Wellness Trend: The Benefits of Okra Water
Okra water is believed to cause smoother and clearer skin, a more efficient digestive system, better lubrication, a more balanced vaginal pH.
Wellness Trend: The Benefits of Okra Water
The wellness world has always been rife with questionable-sounding trends, and the rise of TikTok has only added fuel to the fire.
The latest wellness trend everyone’s talking about on the social media platform is okra water, which promises smoother and clearer skin, a more efficient digestive system, better lubrication, a more balanced vaginal pH, and the ability to nourish the body with vitamins and minerals that it can be difficult to get enough of.
“Okra water is water you drink after soaking okra for 24 hours,” explained Amy Goldsmith, a registered dietitian at Kindred Nutrition.
To make okra water, you cut five to six pieces of okra into smaller pieces and add them to an airtight container, like a Mason jar, with 16 ounces of water.
After letting it sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours, you can strain it and drink it.
Sophie Lauver, a registered dietitian at Aeroflow Diabetes, added that:
The goal is for it to take on a thicker, gel-like texture due to okra’s mucilage.
Like most trendy wellness waters, proponents of okra water claim it can do everything from balancing vaginal pH to curing acne.
Wellness Trend: The Benefits of Okra Water
It’s hard for registered dietitians to say what the exact benefits of okra water are because it hasn’t been around long, but Lauver said the only evidence we really have about okra water’s benefits has to do with the health benefits of okra as a vegetable. Lauver said:
We do know that okra is a very nutritious vegetable and is rich in soluble fiber, which can help improve blood glucose and reduce cholesterol.
Its insoluble fiber helps keep things moving through our digestive tracts, reducing the risk of colon cancer, constipation and other gastrointestinal problems.
The consumption of okra or okra capsules can improve blood sugar control and that it’s a superfood when it comes to the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants namely, vitamin K, C, magnesium, calcium and B vitamins.
There’s also substantial evidence to show adequate hydration and a high intake of fiber-rich vegetables reduces the risk for chronic disease, so consuming more vegetables is only beneficial for overall health.
Goldsmith pointed out that it’s unlikely you’re getting many of the benefits of okra from okra water since you’re not actually ingesting the vegetable.
A lot of the nutrient properties reside in the skin and cells of the vegetable. However, since you are drinking the water it does have a positive effect on your daily hydration goals.
As for the claim that okra water can balance vaginal pH and make you more lubricated down there, Goldsmith and Lauver don’t see a lot of evidence to support that.
Good thing is that while okra water is unlikely to have tons of health benefits, it probably won’t hurt you either — unless you’re allergic to okra.
If you’re thinking about adding okra water to your regimen, it’s probably a safe choice. But if you expect it to transform your life and health, you’re probably better off holding out until more research emerges.
By Leigh Weingus for HuffPost
