3. Okra water can help reduce cholesterol
Increasing the amount of soluble fiber in your diet can help to reduce the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This is the ‘bad cholesterol’ that causes clogging of the arteries and heart disease. Our bodies need cholesterol to build healthy cells, but an excess of cholesterol can be dangerous. High levels of cholesterol can be an inherited condition, but it is more often than not caused by a poor diet. This includes a diet that contains too many saturated fats and trans-fats.
When a person has high cholesterol, the fatty deposits that it causes in the arteries and veins reduces their width and prevents blood from flowing through the heart and to the brain and the rest of the body. Decreased blood flow can cause the blood to become less oxygen-rich, which can render the heart unable to function optimally which may result in a heart attack. A decreased supply of blood to the brain can result in a stroke.
People with dangerously high levels of cholesterol are prescribed a cholesterol-lowering medication by a healthcare professional. However, we recommend that must make lifestyle changes such as engaging in more exercise and following a healthier diet. One of the ways they can do so is to drink okra water on a daily basis. This is because okra water is rich in soluble fiber.
The reason that soluble fiber helps with cholesterol is that it reduces the rate of the absorption of cholesterol in the bloodstream, thereby preventing it from accumulating in the blood vessels. Lower levels of cholesterol reduce the chances of suffering from the coronary or cardiovascular disease.