Okra: Helping Diabetics Regain Their Stamina

Okra

My people call it abonu, Hausas call it kubewa, Yorubas call it ila and the Igbos call it...(well, all my Igbo friends say it's okra, maybe someone here will provide the right term). Known botanically as Abelmoschus esculentus, okra is indigenous to West Africa, but has become almost ubiquitous, enjoying more popularity in Africa, Asia and southern Europe. It is a seed pod edible as a whole when fresh. Some people also use the leaves in making varying dishes and medicinal herbs. When my mum mixes the leaves with beans, ruwan toka and smoked fish, I know I will overfeed that day.

Composition

100g of okra, which is equivalent to about 10 long seed pods, or fingers, as some people prefer to call them contain:

Nutrient	Quantity	% Daily requirement
Energy	22.0kcal
Carbohydrates	4.9g
Protein	1.9g
Fat	0.2g
Dietary fiber	2.5g	10%
Folic acid	46.0mcg	11%
Vitamin C	16.3mcg	27%
Vitamin A	283IU	6%
Vitamin K	40.0mcg	50%
Calcium	77.0mg	8%
Manganese	0.3mg	15%
Magnesium	36.0mg	9%
Water	96.2g	3.2%

Properties

This slimy, but fantastic vegetable has a lot of amazing properties and is presently the basis for research in many pharmaceutical and biomedical laboratories.

The vegetable is rich in antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and prolong cellular life and function.

The bark and seeds contain okra polysaccharides that lower blood sugar. The seeds contain lectin, which kills cancer cells, is anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive. Just under the peel, you will find okra pectin which has been found to be effective against melanoma.

Okra and Diabetics

Diabetes becomes a terrible disease when it is not properly managed and complications have started setting in. One of these complications is loss of libido and erectile dysfunction (ED). Unfortunately, people get tired of the drugs, the dietary restrictions and the weekly or monthly pricking to do random and fasting blood sugar tests. A lot of patients are looking for alternatives and a lot of "natural products"companies are capitalizing on this with various claims. I cannot, for now, support or refute their claims (maybe I will study the extent of their researches in subsequent posts) but what I can tell you is what has been proven scientifically, and one of them is okra.

Most doctors will be careful about being overzealous in recommending just a vegetable to combat diabetes, but they will advise you to use your medications while trying orher healthy alternatives. If your blood glucose is coming down steadily while you are on these alternatives, your drugs will be tapered off until a balance is maintained.

100-200mg/kg of okra seed powder and pod powder have been found to significantly reduce the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract. The mechanisms postulated include:

Enhancement of insulin sensitivity,

Inhibition of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes,

Regeneration of damaged pancreatic islet B-cells, and,

Enhancement of insulin secretion and release.

In other words, sufficient consumption of okra may help in reversing diabetes. Added benefits for a diabetic include:

Regaining lost weight,

Prevention and correction of complications of diabetes, like ED and loss of libido,

Protection of liver tissue, and,

Reduction of hyperlipidaemia associated with diabetes.

Preparation

Buy or harvest fresh okra. These are the ones that are about 6-10cm long and snap easily at the tail or in the middle when you try to bend them. They can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 days.

1. Select 5 pods. Cut off the heads and tips, and cut the pod into 2-3 transverse pieces. Soak the pieces in a glass of water overnight and drink the water the following morning. People who do this regularly for 1 month have reported reduction in their blood sugar and improvement in overall well-being.

2. You can wash the okra properly and eat it raw as a snack (my personal favorite). Some people shake some salt or ground pepper on it to make it more palatable.

3. You can cook it the traditional Nigerian way, either plain or with other ingredients (asepo as Yorubas call it, or dafaduka by Hausas).

4. My mum fries okra with locust beans, tomatoes and sweet pepper to eat yam or pounded yam with, and I always found it wonderful.

There has been little research done as to whether heat destroys the properties of okra, but generally, the fresher a fruit or vegetable, the more beneficial it is to the body. So, I would recommend the raw forms of eating the pod.

Other Benefits of Okra

Okra has been found to be useful in:

1. Treating exhaustion,

2. Treating depression,

3. Curing irritable bowel,

4. Reducing the frequency of asthmatic attacks,

5. Reducing cholesterol levels and improving omega 3 fatty acids,

6. Preventing involuntary discharge of semen,

7. Smoothening the skin and preventing pimples,

8. Preventing Helicobacter pylori from sticking to the stomach wall, thereby preventing ulcer.

It has also been shown to produce substances that bind to bile acids and prevent cancer. Some studies have suggested that it kills breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma cells.

Conclusion

As we advance in technology, we have come to realize that returning to organic ways of life will reduce the rates at which we fall ill, and may even treat some of our conditions. Okra is one of those beneficial organic foods that is piquing the interest of scientists all over the world. A little piece of advice here; always let your doctor know other steps you are taking to combat whatever ailment you are dealing with, this will assist both of you in monitoring the progress of your treatment and prevent conflicting results.
If you have great recipes for okra or any experience with those trying to use it for their diabetes, let us know.

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