Okra, also known as ‘bhindi’ in Hindi and Bhendi in Odia, is a flowering plant that belongs to the mallow family. It is mainly found in places like Africa, the Middle East, South America and India. It is a warm-weather crop and bears a fresh corn husk colour. It is nicknamed as ‘lady’s fingers’, all thanks to its spiky shape. Bhindi is quite commonly cooked in Indian kitchens. But, not a lot of people are acquainted with its innumerable health benefits. Rich in vitamins and minerals, bhindi is also known for its high soluble and insoluble fibre content. A 100-gram serving of bhindi (okra) contains 33 calories, 7.45 grams of carbohydrates, 1.93 gram protein, 0.19 grams fat and 3.2 grams fibre, as per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The fibre content can prove to be very beneficial for the ones who are watching their weight. Hence, bhindi is considered as one of the veggies that you can add to your weight loss diet without worrying about gaining any weight.
1. Bhindi can help in controlling bad cholesterol which results in reduced risk of heart diseases
2. Vitamin C in Bhindi can help you boost immunity
3. Bhindi is also good for pregnant women due to high levels of vitamin A, B and C
4. It also contains very few calories
5. Vitamin K in Bhindi helps in bone formation and blood clotting
