Ladyfinger, popularly known as bhindi in India, is rich in nutrients. It is considered a good source of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, enzymes, calcium, potassium and many other nutrients. The botanical name of ladyfinger is Abelmoschus esculentus, and it belongs to the family Malvaceae. Ladyfinger is cultivated in the world’s warm, tropical, and subtropical regions.
Ladyfinger is known by several other names around the globe. Bhindi is known as okra, edible hibiscus, ladies’ finger, ockro in English; pitali, tindisha, gandamula in Sanskrit; bamia in Farsi, Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew; bamveh in Bosnia; okra in Swedish; Gombo in Italian and French.
Ladyfinger has a rich amount of vitamin A, B, and C along with elements like calcium and zinc, making it may be considered as an ideal vegetable that can be consumed during pregnancy. It also contains fibre and vitamin B9 (folic acid/folate).
having anti-Diabetic properties has been boosted in recent years with numerous studies confirming this as a potent blood sugar-lowering (or Anti-Diabetic) food. When dried & ground okra peels & seeds are taken, they reduce the blood sugar levels. Several individuals suffering from diabetes have reported a decrease in the blood glucose levels after soaking, cut-up lady’s finger pieces in water overnight & then consuming the juice in the morning, while in Turkey roasted ladyfinger seeds are used as a traditional diabetes medicine for generations.
Nutritional Value of Ladyfinger:
Amount Per
100 grams
100 grams
Calories 33
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.2 g 0%
Saturated fat 0 g 0%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 7 mg 0%
Potassium 299 mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 7 g 2%
Dietary fiber 3.2 g 12%
Sugar 1.5 g
Protein 1.9 g 3%
Vitamin C 38% Calcium 8%
Iron 3% Vitamin D 0%
Vitamin B6 10% Cobalamin 0%
Magnesium 14%
*Per cent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Potential Uses of ladyfinger for diabetes
Okra is a superfood for reducing blood sugar, being a great source of dietary fibre, low in calorie and low in Glycemic Index (GI). It is believed that insoluble fibre in okra help to control blood glucose level by slowing the rate of absorption from the intestinal tract.
Okra has long been favored as a food for the health-conscious. It contains:
Potential Uses of ladyfinger for colon cancer
Ladyfinger has a rich amount of fibres and may act as an intestinal tract cleaner, mainly the colon and large intestine, thereby it may help with lowering colon cancer risk.
if you are suffering from any form of cancer, you need to strictly follow doctor’s advice and treatment. Before using ladyfinger or any other vegetable for its properties, make sure to consult with your doctor.
Potential Uses of ladyfinger for bad cholesterol
Ladyfinger contains pectin (a type of fibre) that may aid in reducing bad cholesterol. It may also promote the degradation of cholesterol and block fat production in the body. It may also help lower the total cholesterol and triglyceride and promote bile acid excretion in stools.
If you are suffering from high blood cholesterol, you need to adhere to doctor’s advice and treatment. Also, if you want to use ladyfinger for its properties, make sure to consult with your doctor.
Side Effects of Ladyfinger:
What are the side effects of eating Lady finger? Lady finger in large quantities may worsen the kidney and gallbladder stone formation in some cases. This is due to the presence of a large number of oxalate crystals in Lady finger which cause stones to grow in number,
If you notice any side effects, you must report them to your doctor.
Also, avoid using ladyfinger against any illness condition or its advantages without talking with your Doctor. It will assist you with settling on all around informed decisions and forestall any conceivable secondary effects.
