Wednesday, 10 April 2013

Health Benefits of Lady’s Finger


1) The vegetable is a good provider of good bacteria called the probiotics. Probiotics helps in biosynhtesis of vitamin B. They also help in proliferation
just like the yoghurt.
2) Nurture you hair : Lady’s Finger can be applied to hair as the last rinse to make your hair bounce.

Follow the steps ahead
Slice the lady’s finger horizontally and boil it till the is brew is slim.
Cool it off and add few drops of lemon juice to it.
Apply this to your hair and enjoy the bouncy look.

Lady’s finger has other health benefits as mentioned below.
Excellent laxative.
Treats Bowels.
Heals Ulcers.
Soothes the gastrointestinal tract.

Lady finger is also known as Okra. It is a very valuable source of nutrition. It can help with the following health
conditions:

It helps relieve constipation
It helps control blood sugar as it curbs the rate at which sugar is absorbed from the intestinal tract.
It helps in healing acid reflux
It contains soluble fibre which helps in controlling the cholesterol level in our bodies.
It contains insoluble fiber too which keeps the intestinal track healthy.
Lady Finger helps in reducing risks of deadly diseases like cancer.
Lady fingers are especially beneficial for the control of colo-rectal cancer
Human body is recommended to have a certain level of vitamin B 6 and folic acid. Half a cup of cooked Lady fingers provide nearly 10% of the recommended levels of vitamin B6 and folic acid.
Here are some nutritional facts of Lady fingers:

Okra Nutrition (half-cup cooked Lady Finger) contains:

Calories : 25
Dietary Fiber : 2 grams
Protein : 1.5 grams
Carbohydrates : 5.8 grams
Vitamin A : 460 IU
Vitamin C : 13 mg
Folic acid : 36.5 micrograms
Calcium : 50 mg
Iron : 0.4 mg
Potassium : 256 mg
Magnesium : 46 mg

To retain the nutrients present in lady fingers, it should be cooked as little as possible, eg with low heat or lightly steamed. You can even eat it raw.

Source: http://www.southdreamz.com/health-tips/ladys-finger-health-information-details/

LADY FINGERS: NUTRITION


The term "lady fingers" is a nickname for okra, a small, long green vegetable. Okra's texture and appearance can be off-putting for cooks who aren't sure how to handle the vegetable, but it boasts admirable nutritional value and a significant store of healthful vitamins and minerals.

Benefits
Okra's low calorie count per serving make it an excellent choice for people who are trying to lose or maintain weight. My Pyramid points out that okra and other vegetables have the potential to reduce risks of cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, kidney stones and bone loss as part of a balanced diet.

Types
Although all varieties of okra have very similar nutritional profiles, there are slight differences among them in appearance and taste. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that a half dozen types of okra are commonly available, including the Clemson, Lee, Emerald and Annie Oakley varieties as well as purple okra and Chinese okra, which can grow to more than a foot long.

Nutrition
According to the University of Illinois Extension, a half-cup serving of sliced, cooked okra without any additions has 25 calories, 2 g dietary fiber, about 6 g carbohydrates, 1.5 g protein and healthy amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, potassium and magnesium. As with most vegetables, okra is free of fat, cholesterol and sodium and contains a negligible amount of sugar, making it an ideal diet food.

Features
One of okra's distinctive features is a slimy juice that comes from its core. The more you slice a piece of okra, the more slime it will exude. The CDC notes that you can cut down on the amount of okra slime by trimming off the ends of the vegetable and not puncturing its inner pod or by refraining from overcooking the okra. However, many people like to use slimy pieces of okra in recipes to thicken broths, soups and stews.

The Other Lady Fingers
When it doesn't refer to okra, "lady fingers" is also a common name for a type of cookie, which has very different nutritional information. According to an All Recipes version of lady fingers, a single small cookie made with eggs, sugar, flour and baking powder has 25 calories, about 0.5 g fat, 18 mg cholesterol, about 4.5 g carbohydrates, almost 1 g protein and negligible amounts of dietary fiber and sodium. Although it's a healthier treat than some heavier desserts, the lady finger cookie is not as valuable as a diet choice as the more nutritious okra.

Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/327479-lady-fingers-nutrition/