Has the day-to-day life of taking care of your household, your family, and office work left you feeling drained and in a state of exhaustion? If so, okra water may be just what you need.
Research published in the journal Nutrients has shown that the seeds found in okra pods help reduce fatigue and stress.
Within the study, antioxidant assays were used to show the seeds of okra pods had significant anti-fatigue and antioxidant outcomes. Polyphenols and flavonoids were found to be more active in the seeds as well.
There are multiple health benefits for consuming this water and utilizing this vegetable in your cooking. It has even been shown to lower cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels in diabetes.
The Health Benefits of Okra
The main health benefits of the okra vegetable include the following:
- Diabetes management
- Dietary fiber
- Stress reduction
- Anti-fatigue elements
- Cholesterol reduction
We will delve more deeply into each health benefit of okra. Then we’ll discuss how to make water out of this vegetable to reduce stress and exhaustion.
Okra and Diabetes Management
Researchers from the University of Ahvaz published a study in the Cell Journal showing how an okra supplement improved diabetes management in diabetic rat models. Okra supplements reduced the high levels of fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in diabetic rats. Besides, okra decreased the homeostasis model assessment of basal insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index.
The pancreatic damages and islet structures among diabetic rats were also improved. This research shows how you can use okra to boost diabetes management.
More studies will need to be done to see how this vegetable affects diabetes in humans. In the meantime, you should ask your doctor if adding okra to your diet is a good idea.
One study did find that okra may stop the absorption of metformin in the bloodstream. Metformin is a medication that diabetes patients may use to manage their blood sugar levels. If you’re taking metformin, you should not have too much okra. Otherwise, ask your doctor about holistic treatments like okra.
Dietary Fiber and Okra Pods
Okra pods are low-calorie vegetables full of dietary fiber as well as good sources of vitamins and minerals. More specifically, okra has potassium, calcium, carbohydrates, and unsaturated fatty acids (linolenic and oleic acids), according to a study published last year in the journal Molecules.
Dietary fiber has a variety of health benefits, such as reducing hunger and improving digestion. A high-fiber diet can help people feel full for longer. Therefore, those who are overweight or obese could benefit from okra pods and its dietary fiber.
Dietary fiber is helpful for diabetic patients. It boosts insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. One study from Japan and published in the Nutrition journal uncovered how dietary fiber improves glycemic control among Type 2 diabetes patients.
Okra Water and Stress Reduction
So far, research has found that the seed extracts of the okra vegetable create a stress-reducing effect in mice. There is an antioxidant and anti-stress impact on the mice’s bloodstream.
Researchers from India and Malaysia studied the antioxidant and in vivo protective effect of okra seed extracts, which was published in the Scientific World Journal. The scientists used the elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST) among mouse models to study stress-based behavioral and biochemical deviations.
The results from the research bolster the idea that okra seed extracts contain anti-stress, antioxidant, and nootropic capabilities. Using seed extracts in okra water will help reduce stress on those particularly hard days.
Decreasing Fatigue via Okra
We all know that exercising regularly is hugely important for our health, but when we leave it off until the end of the day, we rarely have the energy to get up off the couch. However, with the use of okra, you may find yourself with more energy to go for a run or a long walk around the neighborhood.
A 2015 research study from China published in Nutrients found that consuming okra can help people exercise for more extended periods and even recover more quickly after working out without feeling a state of exhaustion.
So be sure to add okra to your diet if you want to exercise more after a long day at work. The cardiovascular benefits of exercise will help you live a longer and more active life.
Reducing Cholesterol through Okra
If you’re looking to lower your cholesterol, you’ll need to change up your diet. You’ll want to add some healthy and nutritious foods to the mix. Harvard Health Publishing reports that both okra and eggplant are low-calorie vegetables that are excellent foods for your soluble fiber intake. Oats and barley are also advised.
Reducing your LDL or low-density lipoproteins can be essential for keeping your cardiovascular system strong and healthy. You can reduce your cholesterol and LDL levels by adding foods like okra, nuts, beans, apples, grapes, strawberries, and fatty fish to your diet.
Now that we understand the importance of okra and its health benefits, it is time to discuss how to make okra water. If you want to lower your stress levels and reduce your fatigue, you’ll want to read the following information.
How to Make Okra Water
Some people may not like the texture of okra when added to salads, soups, stews, or a grilled veggie platter. However, okra water is a way to retain many of the nutrients of okra without having too much of the taste.
Drinking this kind of water will give you a simple way to get the nutrients without having to make a meal out of okra.
This water has become more popular and common in recent years. The nutrients in the skin of the pods and the seeds can be absorbed into the water by letting it soak overnight.
When making this water, you’ll need anywhere from three to five okra pods along with a glass of water or a mason jar. Clean the seeds before use. You can either slice the pods into strips or put them into the liquid as is.
You’ll need about eight ounces of water. The pods need to be soaked in the glass of water overnight. Then, you only have to remove the okra pods once morning comes and drink up!
If you sliced the pods into thin pieces, your glass of water would likely taste more bitter. However, you’ll get more nutrients from the okra pods!
You don’t want to pass up this vegetable. It has plenty of nutrients, and there are multiple ways to prepare it.
Other Okra Uses
Besides adding it into a glass of water, you can make all kinds of recipes with okra. For instance, a tomato and okra stew makes a great side dish to any meal! All you need is some celery, onions, okra, tomatoes, and bacon and simmer it in a Dutch oven before serving.
A roasted sweet potato and okra salad is an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving meal or a weekend dinner. You’ll need to cook red potatoes, yams, and okra as well as sautée some spinach before tossing the salad in a vinaigrette dressing.
You can even make a gumbo using okra. There are both shrimp or chicken gumbo recipes that include okra to thicken the stew. You won’t regret trying one out!
You can roast it, make a succotash, or throw it in a stew or soup. There are plenty of ways to cook okra to get its health benefits. On top of this, you’ll enjoy the delicious taste of gumbo or stew.
Others may want to consume okra by shredding the okra peel and ingesting it. You can use a kitchen grater to make this type of addition to your daily activities. Usually, you won’t need more than half a teaspoon of this peel.
You can also grind the seeds into a powder and add it to a smoothie or a glass of juice. Additionally, powdered okra can be easily bought at health food stores if you can’t grind the seeds at home.
Final Thoughts on Making Okra Water to Beat Fatigue and Stress
If you’re looking to reduce stress and eliminate fatigue from your life, you’ll want to consider adding okra to your diet. Many adults today have felt more fatigued than ever before due to demanding schedules for work, handling childcare, and managing their households. However, you’ll find that okra boosts your energy levels and even allows you to exercise for longer.
Adding okra to your water is a simple process that won’t take you more than five minutes. Just be sure to soak it overnight!
Also, you can reduce the stress you feel on those charged-up days with too many things on your to-do list. By adding okra water to your morning routine, you’ll recharge your batteries and feel ready to start the day feeling refreshed.
Community
