Health Benefits Of Lady Finger Or Bhindi Or Okra That Are Amazing

Green vegetables are an important part of the diet. They are the main sources of nutrients. For being healthy from the outside one need to be healthy from within. Having these vegetables eaten by children has been a difficult task for mothers, but one of these vegetables is children’s favourite – ladyfinger. Okra (lady’s finger) is a flowering plant in a mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. It comes in two– red and green. Both have various health benefits. Okra is packed with nutrition. There are several benefits of the lady finger as it is highly nutritive. 

Some of the benefits of the lady finger are listed below:

1. Highly nutritive

Ladyfingers constitute a high nutritive profile. It has a high quantity of vitamin C which contributes to the immunity of the person. It’s a good source of protein and fibre which gives energy and are bodybuilding food. It also contains magnesium which is essential for the proper functioning of the body and tissues. Other nutrient includes folate, vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin B6.

2. Helps in weight loss

Lady finger has very low-calorie content (30kcal/100gm). It includes zero saturated fat. Low-calorie intake in the diet helps in losing weight, also it is high in fibre which makes a stomach feel full for a longer time. Consuming okra in the diet adds flavour to the meal while maintaining a low-calorie count, thus helping to maintain weight.

3. Controls blood sugar level

Bhindi is known to be effective for diabetic patients. The glucose level is very low in both the peel and seeds of the ladyfinger. It leads to carb breaking enzymes, which increase sensitivity to insulin and ensures that there are sufficient insulin-producing cells. 

4. Improves digestion

Due to the presence of a lot of fibre content in the okra digestive system improves. It boosts digestion. It ensures smoother bowel movements and reduces gastrointestinal problems like gas, bloating, constipation, cramping etc. the fibre content benefits the people suffering from such problems.

5. Boosts immunity

Next on the list of benefits of ladyfingers is that it is a good source of vitamin C, which stimulates the immune system to produce more white blood cells that fight against the germs causing disease. They destroy the harmful particles in the body and keep it healthy, thus leading to improved immunity. 

6. Improves eyesight

Okra is loaded with beta-carotene, it contains zeaxanthin and lutein, and all of these nutrients are essential for maintaining good vision. It also has a decent amount of vitamin C that helps in maintaining overall eye health. A lack of these nutrients can cause weak eyesight.

7. Stimulates production of RBC

The red blood cells play an essential role in our body. Its inefficiency can lead to various health issues. The vitamin folate (B9) present in okra is required in the production of RBC. The optimum folate level is particularly important in pregnant women. Folic acid deficiency in pregnancy can cause neural tube defects in the growing baby.

8. Lower cholesterol level

Ladyfingers contain a good amount of fibre which is mostly water-soluble fibre in the form of gums and pectins which help to lower serum cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart diseases. Okra binds cholesterol and bile acid carrying toxins dumped into it by the liver. Thus it is also effective in reducing the chances of cardiovascular diseases.

Benefits of lady finger on skin and hair

9. Gives healthy skin

Nutrients present in okra helps in the repair and growth of skin cell. They also reduce the damage caused by harmful UV rays of the sun. It provides an anti-ageing effect to the skin and helps in delaying the development of wrinkles. It brightens the face and gives it a glow.

10. Good for hair growth

Okra is rich in vitamin A, C and K and also has calcium which is great for hair growth, moisturizing dry scalp and getting rid of dandruff.

Various kinds of dishes are made using bhindi. It’s a staple food for Indians. It tastes delicious and is really liked by children. Apart from being tasty, it provides various health benefits which can’t be ignored. For healthy living, including such green vegetable food in your diet is a must. There are more than 50+ recipes of bhindi available. People of different states prepare to their own taste.