We seldom think about whether a fruit is a fruit or a vegetable is indeed a vegetable but okra, as this is about okra, is not a vegetable.
Okra is a fruit, however not to bore you with the botanical facts, here are the good bits about it
It is Healthy
Okra contains vitamins that we all need for growing and maintaining bone strength. Also, okra helps to keep cholesterol levels low. Low cholesterol levels in combination with eating right and having regular exercise can reduce chances of getting high blood pressure.
Okra in the diet means that you will not only add vitamins but also minerals and fiber to your system. The fiber in okra is good for bowel movement and prevents bloating or getting constipated.
It is a Giver
The okra plant, if you have the chance to plant is an abundant giver. Meaning, as soon as the okra is at harvesting size and you start picking it another okra pod will emerge from the same spot. So, you can keep harvesting okra fruits until the plant stops producing new pods.
You will be able to harvest okra every day or every other day depending on how may plants you have. And it is this harvesting regularly that encourages fast regrowth and hence the abundant bit.
It is versatile
As most parts of the okra plant are edible, including the leaves, flowers, seeds, and stems. You can cook the leaves the way you cook other wild greens like bondwe (Arimathea) or black jack leaves. Or simply add them to salads that call for something green or into your stir-fries.
That slippery quality that okra is known for is one of its most useful attributes. The slipperiness comes from its mucilage and is a natural thickener made up of sugar residues and proteins that gives body to all kinds of soups and stews.
To make okra water soak a few slices of okra overnight in a glass ( 200-250ml ) and then drink the water with a squeeze of lemon in the morning, ideally on an empty stomach.
