It's all thanks to it! Men are stronger and women are more beautiful

There is a vegetable that has become a popular best-selling vegetable in China, Japan, and Western countries. It is green in color (some are red), and looks like a green pepper. If you look closely, you will see that its surface has ridges, which is different from a pepper. After cutting horizontally, each circle has five milky white grains, which is okra.

In recent years, the legend about okra has become increasingly popular.

Even the vegetable vendors in the market put up small signs saying "Okra lowers blood sugar, prevents and treats the three highs, and is the 'Viagra' of plants" and so on.

The Origin of Okra

Okra, also known as yellow okra, okra, coffee sunflower, hairy eggplant, hibiscus, and "foreign pepper"... It is native to Africa and was introduced to China from India in the early 20th century. This food is more common in the south. The edible part is the fruit pod, which comes in two varieties: green and red. It has a crisp, juicy texture, is smooth and not greasy, has a unique aroma, and the seeds can be used to extract oil.

As okra is planted more and more, we can often see okra in the vegetable market. Its value has gradually changed from a "noble vegetable" costing dozens of yuan per catty to a more popular one, and now you can buy one catty for only seven or eight yuan.

Is okra really so magical?

The truth about okra

According to the "Chinese Food Composition Table 2002", every 100 grams of okra contains 2 grams of protein, 0.1 grams of fat, 11 grams of carbohydrates, 3.9 grams of insoluble fiber, 310 micrograms of carotene, 4 milligrams of vitamin C, 45 milligrams of calcium, 65 milligrams of phosphorus, 95 milligrams of potassium, 3.9 milligrams of sodium, 29 milligrams of magnesium, 0.1 milligrams of iron, 0.23 milligrams of zinc, 0.51 milligrams of selenium, etc. It can be seen that okra is a nutritious and good vegetable.

But these nutrients are also contained in some other vegetables. As for calcium, it is not as high as rapeseed (153 mg); as for potassium, it is not as high as bitter gourd (256 mg); as for magnesium, it is not as high as cowpea (43 mg); as for zinc, it is not as high as edamame (1.73 mg); as for selenium, it is not as high as onion (3.91 mg)...So, we have to look at the problem from two perspectives. Okra is just an ordinary vegetable.

The fat and protein content of okra is indeed slightly higher than that of ordinary vegetables, but the content of flavonoids, which have antioxidant effects on the human body, is moderate. The most special thing about it is that it contains caffeine. The content of caffeine is relatively high in tea and coffee beans. The caffeine content of okra is similar to that of coffee beans, so it can replace coffee beans to refresh the mind and eliminate fatigue.

The value of okra

Although okra is not really more nutritious than other vegetables, there is no doubt that okra has many beneficial effects on the body. Buy some okra and eat it regularly, it is good for your health.

1. Aid digestion and protect the stomach

The sticky substance in okra can promote gastrointestinal motility, which is beneficial for digestion and benefits the stomach and intestines.

2. Lowering blood lipids

The sticky substance in okra contains 50% soluble cellulose, which can effectively lower serum cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease.

3. Tolerance to hypoxia

Can improve the ability to tolerate hypoxia.

4. Protect the liver

The pectin and polysaccharides in okra have the effect of protecting the liver and preventing and treating constipation.

5. Prevent colon cancer

The sticky substance in okra contains 50% cellulose, which is beneficial for bowel movements, detoxification and cancer prevention.

6. Calcium supplement

Not only does okra contain the same amount of calcium as fresh milk, but its calcium absorption rate is 50-60%, which is 1 times higher than that of milk, so it is an ideal source of calcium.

7. Weight loss

Okra is a low-energy food and a good weight-loss food; Delaying aging: The flavonoid content is 2.8%, which has antioxidant and anti-aging effects, and can prevent and treat diabetes.

8. Nourishing the Kidneys

Okra is also called lady's finger. Americans call it "plant Viagra", which shows its kidney-tonifying effect. It can improve men's energy and physical strength overall, which is by no means the same as ordinary aphrodisiac and kidney-tonifying products. Okra, the king of kidney-tonifying vegetables, is the best way to relieve physical fatigue.

9. Relieve fatigue

For young adults and athletes, regular consumption can eliminate fatigue and quickly restore physical strength. Of course, this effect applies to all people.

Taboos of Okra

Okra is rich in trace elements and can be eaten as a vegetable, but you should never be superstitious that the same food can achieve some magical effect.

Because okra contains calcium oxalate, it is not recommended for people with kidney stones and high uric acid.

At the same time, because there are some small hairs on the surface of okra, eating it raw will damage the stomach and intestines, so it is not recommended to eat it raw.

Okra is cold in nature, so it is not suitable for people with diarrhea.

Recipe example:

1. Okra scrambled eggs

Ingredients: okra, eggs, red pepper, salt, oil

practice:

1. Wash the okra, blanch it in boiling water, and then cut it into sections; cut the red pepper into small slices, beat the eggs in a bowl and add some salt;

2. Heat oil in a pan, pour in egg mixture, stir-fry until it becomes chunks, set aside;

3. Add some more oil to the pan, pour in okra and red pepper and stir-fry slightly, add the fried eggs and stir well, add salt to taste and serve.

2. Okra fried sausage

Ingredients: okra, sausage, minced garlic

practice:

1. Wash the okra and blanch it in boiling water, then cut it into sections and slice the steamed sausage;

2. Put minced garlic in the pot and sauté okra until it is 70% to 80% cooked. Add salt and stir-fry. Then add sausage and serve.