NUTRITIONIST RECOMMENDS OKRO TO NIGERIANS

An Abuja nutritionist, Mrs. Chika Obioma, has advised the public to increase their intake of okro to reduce the risk of heart diseases and other ailments.
She, however, cautioned that the vegetable should not be over cooked for it to retain all its nutritional and medical value.
Obioma told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday that the vegetable was a very useful, inexpensive and readily available in Nigeria.Click on read more below to continue....


She explained that okro was rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, zinc and dietary fibre.
“It is also rich in amino acids, with the likes of tryptophan, cystine and other sulfur amino acids.
“It is used to boost sexual vigour and reduces excess menstrual blood,” she said.
Obioma recommended okro for pregnant women as it was rich in folic acid, an essential ingredient in the neural tube formation of the foetus between the fourth week and 12th week of pregnancy.
“The mucilage and fibre found in the vegetable help adjust blood sugar by regulating its absorption in the small intestine.
“The fibre present in the vegetable helps in maintaining the health of the gastro-intestinal tract,” she said.
According to her, the vegetable also can assist in absorbing water and traps excess cholesterol, metabolic toxins and surplus bile in its mucilage, slipping it out through the stool.
She explained that okro was the ideal vegetable for weight loss and a storehouse of health benefits, provided it was cooked over a low flame to retain its properties.
“The vegetable is completely non-toxic, non-habit forming, has no adverse side effects, is full of nutrients and is economically within the reach of most individuals.
“The sodium content of the vegetable is quite high; this is the reason why it is made into tablets for replenishing sodium deficiency in the body,” she said.
According to her, these tablets are also good for stomach ulcers.
“It contains a vegetable mucin that is soothing to the irritated membranes of the intestinal tract.
“Okro proves beneficial in normalising blood sugar and cholesterol level in the human body,” she said.
The nutritionist also said that the vegetable was good for asthma and that the vitamin C present in it, was an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, helping to curtail the development of asthma symptoms.
According to her, okro is good for preventing diabetes and protects the skin against pimples and acne.
She said it could also be applied to the hair as the last rinse to make your hair bounce.
“Other health benefits are excellent laxative, treats bowels, heals ulcers and soothes the gastrointestinal tract.
“It can also help relieve constipation, control blood sugar as it curbs the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract,” she said.
According to the nutritionist, it helps in healing acid reflux and contains soluble fibre which helps in controlling the cholesterol level in the body.
Obioma advised the public to increase their intake of okro to maintain a healthy lifestyle as the vegetable had abundance medicinal value.