What can you say about okra? Most likely you will either really enjoy okra or it is going to have to grow on you. Okra is a common staple in the southern parts of the United States. It is a shame that Okra isn’t as popular in other parts of the United States. You can usually find okra in your local market in the froze food section.

Okra is very healthy for you for a number of reasons. One benefit of eating okra is that it can be used as a demulcent. A demulcint helps mucus membranes by coating the mucus membrane and reducing inflammation and pain. The demulcint in okra is mucilage. Herbalists believe that this can assist people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or suffer from irregularity with their intestines.

Okra is low in calories but packs a lot of nutrients in making it an extremely healthy veggie to add to your diet. This makes it idea for people who are trying to eat healthy, filling veggies and getting the most out of the caloretic exchange. High fiber is also very good for your digestive tract in general. Okra is also high in the important vitamins B,A, and C. This is a very heart healthy veggie. It can assist in lowering cholesterol, which makes your heart very happy.

When we discuss okra culinarily, it is most often used in gumbos and soups. It has the ability to help thicken the gumbos and soups to a richer consistency. Some people do enjoy raw okra on salads but this is very much a personal opinon. The flavor of okra has been compared to eggplant. To reduce the sliminess it is recommended to fry okra. Okra can also be boiled and steamed though this does tend to make it slimy.

There are tons of recipes you can try to enjoy okra. Cajun is always a fun way to cook.  Everyone should try this at least once and it very commonly contains okra.