Okra, a staple in many cuisines, could one day join the ranks of so-called superfoods, according to Brazilian researchers who found that adding the vegetable to the diet may help prevent obesity and metabolic disorders — at least in mice.
Scientists at the Federal University of Mato Grosso said active compounds in okra, including polyphenols, quercetin and catechins — potent antioxidants also found in green tea — improved metabolism, blood sugar levels and inflammatory responses in the brain.
The study, conducted on young mice with metabolic disorders caused by overfeeding during infancy, divided the animals into groups of three or eight per nursing mother to control milk intake and simulate overnutrition. One group was fed a standard diet, while the other received the same diet supplemented with 1.5% okra.
Researchers tracked body weight, food and water intake, blood sugar and fat levels, muscle mass and markers of brain inflammation. Mice fed okra showed reduced fat accumulation, lower blood sugar and cholesterol and decreased inflammatory proteins in the hypothalamus — a brain region linked to hunger and metabolism. They also had improved insulin sensitivity and better blood sugar regulation.
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“Okra is a functional food with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent metabolic syndrome even without medication,” the researchers said. While the findings are based solely on animal testing, they suggest benefits to eating antioxidant-rich foods from an early age.
Okra, a green tropical vegetable with a nutty flavor, is common in many culinary traditions, including in Japan, where it is considered a national dish and served in cold soups, salads, tempura and stews with natto or katsuobushi flakes. It is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins C and K, plant mucilage containing mucin — which aids digestion and protects the stomach lining — and acids that help balance blood sugar and boost immunity.
Despite the promising results, the researchers stressed that clinical trials in humans are needed to confirm the findings. Still, they believe okra could be a natural, affordable and effective tool in preventing widespread metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.