Description
The rich nutrition and health benefits of okro may very much explain why it is a favourite vegetable in soups and stews and complementary dishes to a variety of meals made. Okro is a very good source of dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin C, folate, and B6.
Okra, also known as “lady’s finger,” or “bamia pod” is one of the favorite nutritious vegetables of North-East African origin. The pods usually gathered while they are green, tender, and at the immature stage. The plant cultivated throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions around the world for their phytonutrients rich pods. It grows best in a well-drained and manure rich soil.
Botanically, okra is a perennial flowering plant in the Malvaceae (mallows) family, and named scientifically as Abelmoschus esculentus.
The okra plant bears numerous dark green pods measuring about 5-15 cm in length. It takes about 45-60 days to get ready-to-harvest fruits. Internally, the pods feature small, round, mucilaginous white colored seeds arranged in vertical rows. The pods handpicked while just short of reaching maturity and eaten as a vegetable.
They are rich in the B-complex group of vitamins like niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid. The pods also contain good amounts of vitamin-K. Vitamin-K is a co-factor for blood clotting enzymes and is required for strengthening of bones.
-The pods are also a good source of many essential minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese, and magnesium.
Nutrition Information:
Principle | Nutrient Value | Percentage of RDA |
---|---|---|
Energy | 33 Kcal | 1.5% |
Carbohydrates | 7.03 g | 5.4% |
Protein | 2.0 g | 4% |
Total Fat | 0.1 g | 0.5% |
Dietary Fiber | 9% | 3.2 g |
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