Enjoy okra as a light vegetable in summer, which is good for your stomach and helps you lose weight. Here are some tips for purchasing and storing it!

Okra is rich in water-soluble dietary fiber and is a good ingredient for weight control. As summer turns to autumn, choosing okra as a light vegetable food not only takes care of your stomach but also adds points to your health. Nutrition experts point out that okra is rich in nutrients and is known as a "stomach-protecting and health-promoting vegetable." It can not only prevent obesity and chronic diseases. At the same time, the calcium absorption rate is higher than that of milk, which is a good new choice for people who are "calcium deficient". Enjoy okra as a light vegetable in summer, which is good for your stomach and helps you lose weight. Here are some tips for purchasing and storing it!

Yang Lingling, professor emeritus at Taipei Medical University and doctor of pharmacy, pointed out that okra is an herb that has been cultivated in Taiwan for more than a hundred years. Although it has the word "autumn" in its name, the main production season is from May to September each year. Because the fruit is long and pointed at the end, like a woman's slender jade finger, the British gave it a romantic name "Beauty's Finger". Okra is a low-energy food and is one of the best foods for weight loss.

Okra is rich in dietary fiber

There are records about okra in the ancient Chinese book "Compendium of Materia Medica of Ming Dynasty", but it is more of a plant used for food therapy. It has also been clinically confirmed that its mucus can adhere to the gastric mucosa to protect the stomach wall, promote gastric juice secretion, increase appetite, and improve symptoms such as indigestion.

In addition, okra is rich in water-soluble dietary fiber, which can not only help lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and aid digestion, but is also helpful in preventing colorectal cancer. Usually, every 100g of okra (about 8 to 9 pieces) contains about 40 calories and 8.1 grams of carbohydrates (sugars), which can easily make you feel full, making it a good ingredient for weight control and weight loss. This is because okra is rich in trace elements such as zinc and selenium, which can enhance the body's ability to prevent and fight cancer.

Calcium absorption rate is high, blanching is the healthiest

Professor Yang Lingling pointed out that in addition to being rich in water-soluble fiber, okra also contains a lot of calcium. It is not only easier to absorb than milk, but its absorption rate can reach 50% to 60%. It is a very good source of calcium for vegetarians, growing children, or people who get diarrhea after drinking milk, especially vegetarians.

But it should be noted that okra is cold in nature. People with weak spleen and stomach, prone to diarrhea or soft stools should not eat it alone. They can dip it in soy sauce and ginger juice to improve its cold nature. In addition, because okra contains more potassium and a small amount of salicylic acid, patients with dialysis or chronic kidney disease should not eat it in excess and should blanch it before eating. Secondly, okra fried in oil generally has a high calorie content, so it is recommended to blanch the okra and then dip it in sauce for the healthiest eating method.

Tips for purchasing and storing:

1. The smaller the okra, the more tender it is. The best length is 5 to 10 cm, about the length of a thumb.

2.Pinch gently, it is better if it is not hard but has a little toughness. Optimum storage temperature: 7℃-10℃

3. Choose fish with hair on the spine and a full and bright surface. If the color is dark or dry, it is older.

4. Since okra is easily scratched and will turn black quickly after being scratched, try to lay it flat and avoid squeezing it when selecting or storing it.

5. Avoid using copper or iron utensils for cooking or serving, otherwise the okra will easily change color.

Light vegetarian meal/Okra stewed with tofu

practice:

1. Cut the egg tofu into 1 cm thick pieces.

2. Wash wolfberries and okra and set aside.

3. Add appropriate amount of vegetable oil into the pan and fry the tofu on both sides until golden brown.

4. Pour 1 bowl of water into the pot, add appropriate amount of chicken powder, and add okra and wolfberry after the water boils. After the okra is boiled, it can be served.