Are There Health Benefits to Drinking Okra Water?

Okra water is slimy because the mucilage (the mixture of saccharides) in okra is released into the water, giving it a slippery, slightly viscous texture. The longer okra is soaked in water, the slimier the water becomes. The sliminess is similar to the texture in okra soups, where the mucilage acts as a thickener.

You’ve probably not had okra water before, which is why you want to know its benefits. Or perhaps you’ve sipped a few cups but you’re not convinced it’s the real deal. Should you be drinking okra water? How much of it should you allow into your system? Keep reading for the answers.

• Benefits of Okra Water
• Common Okra Water Myths

Benefits of Okra Water

Limes are high in Vitamin C, so it’s unsurprising that lime water is Vit C-rich. Likewise, the nutrients in okra slide into okra water, which ensures the health benefits are passed along as well. These benefits include

May Regulate Blood Sugar

Numerous homemade drinks, including tiger nut drink and zobo, regulate blood sugar levels. Okra water exhibits similar properties. Okra, also called okro, contains vitamin K, an agent that helps with blood clotting. Likewise, a couple of studies implied that a group of people who took servings of okra for a measured period experienced a noticeable drop in their blood sugar levels. The presence of compounds like polyphenols and flavonoids, albeit in minor quantities, may also maintain blood sugar.

Reduced Risk of Heart Diseases

Okra contains antioxidants, a group of molecules that neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. These antioxidants combat oxidative stress, a chemical imbalance that can cause damage to organs and tissues in the body. Thus, servings of okra lower the risk of diseases such as heart failure and diabetes.

When okra is soaked in water over many hours, the molecules are absorbed into the solution – a chemical reaction – which ensures that okra water is equally rich in antioxidants.

Weight Loss Support

If you’re watching weight, you should throw in okra and okra water into your meal planner. A serving of okra, about half a cup of okra (or eight pods), contains between 18 – 30 calories. This serving contains 2g of protein, 3g of fiber, and 33% of the daily value of manganese required for healthy living.

Okra is also rich in water. Fresh okra pods contain at least 20% moisture. This means that you’re more likely to frequent the urinal multiple times than you’re to add weight because you drank okra water (or ate okra).

Aids Digestion

Any food substance with both soluble and insoluble fiber content aids digestion. Soluble fiber can help reduce cholesterol levels, while insoluble fiber supports regular bowel movements and can help prevent constipation.

Since okra is rich in both fibers, frequent okra intake can ease your digestion and treat constipation issues. You can benefit from this by slicing a few pods of okra and soak in a cup overnight. 

May Improve Skin Appearance

Okra contains multiple vitamins and minerals, which carry out individual processes that fight inflammation, protect against UV radiation, and reject infections. However, since these nutrients are present in trace quantities, you’re more likely to see results when you take okra as a whole meal, rather than soaking it in water.

When preparing your okra water, soak a few pods in a large cup of water at least overnight, or for up to 24 hours. This gives a large extraction window. Once soaked, remove the pods, squeeze out the slime, and mix with the cup or jar of water.

Common Okra Water Myths

Most people claim that you should only take okra water in the morning. How true is that? Research says it makes no difference if you drink okra water early in the morning or take it before dinner. Ideally, you’d want to take it in the morning so it gets to work while you continue your day. However, this is a matter of preference, not science or biology.

Another myth with okra water is that it improves sexual health, particularly for women. Several women across social media have shared related pieces of evidence associated with frequent okra water intake. However, there’s little to no data to show that okra water has aphrodisiac tendencies.

There are also rumors that okra water improves fertility. Again, this leans towards the female gender, and again, there’s no data proving this to be true. It’s worth noting that the bulk of research focuses on the okra plant itself, and not okra water. This could change in a couple of years as nutritionists continue to explore okra.

Closing Words

Okra water fuses the nutrients in okra into water. For optimal results, cut the okra pods into thin slices and soak them in a jar or cup of clean water for up to a day. This aids the extraction of important components and ensures you experience the benefits of eating okra.

Want more out of your okra? Consider adding okra soup and other okra meals to your meal plan.