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However, other researchers worry that too much folate may do more harm than good, increasing one’s risk for breast cancer. Okra is also a good source of folate, which may also fight cancer: A 2016 systematic review found that folate could help prevent breast cancer.
Health benefits of okra free#
Stanford Medicine’s Cancer Center reports that these antioxidants inhibit the oxidation process and prevent free radicals from attacking the body this may contribute to preventing cancer. Okra is also a good source of antioxidants, including the polyphenols vitamin A and C. Researchers discovered that it eliminated 72% of the cancer cells in humans.
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A 2014 study published in Biotechnology Letters found that treatment using concentrated compounds from okra inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells by up to 63%. Okra, like grains and beans, contain lectin - a type of protein that could inhibit the cell growth of certain cancers in humans. Yes, your ice cream ingredient label could one day contain “okra mucilage,” and the best part? It won’t affect the taste, appearance or texture.Ĭertain Nutrients in Okra May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk They noted that this property could allow ice cream to be included in fat-restricted diets while improving the nutritional value of the product.
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Okra also contains small amounts of copper, iron, niacin and phosphorus. Department of Agriculture (USDA) FoodCentral Database, one cup of raw okra which weighs 100 grams (g) contains: Picking okra in the grocery store, storage and usageĪccording to the U.S.However, okra is cultivated across the world in warm, subtropical and tropical climates for its versatile uses and health benefits. Okra’s place of origin is disputed and ranges from West Africa and Ethiopia to South Asia. Its pods with peach-like fuzz on the outside are edible and contain edible seeds. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is related to mallow plants rose of Sharon and hibiscus. It’s often used in Indian, Middle Eastern and Sri Lankan dishes.Īll parts of the okra plant can be used sustainably for different things - including its leaves, flowers, buds, pods, stems and seeds. Okra is a staple in the cuisines of the American South, brought to the country through the transatlantic slave route between the 16th and 19th centuries. Okra gumbo.Julia Ewan / The Washington Post Aside from being a five-star comfort food, okra’s potential health benefits are plentiful: It’s a good source of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Okra is commonly called gumbo in Africa, and it’s known for its sticky, thickening properties used to make the hearty comfort food that southerners in the United States know as gumbo, naming the dish for the plant itself.
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