5 Benefits of Consuming Okra for Diabetics

Although not as popular as another vegetable, okra turns out to save benefits for people with diabetes. What are the properties of vegetables which are also known as lady finger This? Check out the full explanation in the following review.
Various Benefits of Okra for People with Diabetes
Okra is a low-calorie vegetable but rich in vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, folic acid and potassium.
Here are some of the benefits of okra for diabetes, including:
1. Helps Lower Cholesterol Levels
American Heart Association revealed that diabetics tend to have bad cholesterol levels. The high fiber and antioxidant content in it can help lower bad cholesterol.
When you have high cholesterol levels combined with diabetes, it can make health conditions worse.
Therefore, it is very important to ensure that the diet you live while maintaining normal cholesterol levels, one of which is by regularly consuming okra.
2. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
Besides helping to lower cholesterol levels, okra is also believed to be able to lower and regulate blood sugar levels in the body.
Okra has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels based on research results published in 2015 at Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. Therefore, this green vegetable is often used as a natural treatment for diabetes.
Even so, further research needs to be done to prove these benefits because studies on the benefits of okra have been mostly carried out on experimental rats.
Also Read: Is white rice the main factor causing diabetes?
3. Reduces Hunger
Consuming okra can help reduce hunger and make you feel full longer. This can happen because okra is rich in fiber content. This is an important part of maintaining a good diet for people with diabetes.
Not only that, the fiber content in okra can also control glycemic better while increasing insulin sensitivity in the body.
4. Overcome Stress
In addition to maintaining diet, diabetics also need to manage stress levels to maintain mental health. This is an important part of the diabetes treatment plan.
A study revealed that okra seed extract contains antioxidants. The content is believed to have an anti-stress effect on the bloodstream.
5. Overcome Fatigue
There is one study which revealed that the level of fatigue and recovery time can be increased by including okra in the daily menu. However, this needs to be balanced with healthier routines such as exercise.
Also Read: 10 Types of Vegetables to Lower Blood Sugar, Easy to Get
Now, that’s the various benefits of consuming okra that can be obtained by diabetics. If you are interested in trying it, you should consult with your doctor first, especially if you are taking metformin. Because, these vegetables can block the absorption of the drug.
- Anonymous. 2022. Okra and Diabetes: Benefits, Risks, and Uses. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/okra-diabetes-benefits-risks-uses. (Accessed February 1, 2023).
- Watson, Kathryn. 2019. Benefits of Okra for Diabetes. https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/okra. (Accessed February 1, 2023).
- Tian, ​​Zhao. 2015. Therapeutic effect of okra extract on gestational diabetes mellitus rats induced by streptozotocin. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26706676/. (Accessed February 1, 2023).
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