Can okra lower blood sugar?

As the elderly age, their metabolism slows down and they do not pay attention to some aspects of their lives, they are more likely to suffer from various diseases. The most common one is the "three highs" problem. They often take blood pressure and blood lipid-lowering drugs, but if they do not take the drugs regularly, their blood sugar and blood lipids will rise again after a period of time. They also have to control their diet, which is really annoying. Some friends who don't want to take western medicine anymore want to find some Chinese medicine for conditioning, hoping that their illness can be cured through Chinese medicine.

Some people have heard that okra can lower blood sugar, but I don’t know if it’s true or not. Okra is a traditional Chinese medicine that has a regulating effect on all aspects of the body. The ingredients contained in okra can lower blood sugar, so here I want to tell you that okra, a traditional Chinese medicine, can lower blood sugar. In fact, there is a smarter way to control blood sugar through diet, which is to consume an appropriate amount of okra, which is abundant in season, every day. It helps to lower blood sugar while also having the effects of lowering blood lipids and anti-oxidation.

Okra, known as "lady's fingers", is also known as "six-cornered beans" or "okra". It is one of the foods that has been developed in recent years as an alternative or auxiliary treatment for diseases. The main production season is from May to September each year, and the production areas are mainly distributed in Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi and Pingtung.

Xu Jiaqing, a nutritionist at the Luji Branch of Changhua Medical University Hospital, said that okra has therapeutic health benefits. In addition to providing fat, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins in the human diet, it also contains plant sterols, flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, etc. with antioxidant capacity. It has a wide range of medicinal uses in traditional treatments, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, treatment of urinary protein, oral ulcers, burns, etc.

There are also many studies that have discovered the functional components and functions of okra, including lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, and anti-oxidation. However, nutritionist Xu Jiaqing also reminded that these functional functions still need more literature to confirm their effectiveness "on the human body." Patients should not stop taking medication easily and try a single traditional treatment. They should have a correct diet combined with drug treatment. Functional foods can only be used as an auxiliary.

Studies have found that okra can lower blood sugar and blood lipids.

Okra contains a high amount of mucus. In vitro studies have found that mucus is rich in soluble dietary fiber, such as pectin, gum arabic, carboxymethyl cellulose, etc., which can prevent the digestion of intestinal carbohydrates and thus reduce the absorption of glucose, which is speculated to lower blood sugar after meals.

Okra seeds contain a large amount of essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids needed by the human body. In vitro studies have confirmed that okra seeds and pods have the ability to inhibit α-glucosidasec and α-amylase, which can delay the digestion of carbohydrates and help control blood sugar after meals. The inhibitory ability of the pods is better than that of the seeds.

In addition, in vitro studies have found that the binding rate of dietary fiber and bile in okra is higher than that of other vegetables, such as asparagus, green beans, carrots, and cauliflower, which can reduce the absorption of cholesterol in the diet. Another reason may be that okra extract interferes with liver cholesterol synthesis, thereby achieving the purpose of lowering blood lipids.

Therefore, for friends who suffer from high blood pressure and high blood lipids, drinking some okra every day can easily help lower blood sugar and blood lipids, and there is no need to take so many western medicines. Okra also has antioxidant effects, which can make people younger and younger. When taking okra, you should follow your doctor's advice and avoid using medications indiscriminately.