The term "Okra" most commonly refers to the edible seedpods of the plant., also known as "Lady Fingers" and "gumbo", is a green flowering plant. It belongs to the same plant family as hibiscus and cotton. The term “okra” most commonly refers to the edible seedpods of the plant. Okra contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium. It's low in calories and has a high dietary fiber
Popular forms of okra for medicinal purposes include okra water, okra peels, and powdered seeds.
100 grams of Okra contains:: (SOURCE: food composition, Table 1997 edition)
1.5% energy from calories, 7.03 gram carbohydrates, 2 gram protein, 0.1 gram fat and 9% fiber.
Such fiber content can prove to be very beneficial for the body. Okra is one of my favorite vegetables. Other significant nutrients are
folates 8mg,
niacin 1mg,
Vitamin C 21.1mg, Vitamin E 0.36mg and
Vitamin K 53mg.
Other than these, Okra also contains
calcium 81 mg,
copper 0.094mg,
iron 0.8mg,
magnesium 57mg,
manganese 0.99mg,
phosphorous 63mg and
zinc 0.6 mg.
When I learned that this okra has a lot of nutrients, This interests me to try other recipes using Okra as a main ingredient. If I have enough time to prepare our food, I always make sure that Okra is one of the dishes that i must serve on the table for all of us in the house with different looks different ways in cooking. While eating, as a Diabetes Educator, my favorite topic during mealtime is all about food and what spark up our blood sugar levels since genetically, Diabetes is in our blood line ,
Okra has a lot of health BENEFITS
CURE FOR DIABETES:
Okra extract, rich in antioxidant substances, could avoid the excessive consuming of antioxidant enzymes, then, suppresses the oxidative stress and insulin resistance, thereby improving blood glucose level of GDM ( Pregnant Rats)
Okra Benefit #1: Dietary Fiber
Eight medium-sized pods are estimated to contain 3 grams of fiber. This bulk fiber quality has several benefits. It helps digestion, cuts hunger cravings, and keeps those who eat it fuller for longer. Foods that are high in fiber content are an important part of dietary treatment options for diabetes. Increased dietary fiber intake has been shown to promote better glycemic control and improve insulin sensitivity.
Increased dietary fiber intake was associated with better glycemic control and more favorable cardiovascular disease risk factors including chronic kidney disease in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetic patients should be encouraged to consume more dietary fiber in daily life.
Okra Benefit #2: Anti-Stress Effects
The seed extracts of okra have an antioxidant,(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4221879/) anti-stress effect in the bloodstream of mice. Managing stress levels is an important part of managing diabetes. Long-term, high stress levels can cause blood sugar levels to spike. Mental health should be a part of any diabetes treatment plan, and using okra and its derivative seeds can be a part of that plan.
RAW SEEDS
DRIED SEEDS
RAW SEEDSDRIED SEEDS
Okra Benefit #3: May Help Lower Cholesterol
Okra has been found to lower cholesterol levels, because of its fiber content which binds up the cholesterol and will come out when we deficate. Foods with high fiber content and antioxidant qualities are recommended for those with diabetes because they lower cholesterol. The American Heart Associatioon points out that people with diabetes are more likely to have unhealthy cholesterol levels. When high cholesterol levels are combined with diabetes, the outlook is not good. That’s why it’s so critical to make sure that your diet has healthy cholesterol levels.
How does Diabetes Affect cholesterol level in the blood?
Diabetes tends to lower "good" cholesterol levels and raise triglyceride and "bad" cholesterol levels, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. This common condition is called diabetes dyslipidemia. Diabetic dyslipidemia means your lipid profile is going in the wrong direction. It's a deadly combination that puts patients at risk for premature coronary heart deseae and atherosclerosis.
Okra Benefit #4: Anti-Fatigue Benefit
that recovery times and “fatigue levels” can be improved by use of the okra plant. By including okra in your diet along with a healthy exercise routine, you may be able to work out for longer and recover more quickly from your exercise. Cardiovascular activity is an essential part of preventing and treating diabetes. This means that the okra plant may contribute to a more active lifestyle.
Okra Water
Drinking “okra water” is a popular new method of using okra. Some have even suggested that drinking it helps lessen diabetes symptoms. The drink is made by putting okra pods in water and soaking them overnight. Some of the valuable nutrients in the skin and seed pods will be absorbed into the water. If you’re not crazy about the taste of okra, drinking this okra water solution is a quick and simple way to derive the benefits of okra without eating it.
Some people prefer to cut the okra into thin slices instead of soaking the pods whole. If you are going to prepare okra water this way, be prepared for a drink that is slightly bitter.
Okra Peel and Powdered Seeds
Okra peel is the most traditional way to use okra medicinally. In the preliminary studies done to investigate the benefits of using okra, using shredded okra peel was seen to be the most favorable way to ingest it. You can prepare okra peel yourself by using a handheld kitchen grater or a lemon zester. Though there is no known limit for how much okra peel someone should eat at one time, half of a teaspoon of okra peel should be more than enough for your body to benefit.
Powdered okra seeds are dried out before being ground down. Ingesting the powder from the seeds as a supplement has also been researched and seen to be beneficial. The process of making the powder is a bit time- and labor-intensive. However, you can easily buy powdered okra seeds from health food stores and online suppliers.
Okra Recipe Ideas
The gel inside of okra is a thickening agent, making it a common ingredient in some soups and stews. If you’d like to start to use okra as a part of your diet, you can start with a simple gumbo recipe. 
Pickled okra is another popular okra variation that replaces the bitterness of the okra pod with a sour taste. Pickling okra also softens the peel. If you own a dehydrator, drying out okra pods and seasoning them with sea salt makes a tasty snack to satisfy your craving for crunch.
Safety Concerns
If you are already on a treatment plan for your diabetes, you should let your doctor know if you are looking into holistic treatments like okra. ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263724/) it was shown to block the absorption of metformin. Metformin is a drug that is used to help manage blood sugar levels. If you are taking metformin currently, okra is not something you should experiment with.
Takeaway
There is no conclusive medical research that proves that okra is a natural cure for diabetes. It’s important to understand that okra is definitely not an insulin replacement. However, with so many possible benefits for those that have diabetes, it may be worth trying alongside traditional treatment if your doctor agrees. Make sure to keep your medical professional up to date with any tweaks or additions to your diabetes treatment plan.
\
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4632455/
https://draxe.com/okra-nutrition/
https://www.journals.elsevier.com/the-journal-of-nutritional-biochemistry
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3878841/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26706676) and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24079173
https://www.journals.elsevier.com/the-journal-of-nutritional-biochemistry
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3878841/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26706676) and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24079173
