Okra, also known as hexagonal bean, okra, yellow marshmallow, and lamb’s quarters. Native to Africa, it was introduced to China by India in the early 20th century. Its edible part is the fruit pod, which is also divided into two kinds: green and red. Its crispness and juiciness, smoothness and unctuousness, and unique fragrance are favored by the people. In recent years, it has become a popular and best-selling vegetable in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and western countries, and has become the preferred vegetable for athletes in many African countries, and is a health food for the elderly. Okra oil is a kind of high-grade vegetable oil, and its nutritional composition and fragrance far exceed those of sesame oil and peanut oil.
It is bitter in taste, cold in nature, and belongs to the kidney and bladder meridians. It is used to improve the pharynx, promote lymphatic flow, reduce breast milk and regulate menstruation. Mainly used for treating sore throat, urinary dripping, scant milk after delivery and menstrual disorders.
The nutritional value and efficacy of okra.
1, okra young fruit contains a sticky liquid and arabinogalactan, galactogalactan, rhamnogalactan, protein, etc., often eaten to help digestion, enhance physical strength, protect the liver, stomach and intestines, with high nutritional value and therapeutic health effects.
2, okra contains iron, calcium and sugar and other nutrients, has the effect of preventing anemia.
3, it contains vitamin A and beta-carotene, etc., which is beneficial to retinal health.
4, it is rich in zinc and selenium and other trace elements, which can enhance the body’s cancer prevention and anti-cancer.
5.It is also rich in vitamin C and soluble fiber, which not only has a health effect on the skin, but also can make the skin whiter and more tender.
6, okra is also rich in calcium. And it has low oxalic acid content, so the calcium absorption utilization is higher than milk, which is a good source of calcium for vegetarians and developing children.
7, said okra can lower sugar, is based on its high dietary fiber content, can reduce the post-prandial blood sugar rise, lower insulin levels or improve the body insulin sensitivity, so in recent years and as the treatment of diabetes prescription. Although okra has a certain role in lowering blood sugar, but can only play a secondary role, relying on this alone to treat diabetes, is far from enough.
8, okra also contains special ingredients with medicinal effects, can strengthen the kidneys and tonic deficiency, for male organic diseases have auxiliary treatment effect, enjoy the “plant Viagra” reputation.
9, okra young pods rich in plant flavonoids, combined with various nutrients can promote the body’s all-round self-regulation, so as to ensure endocrine balance, anti-aging, anti-fatigue, increase endurance, blood circulation to speed up and other effects.
How to eat okra.
Okra can be served cold, fried, deep-fried, stewed, made into salad, soup dishes, etc. Before serving cold and fried, it must be scalded in boiling water for three to five minutes to remove astringency.
Caution.
Okra is a cold food, Yin deficiency should not be excessive; poor gastrointestinal function, over-eating may cause diarrhea.
Diabetes diet palm rule
In order to better control blood sugar, patients should calculate the total daily calorie intake and the requirements of various nutrients in the daily diet control, so as to decide what to eat daily.
Here is a hand rule for you. Using your own hands, you can basically determine the amount of food needed daily.
1, carbohydrates, fruit: two fists, that is, the choice of starchy food equivalent to the size of their two fists, such as steamed buns, rolls, rice, etc., you can meet the amount of carbohydrate needs for a day. The amount of fruit needed for a day is equivalent to the size of one fist.
2, protein: a palm. 50 grams of protein is equivalent to the size of a palm, about a pinky-thick piece. Eat 50-100 grams of protein a day to meet the needs of the day.
3, vegetables: two hands, two hands can grab the amount of vegetables (1 hand) can be equivalent to 500 grams of the amount of vegetables, eat 500 to 1000 grams of vegetables per day can meet the needs. Of course these vegetables are low-carbohydrate vegetables such as mung beans, bean sprouts, cabbage, etc.
4, fat: a thumb tip. To limit the intake of fat (butter), take only the tip of the thumb (the first section) is enough every day.
5, the amount of lean meat: one finger thick and two fingers wide, cut a piece of lean meat with the same thickness of the index finger, and the same length and width of the two fingers (index and middle fingers together) is equivalent to 50 grams of the amount needed to meet the day.
Although this method is not very accurate, but it is simpler and more practical than the “food exchange method”.