Top 10 Benefits of Lady Finger in Weight loss, Health

Lady finger (Okra) has been a part of Indian cuisine for ages. Its rich fibre content is what mainly contributes to its benefits. Scroll down to know more about the nutrients and health benefits of lady finger.

Nutrients in Lady finger

Following are the nutrients that contribute to the benefits of lady finger.

• Dietary fiber (9 % )
• Folate
• Pyridoxine
• Thiamine
• Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K
•  Copper, Calcium , Potassium , Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc  and Phosphorus

Benefits of Lady Finger

1. Weight Loss

The low calorie content of Okra (30 kcal / 100 gm) and its high fibre content make it a suitable food for weight loss. It provides minimum calories and its high fibre levels help in keeping you full for longer.

2. Heart disease

Okra contains soluble fibre pectin. Pectin helps in lowering bad cholesterol and prevents atherosclerosis by helping in elimination of deposited cholesterol and clots.

3. Controls blood sugar levels

This benefit of lady finger may be attributed to its fibre content. Eugenol a type of fibre, helps in slowing down digestion and absorption of sugar from the blood stream. Hence it helps in avoiding sugar spikes after meal and stabilizes the blood sugar levels. Its fibre further helps in lowering blood sugar levels.

4. Improves digestion

The fibre content of lady finger helps in better digestion, and regularization of bowels. Pectin swells up in the intestine and helps in easier elimination of waste from the intestine. People suffering from constipation benefit from regular consumption of  lady finger.

5. Conception and pregnancy

Lady finger is an absolutely essential food for ladies who are trying to conceive. Okra contains folic acid / folate. Folate helps not only in conceiving, but also helps in the development of fetus and prevention of miscarriage. Folate helps in the formation of neural tubes of the fetus.x

6. Improves immunity

Another important benefit of lady finger is that it contains Vitamin C which helps in improving immunity.

7.  Anemia

Lady finger contains iron and folate and Vitamin K, nutrients that help in treating and avoiding anaemia.

8. Prevention of colon cancer

Like all other high fibre foods, lady finger too helps in prevention of colon cancer by keeping the digestive system intact and functioning properly.

9. Improves eyesight

The Vitamin A and beta carotene present in lady finger may be helpful in improving eyesight.

10. Treatment of dandruff and lice

Okra is used as  home remedy for dandruff and lice. Cut okra horizontally and boil in water, add lemon to this water and use this water for rinsing hair.