2004) conducted in the United States found that men eating a Southern dietary pattern (characterized by eating okra, grits, cornbread, beans, rice, and sweet potatoes) had 40% less prostate cancer as compared to those who do not. Have any actual benefits been observed in human populations? The two studies above show clearly that two different components of okra (pectin and lectin) have potent anticancer properties, therefore as usual, we are probably better off consuming the entire edible portion of okra if we want to maximize its anti-cancer benefits. This is akin to the mechanism that exists with the well-known compound Modified Citrus Pectin, however, okra pectin does not have to be modified in any way to have this effect.įinally: Men who eat okra (Southern diet) have 40% less prostate cancer They further discovered that the pectin triggered apoptosis by interacting with Galectin-3. In another study by Vayssade et al.(2010), pectin inhibited the proliferation of highly metastatic mouse melanoma cells (B16F10) by 75% after 48 hours of treatment and also increased the rate of programmed cell death (apoptosis) by nearly 23-fold. Commentators believed that it is one of the recent compounds that are responsible for the effectiveness of pectin against melanoma. This is unique as it has never before been found in other pectins. 2009) and found that okra pectin is found just under the skin of the pods, and it contains special compounds (highly branched rhamnogalacturonans). This study was conducted by (Sengkhamparn et al. The second study reports: Okra pectin inhibits 75% of highly metastatic melanoma cells in vitro. The authors found that the lectin compound is a “potential therapeutic to combat human breast cancer.” Apart from the seeds, other parts of okra also have demonstrated anti-cancer properties, namely pectin. This anti-cancer lectin was found in 2012 and contained anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive (pain relieving) properties which makes it a very interesting compound for future research. In this study, the lectin is found in okra seeds, and researchers in this study got their lectin by water extraction from okra seed meal. The okra lectin was found to reduce the growth of breast cancer cells by 63%. This study was conducted by Monte et al.(2014) and found that the lectin in common okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) was shown to kill up to 72% of human breast cancer cells (MCF7) in vitro, mostly by inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis). The first study report: Okra kills 72% of human breast cancer cells in vitro These properties have been reported to demonstrate potential in many cancer cells which are listed below: Okra also contains a type of protein called lectin, which may inhibit the growth of human cancer cells. For instance, Medina-Remón et al.(2017) conducted a 4-year study on 1,100 people and found that those who ate a diet rich in polyphenols had reduced inflammatory markers linked with heart disease. It was found that the mice on the okra diet got rid of extra cholesterol in their stools and had decreased total blood cholesterol levels than the control group. The thick-gel nature of okra called mucilage plays an important role as it binds cholesterol during digestion and this triggers it to get rid of the body with the stool instead of maintaining it in the body.įor instance, Wang et al.(2014) conducted an 8-week duration randomly separated mice into 3 groups and gave them a high-fat diet containing 1% or 2% okra powder or a high-fat diet without okra powder. 2018), enhances symptoms of aging and improve cognitive, learning, and memory. It may also support brain health as it can penetrate the brain and protect against inflammation (Sarubbo et al. Tressera-Rimbau et al.(2017) noted that eating a diet high in polyphenols may improve heart health by lowering the risk of blood clots and oxidative damage. 2015) found that the main antioxidants in okra are polyphenols, including flavonoids and isoquercetin, as well as vitamins A and C. Okra is loaded with numerous antioxidants. Numerous fruits and vegetables lack protein, which makes okra somewhat unique.Įating enough protein is linked with weight management, blood sugar control, bone structure, and muscle mass (Pasiakos SM, 2015 Devries and Phillips, 2015). Moreover, okra is low in calories and carbs and contains some protein and fiber. Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that aids holistic immune function, and vitamin K1 is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s known for its role in blood clotting. 2015) found that okra is a good source of vitamins C and K1. Two studies (Carr and Maggini, 2017 DiNicolantonio et al.
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