{"id":116862,"date":"2024-10-21T23:57:53","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T16:57:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=116862"},"modified":"2024-10-21T23:57:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T16:57:53","slug":"what-is-okra-water-and-is-it-good-for-your-health-well-actually","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=116862","title":{"rendered":"What is okra water and is it good for your health? | Well actually"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\"><span style=\"color:var(--drop-cap);font-weight:700;\" class=\"dcr-15rw6c2\">I<\/span>n the wellness world, it seems there\u2019s always a new infused water promising to make us better. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/wellness\/2023\/nov\/07\/lemon-water-health-benefits-celebrity-trend-wellness\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Lemon water<\/a> is a familiar example: perhaps not transformative, but at least refreshing. Artichoke water, essentially the leftover liquid from boiling artichokes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.byrdie.com\/artichoke-water-7644807\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">is touted<\/a> by \u201cFrench girls\u201d (them again!) as an antioxidant-packed debloating potion. Asparagus water \u2013 infamously sold for $6 at Whole Foods \u2013 was more likely an employee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/wholefoods\/comments\/13k55cn\/did_whole_foods_actually_sell_asparagus_water_for\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">error<\/a> than an elixir.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Now, okra water is having its moment. Searches for the beverage have spiked by 470% on Pinterest, according to the company\u2019s fall trend report. Across <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/discover\/okra-water?lang=en\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">TikTok<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/goldennn_xo\/reel\/CvTEIqroFWu\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Instagram<\/a>, users claim okra water can improve digestion, regulate blood sugar, boost female fertility, increase vaginal lubrication and even ease labor for those expecting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Here\u2019s what you need to know about the trend.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-okra-water\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">What is okra water?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Okra is a vegetable high in plant mucilage, which is a specific, slimy form of soluble fiber that\u2019s also present in chia seeds, cacti and many seaweeds. When steeped in water, mucilage \u201cabsorbs the liquid and forms a gel-like substance, just like it would in your digestive tract\u201d, explains Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, a registered dietitian and nutritionist based on the Gulf coast.<\/p>\n<p><gu-island name=\"InteractiveBlockComponent\" priority=\"critical\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/interactive.guim.co.uk\/uploader\/embed\/2023\/10\/archive-zip\/giv-13425WMrLo2pc9VIk\/&quot;,&quot;scriptUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/interactive.guim.co.uk\/embed\/iframe-wrapper\/0.1\/boot.js&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Graphic with three lines of text that say, in bold, \u2018Well Actually\u2019, then \u2018Read more on living a good life in a complex world,\u2019 then a pinkish-lavender pill-shaped button with white letters that say \u2018More from this section\u2019&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:10,&quot;display&quot;:2,&quot;theme&quot;:4},&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;30435311-9d22-4105-a39a-26dfcd44bfc3&quot;,&quot;isMainMedia&quot;:false}\"><\/p>\n<figure id=\"30435311-9d22-4105-a39a-26dfcd44bfc3\" data-alt=\"Graphic with three lines of text that say, in bold, \u2018Well Actually\u2019, then \u2018Read more on living a good life in a complex world,\u2019 then a pinkish-lavender pill-shaped button with white letters that say \u2018More from this section\u2019\" data-testid=\"interactive-element-Graphic%20with%20three%20lines%20of%20text%20that%20say,%20in%20bold,%20%E2%80%98Well%20Actually%E2%80%99,%20then%20%E2%80%98Read%20more%20on%20living%20a%20good%20life%20in%20a%20complex%20world,%E2%80%99%20then%20a%20pinkish-lavender%20pill-shaped%20button%20with%20white%20letters%20that%20say%20%E2%80%98More%20from%20this%20section%E2%80%99\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"element element-interactive element--inline element-inline dcr-1edkzp\"><a data-name=\"placeholder\" href=\"https:\/\/interactive.guim.co.uk\/uploader\/embed\/2023\/10\/archive-zip\/giv-13425WMrLo2pc9VIk\/\" class=\"dcr-1eupayo\">Graphic with three lines of text that say, in bold, \u2018Well Actually\u2019, then \u2018Read more on living a good life in a complex world,\u2019 then a pinkish-lavender pill-shaped button with white letters that say \u2018More from this section\u2019<\/a><\/figure>\n<p><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Okra water is made by cold-steeping raw, sliced okra pods overnight and then straining out the solids. I made okra water myself while reporting this article, and can confirm that it\u2019s a gooey liquid that tastes of grassy, slightly bitter raw okra. I found it tolerable, but not enjoyable like cooked okra. The idea of using okra just for the slime feels like eating celery just for the string. Is there any real reason to do this?<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"does-okra-water-contain-nutrients\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">Does okra water contain nutrients?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">\u201cOkra is packed with nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, magnesium and folate,\u201d says Bourgeois. It also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds like flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S1043661823001688\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">help<\/a> reduce intestinal inflammation and support digestive health. Additionally, because soluble fiber slows down digestion, it can help prevent blood sugar spikes. Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC10107009\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">studies<\/a> have found evidence that okra helps control blood sugar in prediabetics; however, one animal study also found that okra reduces the effectiveness of <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22389848\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">metformin<\/a>, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">The wellness influencer Ella Henry, who posted a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@glowwithella\/video\/7410560196096888095\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">TikTok video<\/a> of herself making okra water, says she believes okra water provides health benefits because of its \u201cthick and slimy\u201d texture, which she interprets as a concentration of nutrients.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"e91678ea-3af5-4ce5-89eb-4e42ee3b429f\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\" dcr-1your1i\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:10,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;People are getting salmon sperm injected into their faces. Why?&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;e91678ea-3af5-4ce5-89eb-4e42ee3b429f&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;richLink&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/wellness\/2024\/oct\/04\/what-is-salmon-sperm-facial-injections-kim-kardashian&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:10,&quot;display&quot;:2,&quot;theme&quot;:4}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Okra water becomes thick because some soluble fiber does seep out of the plant, giving the water a gel-like texture. Since soluble fiber works the same way whether consumed in whole okra or in okra water, the claim that okra water aids digestion is plausible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">However, while some nutrients from okra probably do transfer into the water, the concentration is lower than when consuming the whole vegetable. \u201cIf you\u2019re not actually eating the okra slices from your water, you\u2019re missing out on a chunk of those nutrients,\u201d says Bourgeois, including insoluble fiber from the pod and protein from the seeds. You can technically eat the okra slices after steeping, but I drained and pan-fried mine and they were still very wet, so I can\u2019t particularly recommend it.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"is-okra-water-good-for-childbirth-and-fertility\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">Is okra water good for childbirth and fertility?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Okra contains folate, an essential vitamin for pregnant people. However, you would need to eat about 2lb of whole okra to get the 600 micrograms of folate daily that doctors recommend during pregnancy. Again, only a fraction of that folate is likely to transfer into okra water. Prenatal vitamins or higher-folate foods like spinach and lentils are better bets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Some animal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4794435\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">studies<\/a> suggest flavonoids benefit female fertility. Okra does contain these compounds, but is not as rich in them as other vegetables, such as kale and red onions \u2013 though I hope onion water doesn\u2019t become a TikTok trend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Social media posts about okra water\u2019s sexual benefits and effects on labor may be drawing on the idea that drinking something slippery will enhance vaginal lubrication and make labor easier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">The notion that eating foods with certain qualities will create a similar effect in the body <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3573364\/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20herbs%20also,that%20part%20of%20the%20body.\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">dates back<\/a> to the late 1400s, and is more of a folkloric concept than a scientifically grounded one.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\" dcr-173mewl\"><a data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" href=\"#EmailSignup-skip-link-18\" class=\"dcr-jzxpee\">skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"newsletter promotion\" class=\"dcr-av5vqf\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1xjndtj\">Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life<\/p>\n<p><gu-island name=\"SecureSignup\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;newsletterId&quot;:&quot;well-actually&quot;,&quot;successDescription&quot;:&quot;Practical advice, expert insights and answers to your questions about how to live a good life&quot;}\"\/><span class=\"dcr-1eusqlu\"><strong>Privacy Notice: <\/strong>Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our <a data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/help\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"dcr-1rjy2q9\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google <a data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" href=\"https:\/\/policies.google.com\/privacy\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"dcr-1rjy2q9\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and <a data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" href=\"https:\/\/policies.google.com\/terms\" rel=\"noreferrer\" class=\"dcr-1rjy2q9\">Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/span><\/aside>\n<p id=\"EmailSignup-skip-link-18\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"after newsletter promotion\" role=\"note\" class=\"dcr-jzxpee\">after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">\u201cThere really is no scientific data to prove that drinking okra water or other mucilaginous foods will affect your labor \u2026 [or] cause better lubrication in the vagina for a smoother birth,\u201d says Lauran Saunders, a Utah-based registered dietician specializing in prenatal health. \u201cBut it won\u2019t hurt if someone feels inclined to drink okra water,\u201d she adds. It\u2019s still hydrating.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">\u201cThere is no evidence that okra water has any impact on childbirth,\u201d says Dr Maureen Slattery, a board-certified OB-GYN and certified sexual health counselor at Rochester Regional Health.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">\u201cThere isn\u2019t any real good data to improve vaginal health or sexual function by altering your diet,\u201d she says. \u201cThe research into the vaginal microbiome is ongoing and we don\u2019t have any solid evidence yet linked to best dietary practices,\u201d says Slattery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">For patients experiencing vaginal dryness, Slattery recommends over-the-counter vaginal lubricators containing hyaluronic acid or prescription topical estrogen for postmenopausal patients.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"7416382e-51c4-4d11-8c92-7d10e52d2b0f\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\" dcr-1your1i\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:23,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Experts say we need to eat 30 plants a week. This is how I fared&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;7416382e-51c4-4d11-8c92-7d10e52d2b0f&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;richLink&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/wellness\/2024\/apr\/04\/30-plants-week-gut-health&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:10,&quot;display&quot;:2,&quot;theme&quot;:4}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"where-did-the-okra-water-trend-come-from\" class=\"dcr-n4qeq9\">Where did the okra water trend come from?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Unlike many traditional foods that are appropriated into western wellness, like matcha or ashwagandha, the okra water trend seems to have been primarily popularized by Black content creators in eastern and western Africa and the African diaspora, where okra has deep cultural roots. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.digital\/lifestyle\/does-drinking-okra-water-improve-womens-sexual-health-n337538\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Several<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizen.digital\/lifestyle\/kebs-speaks-on-regulation-of-okra-water-and-uji-power-n341287\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">stories<\/a> covered the trend earlier this year, reporting that it had \u201cspread like wildfire among Kenyan women\u201d and caused a surge in local okra prices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">Dr K\u00e9ra Nyemb-Diop, a nutritionist who specializes in Black cultural food heritage, told me she had never encountered okra water before its recent surge in popularity, and suggests that it may be more of a recent \u201cinnovation or invention\u201d than a historical practice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">The herbalist Lucretia VanDyke, author of African American Herbalism: A Practical Guide to Healing Plants and Folk Traditions, notes that while cooked okra is the more common preparation, she has occasionally heard of okra water from elders in African and African American traditions. They view it as a bath ingredient, believing that, like its laxative effect on the body, it purges the soul.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-11uwh1i\">VanDyke does sometimes suggest a combination of okra water and marshmallow root to clients experiencing dry skin or vaginal dryness. But \u201cmodern trends have blown it up to something way bigger than I think my ancestors would have ever utilized\u201d, she says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/wellness\/2024\/oct\/21\/okra-water-health-benefits\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the wellness world, it seems there\u2019s always a new infused water promising to make us better. Lemon water is a familiar example: perhaps not transformative, but at least refreshing. &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=116862\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=116862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116862\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=116862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=116862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=116862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}