Okra

This vegetable has many names, but in Bulgaria it is known only as okra, bayan and lady’s fingers. Okra is a very valuable vegetable crop that belongs to the Slezovi family.

At present, nothing is known about the country of origin of this plant, but it is widely distributed in Africa, North America, India and the tropics.

Some botanists believe that its homeland is West Africa, others India. This is due to the fact that a wide variety of varieties and types of okra grow in these regions.

The vegetable is also found in Europe, but was imported by the Arabs. It is grown in Bulgaria and throughout the Balkan Peninsula.
Okra is an annual herbaceous plant. In height, it can reach up to 40 cm., but sometimes it reaches up to 2 meters.

Bayan has a rather thick and branched stem.

Nutritional value of 100 grams of okra

• Proteins – 2 grams;
• Fats – 0.1 grams;
• Carbohydrates – 3.8 grams;
• Mineral salts – 0.7 grams;
• Water – 90.1 grams;
• Energy value – 31 kilocalories;

Okra is considered a low-calorie food, as 100 grams of it contain approximately 31 kilocalories, therefore even people who are on a weight loss diet can consume this vegetable without restrictions.

Is okra useful?

Okra is called a vegetarian’s dream because of the large amounts of useful nutrients it contains – iron, proteins, plant fibers, vitamins C, B6, K, A, calcium and potassium .

Doctors recommend that pregnant women consume a lot of okra, because of the high concentrations of folic acid in this vegetable. With the help of this vitamin /B9/, the neural tube of the embryo is formed in the first weeks of pregnancy.

This vegetable regulates the level of blood sugar, because the ballast substances in it slow down the absorption of glucose during the digestion of food.

People with various digestive disorders are recommended to focus on dishes that include okra.
Using this vegetable is an excellent way to lose weight, as it does not harm health.

Okra is a wonderful tool for the prevention of diseases such as angina, depression and chronic fatigue. Bayan can even reduce asthma attacks.

This vegetable is particularly suitable for the diet of people suffering from atherosclerosis. In addition, it has the property of strengthening the walls of the capillaries.

Okra helps remove excess cholesterol and toxic substances from the body. It prevents the formation of gases, constipation, and is also extremely useful in the treatment of stomach ulcers.

Scientific research has been carried out on the bayan, from which it was found that the vegetable can prevent the occurrence of rectal cancer. It has also been proven that regular consumption significantly reduces the risk of diabetes and cataracts.

Okra solves all problems related to potency. Doctors often recommend the consumption of this vegetable to people who have undergone surgical treatment.

Contraindications

Okra is recommended for all people only with the exception of cases of individual intolerance.

However, care must be taken when preparing this vegetable, as sometimes the larger pods of the okra may have areas that can cause unpleasant skin irritation.

This effect is neutralized by light heat treatment, but it is recommended to handle this vegetable with gloves.

Also, before heat treatment of okra, hairs should be removed from its surface, as they may cause an allergic reaction in some people.