Health

12 Benefits of Drinking Okra Water You Need to Know About

9. Okra water can reduce the risk of asthma attacks The antioxidant properties of vitamins get linked to a reduction in the severity of asthma attacks.… Simi - May 24, 2018

9. Okra water can reduce the risk of asthma attacks

The antioxidant properties of vitamins get linked to a reduction in the severity of asthma attacks. People living with Asthma tend to have lower antioxidant levels than non-sufferers. The rate of asthma diagnosis is rising. Researchers suggest that the modern Western diet does not contain enough antioxidants due to fewer fresh fruits and vegetables forming part of it linking it to increased incidences of asthma.

During a comparison between consumers of the Western diet and those that followed a Mediterranean diet which contains more antioxidants, fewer incidences of asthma were observed in Mediterranean diet followers. Therefore, small studies show a link between increased antioxidants in the body and improved asthma control and lung function in asthma sufferers.

Pulmonary and oxidative stress cause asthma, as this causes increased allergic inflammation in the lungs and respiratory tract. An insufficient quantity of antioxidants in the body will mean that it cannot fight the oxidants that are causing asthma. Antioxidants neutralize the free radicals in oxidants which are present in the lungs of people with asthma. The three main antioxidant vitamins are Beta-carotene (Vitamin A), Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

Increasing the consumption of these vitamins mean that the levels of antioxidants in the blood will rise. Antioxidants are also present in the minerals copper, zinc and selenium. These minerals are also found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Okra contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Beta-carotene (Vitamin A). It also provides copper and selenium. It is, therefore, a rich source of antioxidants. You can boost your daily intake of antioxidants by including okra water in your diet.

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10. Okra water can help with the treatment of diabetes

First and foremost, it must be clear that okra has some anti-diabetic properties which may prevent the onset of diabetes and which can help to lower blood sugar levels, it is NOT a cure for diabetes. In early 2014, a post on social media claiming that okra water could make diabetes go away and eliminate the need for insulin went viral. View such posts with skepticism. Consult a healthcare professional before taking any drastic steps with regard to a program of treatment and medications.

The consistency of the carbohydrates in okra does help to slow the uptake of sugar into the body. It reduces the rate at which sugar gets absorbed into the bloodstream. That means that sugar that the body would have absorbed during digestion gets eliminated from the body as waste. In people living with diabetes, this can help to even out their sugar levels so that they become more even and less erratic.

For those who are pre-diabetic, there is a chance that introducing okra to the diet can balance the sugar levels out before they reach diabetic levels. Some study, research, and development in this area are in their infancy. You can do more before we can say that okra will replace insulin for the treatment of diabetes. Diabetes can be an inherited condition.

Therefore, if there is a family history of diabetes, it would be a good idea to incorporate okra water into the diet as a preventative measure, although this is not a guarantee that you will not develop diabetes. However, anyone can benefit from the anti-diabetic properties of okra which reduce the absorption of sugar into the body.

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11. Okra water can help eliminate anemia

Anemia is a deficiency of healthy red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s organs, muscles, and tissues. When insufficient oxygen gets delivered to the body, the anemia sufferer will experience fatigue and weakness. There are different types of anemia. Each one has its cause. Some are mild, and others are life-threatening. Some are temporary, and others are permanent.

Most commonly, anemia begins when the body doesn’t make enough red blood cells, when the body destroys its red blood cells, or when the body can’t produce enough red blood cells to replace those lost during an episode of bleeding. The red blood cells produced in the body are called hemoglobin. They contain an iron-rich protein. When there is a deficiency in iron in the body, hemoglobin manufacture reduces which can result in anemia. As well as iron, the body needs folate (folic acid) and Vitamin B12 to produce hemoglobin.

These are the most common causes of anemia, although there are others such as aplastic anemia (when the body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells) or hemolytic anemia (when the body cannot produce enough red blood cells to replace those destroyed). If you are suffering from anemia caused by an iron, folate or Vitamin B12 deficiency, you can treat it with supplements.

Okra contains iron and folate and can be used to increase their levels in the blood. Drinking okra water every day may not eliminate the need for supplements to treat mild cases of anemia, but it can reduce supplement requirements. To treat anemia one must consume vitamin and mineral-rich diet.

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12. Okra water can help with weight loss

One of the first things a nutritionist or dietician will suggest to someone who wants to lose weight is to eat foods with a low GI. These are foods that are low on the Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index ranks carbohydrates according to their effect on glucose levels in the blood. When food ranks low on the GI, it means that it gets slowly digested and metabolized and causes a lower, slower rise in blood sugar levels.

Carbohydrates are essential to the body, and you cannot cut them out of your diet to lose weight. Carbs are the fuel on which our bodies run. They provide the body with energy so that we can function. But there are ‘good’ carbohydrates and ‘bad’ carbohydrates. ‘Bad’ carbohydrates are high on the GI with a rating of 70 or more. A medium rating is 56-69. ‘Good’ carbohydrates are low on the GI with a ranking of 55 or less.

Potatoes, short-grained rice, and white bread are high on the GI. Orange juice and honey are in the GI’s medium range. Beans, milk, pasta, and fruit are low on the GI and therefore considered healthier. Low GI foods are suitable for people with diabetes as they cause less of a blood glucose rise than high GI foods.

Low GI foods are rated as the most filling and can act as appetite suppressants which is why they have an association with weight loss. They keep the eater satisfied for longer and can also help to control cravings. Okra is a low GI food, which is why incorporating it into the diet can promote and sustain weight loss in the long term.

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