Drinks with purported wellness advantages are nothing new. There was celery juice for clearer pores and skin, bone broth for intestine well being, and, most lately, the #Oatzempic shake for weight reduction. And now, you possibly can add okra water to the listing.
It’s one of many newest well being tendencies making the rounds on TikTok, with many followers claiming it might enhance digestion, scale back bloating, clear up your pores and skin, and even enhance vaginal lubrication. But is it too good to be true? We requested registered dietitian Katherine Basbaum, RD, for her tackle the okra water craze, and whether or not or not it’s truly good for you.
Health advantages of okra
A 1-cup serving of okra (the vegetable, not the drink) incorporates a bunch of nutritional vitamins and minerals with antioxidant properties and well being advantages backed by analysis, together with:
- Vitamin A: Improves immune system, imaginative and prescient, and coronary heart well being
- Vitamin C: Reduces danger of heart problems and most cancers and boosts manufacturing of collagen
- Manganese: Promotes bone well being, stronger immune system, and wound therapeutic
- Fiber: Improves digestion and reduces ldl cholesterol
Does okra water truly work?
While there isn’t any scientific proof supporting okra water, there is analysis supporting okra itself. “Okra contains various nutrients and phytochemicals that have shown to improve skin health (carotene and niacin) and promote healthy digestion (fiber),” Basbaum summarizes.
However, the okra water pattern in all probability isn’t the miracle treatment that influencers declare it to be. “Yes, if you drink water that was used to soak some kind of fresh produce, some nutrients could potentially leach into the water,” Basbaum says. “But is it better than getting 100% of the nutrients from eating the vegetable itself? Nope.”
How to include okra into your weight-reduction plan
As talked about, Basbaum strongly recommends consuming your okra as a substitute of placing it in water and ingesting it. “This way, you’re getting the full benefit of okra’s rich nutrient profile, versus the much smaller amount you might get from drinking the slimy, okra-soaked water,” she explains. Prepare it any method you’d like, whether or not that’s roasting, baking, or mixing it right into a stew. “Just go easy on deep fried okra due to the added fat and calories,” she cautions.
And for those who’re after clearer pores and skin and fewer bloating? There are higher methods to perform that than by consuming okra. Katherine recommends staying hydrated, consuming a wide range of antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies (the extra coloration, the higher!), and including in wholesome fat like nuts, olive oil, and avocado. And in fact, watch your sodium consumption.
Pro tip: You can observe the entire above, even your water consumption, within the MyFitnessPal app.