot countries like Africa and Asia.
Properties
- test-tube studies suggest that a lady’s finger is good for her eyes, and also maintains the vision
- Involved in RBC’s production because mucilage has a medical good presence of vitamins that boosts immunity
- Bhindi also contains carotenoid which assists in the improvement of skin
- Consider it a weight-loss diet
- Relieves Constipation
Nutrients
Lady’s finger (Okra) is undoubtedly loaded with good health and nutrition. One cup of 100 grams of raw Lady’s finger contains
- Calories: 33
- Fats: 0 .2 g
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Carbs: 7g
- Fiber: 3.2 g
- Protein: 1.9 g
| How to grow Lady’s finger? |
Unique benefits of Lady’s finger (Okra)
Anti-cancer properties
Test tube studies in breast cancer cells found at the lectin in okra main prevent breast cancer cell growth by up to 63%. Another test-tube study in my metastatic mouse melanoma cells discovered that okra extract caused cancer cell death. Lady’s finger (Okra) contains a type of protein called lectin, which may inhibit the growth of human cancer cells.
Beneficial for pregnant women
folate (vitamin b9 ) is an important nutrient for pregnant women. It helps lower the risk of neural tube defect which affects the brain and spine of a developing fetus. Lady’s finger (Okra) is a good source of folate, with one cup providing 15% of a woman’s daily needs for these nutrients. A review that included 12,000 healthy adult women found that most consumed just 245 mg of folate per day on average. It is recommended that all women of childbearing age consume 400 mcg to f folate every day.
Easy to add to the diet
Lady’s finger (Okra) is quite easy to cook, though okra may not staple in your kitchen. Usually, okra is used in soups and stews like gumbo. It contains mucilage, a thick substance that becomes gummy when heated. To avoid slimy okra, follow these simple cooking techniques:
- Simple slice and roast in your oven
- Pickling okra may reduce the slime factor
- Cook okra at high heat
- Grill until it’s slightly charred
- Avoid crowding your pan or skillet, as this will reduce the heat and induce the sliminess
Contains beneficial anti-oxidants
Many anti-oxidant is present in Lady’s finger (Okra) that benefit your health. Anti-oxidants are polyphenols, including flavonoids as well as vitamins a and c. Polyphenols may also benefit brain health due to their unique ability to enter your brain and protect against inflammation. Also, improve health by lowering your risk of blood clots and oxidative damage. It will assist in protecting your brain from symptoms of aging and enhance cognition, learning, and memory
Lower heart disease risk
Lady’s finger (Okra) contains a thick gel-like substance called mucilage during digestion which can bind to the cholesterol causing it to be excreted with stools rather than absorbed into the body
Lower blood sugar level
Overall health depends on the sugar level so it is most important to maintain a healthy blood sugar level Lady’s finger contains a fairly good amount of fiber, half of which is soluble fiber in the form of gums and pectins which helps to lower serum cholesterol; reducing the risk of heart diseases. The mucilage of the lady’s finger binds to the cholesterol and bile acid-carrying toxins dumped into it by the liver
Side effects of Lady’s finger (Okra)
The presence of a large number of oxalate crystals in a lady’s finger may cause the formation of stones in the kidney and gallbladder and cause obstructions, especially in the urinary tract.
Patients with a high level of uric acid are prescribed to avoid lady’s fingers.
Cooking a lady’s finger (Okra) can be simple. Add it to your grocery list to try a new ingredient with powerful health effects.
FAQ
What are the benefits of Lady’s finger?
Lady’s fingers have numerous health benefits and if you eat them daily in moderate size, it is good for your health. Some of the benefits are they lower heart disease risk and blood sugar levels. it is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C, and packed with minerals.
Is lady finger and okra the same?
Yes, both are the same okra names used in the United States and the Philippines while lady’s finger is used in other English-speaking countries.
