Here are the 7 Skin benefits of okra with very simple recipes to prepare and even simpler to apply to have healthy skin. You will also see the other benefits of this plant cultivated enormously in Africa and in the islands. Surely you will not regret trying it in order to benefit from all its therapeutic virtues.
I. What Is Okra
Calou, calalou, lalo, and Gombo, more commonly called okra, is a species of tropical plants, called flowering, native to Africa or India.
Belonging to the Malvaceae family, this plant called okra is used in its fruit form.
The external aspect of the latter is similar to a capsule, with a hairy texture and a finish that is angular and pointed.
Raw or boiled, this plant represents benefits from its active principles.
II. How to use okra for Skin
1. Drinking okra water in the morning for a skin
Drinking okra water in the morning is one of the most effective practices. It provides a lot of benefits, both for the health of the body and the skin.
This consumption can be equated to a lot of nutrient intake, contributing to the well-being of the skin.
2. How do you make okra cream? [Okra+ aloe vera]
To make this recipe, you need at least 3 pieces of fresh okra. You must cut them into slices, then pour them into a pan filled with water.
Then leave the pan on the fire and stir from time to time until the mixture cooks and you obtain a texture close to that of a gel.
Once the substance is obtained, filter the mixture and add a few drops of aloe vera, then let the gel rest in the open air.
3. Is okra water good for skin? [+Recipe]
Okra water is excellent for skin health. Containing vitamin A, okra water helps improve the health of the skin and speeds up its healing process. Scars and acne become less obvious.
The okra water also makes it possible to attenuate the wrinkles and to ensure the protection of the cells of the skin, vis-a-vis the free radicals.
III. 7 Skin benefits of okra
1. How does the okra act on the skin?
Natural concentrate of vitamins, including A, C, B2, B3, B6, B9, and K, but also composed of antioxidants such as beta-carotene, lutein, quercetin, and zeaxanthin, okra is a plant with a rich organic composition that will have improving effects on the skin.
According to a study published on September 11, 2012, “Purification and Biological Activities of Abelmoschus esculentus Seed Lectin” from The protein Journal or that of International Immunopharmacology, “Lectin from Abelmoschus esculentus reduces zymosan-induced temporomandibular joint inflammatory hypernociception in rats via heme oxygenase-1 pathway integrity and tnf-α and il-1β suppression”, okra is also referred to as a potent anti-inflammatory.
2. Makes the skin supple and younger
Okra is a true anti-aging agent. A natural product rich in vitamin C, it rejuvenates the skin and fights against wrinkles and age-related facial expressions. It makes the skin fine and supple.
3. Gives a shine to the skin
Using okra for skin care is not without its effects. In addition to ensuring skin rejuvenation, okra’s antioxidant content gives the skin a bright, glowing complexion.
4. Fights acne
Okra helps to reduce skin problems like acne. Rich in vitamins, it is an excellent natural element, ensuring perfect and flawless skin.
5. Benefits for the skin disease
It is then thanks to this composition of vitamins and antioxidants that okra will be considered a significant ally in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, and any other skin-related infection.
These antioxidants also have a rejuvenating effect in the sense that they can help delay the aging of the skin and revitalize the firmness of the latter.
6. Okra recipes for the skin
After having seen all the benefits that could bring this plant named okra, with exotic flower, it is also necessary to know how to use it by recipes, which will be presented below. Zoom on them.
a. Express recipe, okra mask natural lifting effect
(5-10 minutes of preparation)
Objective: fight acne but also, the signs of aging
Ingredients:
- 4 cloves of okra
- A small glass of water
- vegetable oil
Useful utensils:
- Blender or hand blender
Steps:
- Cut the 4 okra pods into medium pieces and then, puree them with the blender (machine or hand blender) adding a little water.
- When this is done, apply the mixture to your face and let it sit for a total of 15 minutes.
- Then, simply rinse your face thoroughly, and at the end of this process, remove the excess water gently with a clean towel.
Tips:
To maximize the benefits of this okra mask recipe, you can add vegetable oil such as rose hip oil (anti-aging properties), jojoba oil (balancing effect for combination or oily skin types), or hazelnut oil for acne-prone skin.
b. Recipe, okra mask with regenerating effect
(10-15 minutes of preparation)
Objective: tightening of pores, smoother skin, and natural lifting
Ingredients:
- 6 okra pods
Useful utensils:
- A saucepan
- A sieve
Steps:
- Cut the 6 okra pods into slices beforehand.
- Prepare the pan, put water in it, and put it on the fire.
- When the water comes to a boil, add the sliced okra and stir slowly.
- Once the okra slices are completely emptied of their seeds, let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes.
- After the time is up, take the mixture and place it in a sieve to crush it and collect the remaining goo.
- Once finished, take the mixture and put it in a container.
- Before applying this mixture that will constitute the expected mask, it is advisable to first make a scrub but also, to moisten the face: either with only water or, by adding also moisturizing vegetable oil, called fatty, like olive oil.
- Once done, you can apply the mask using either your fingertips or a brush.
- Leave the mask on for a recommended 15 minutes.
- In the last step, rinse the mask with clear water and then apply a moisturizer or a serum.
- For both of the above recipes, whether you choose one or the other, please repeat this process once or twice a week.
7. Can Okra Help Get Rid of Acne and Reduce Wrinkles?
Okra has long been known to be a true anti-aging agent. It is recognized as such because it can reduce certain signs of aging such as wrinkles for example. Very rich in vitamin C, it firms the skin and rejuvenates it.
8. Protects against sunburn
There are also protective creams based on okra. Thanks to its moisturizing, firming, and anti-oxidant properties, okra gel can be used to treat irritation caused by sunburn.
IV. What is the name of the tree that produces okra?
Okra has its own set of names that differ from place to place. Whether it is okra for Louisiana, but also, the Greek horn, Bamya (in Turkey, Greece), quiabo in Brazil, Fetri of the Ewe language in Togo, poût Barang in Cambodia, or Ketmie edible.
V. How to consume okra?
Okra, in its fruit form, can be eaten raw, for example by adding it to salads, or cooked (fried or boiled): it will then be consumed as a vegetable as such or added to other preparations, such as soups, or as an accompaniment in sauces.
VI. How to prepare okra water?
Okra water is known to have an ameliorating effect on diabetes. In fact, it is its effect on blood sugar that testifies to its effectiveness in this disease that is diabetes.
This water is made by resting okra in a glass of water overnight. The following morning, we consume this drink.
VII. The other benefits of okra
What you should already know is that this tropical plant called okra, in its fruit form, is full of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that will participate in the improvement of the body.
30 calories, 2 grams of protein, 3 of dietary fiber, 10 milligrams of fat, 21 of vitamin C and 57 of magnesium, are the composition of a plate of raw okra.
In short, a rich nutritional contribution testifies the state of ally level food balance that the okra can represent when one adds it to a food mode.
It has then reduced effects on diabetes, the rate of bad cholesterol, asthma, or still, an appearance of cardiovascular diseases.
Here is a summary of the most well-known benefits of okra:
1. Strengthens the immune system
The vitamin C contained in okra, in addition to contributing to the rejuvenation of the skin, is also involved in strengthening the immune system. It promotes the creation of white blood cells and boosts the body’s defense system.
2. Rich in fiber
Okra is a food very rich in fiber. And it is obviously for this reason that it is advised to consume it. Indeed, the soluble fibers inside the okra have many health benefits.
3. May help with diabetes
To fight diabetes, okra is also a food of choice. Rich in fiber, okra helps to reduce blood sugar levels and ensure a healthy sugar level. It is therefore used to prevent and even treat diabetes.
4. May help heal the kidneys
According to many studies, regular consumption of okra has some effect on kidney health. Okra can prevent kidney diseases and keep the kidneys healthy, especially when it comes to diabetics.
5. Reduces the effects of asthma
Okra is also used to fight against asthma. A close cousin of the soursop, it is listed among the vegetables richest in vitamin C. A vitamin that proves to be effective in fighting asthma-related symptoms.
6. Recommended during pregnancy
In pregnant women, the consumption of okra is very often recommended, because it contributes to a healthy pregnancy. Rich in vitamins A, B, and C, as well as zinc and calcium, it ensures the proper development of the pregnancy and the growth of the fetus.
7. Fights anemia
A deficiency in vitamin K and iron can cause anemia. This is why okra, a vegetable rich in vitamin K and iron, is a valuable aid in the fight against anemia.
8. Helps regulate cholesterol level
The control of cholesterol levels in the body is also ensured by okra. In fact, in addition to being excellent for intestinal transit, okra helps regulate cholesterol, thanks to its high fiber content. It contains no cholesterol and even less fiber.
9. Cares for hair and scalp
Used in the form of a hair mask, okra moisturizes, softens, and stops hair loss. Its texture, thick and viscous brings nutrition to the hair and allows to take care of it, but especially to protect it from free radicals.
10. Beneficial for eye health
As we have just seen, okra is a plant rich in several vitamins, in particular vitamins C and E as well as lutein and zeaxanthin.
All of these natural elements have a big part to play in eye protection.
11. Aids in digestion
Okra lubricates the intestines while eliminating toxins. And this undeniably facilitates the digestion process and avoids gastric disorders.
It is among the foods recommended in case of constipation because it avoids complications.
It has soluble fibers that help transit by softening stools as they pass through the colon.
Okra could act as a natural laxative in case of mild constipation.
12. May support bone health
Calcium is one of the most important minerals for the health of the human body and it is mainly found in the bones, which gives them strength to support the weight of the body.
Boiled okra is a great source of calcium.
VIII. Other questions about the skin benefits of okra
1. Is okra good for skin whitening
Okra is excellent for reducing skin pigmentation. However, it does not whiten the skin but rather repairs it.
Okra is good for repairing skin irregularities such as scar spots, dark areas around the joints, etc.
2. What happens to your body when you eat okra every day?
It all depends on how much you eat. When it is not consumed in excess, then it is possible to take okra every day.
It will give a boost to your daily health. it should be noted in passing that the skin benefits of okra skin represent only part of its vast fields of use for health.
3. Does okra boost collagen?
Okra promotes skin health. And to do this, it stimulates the formation of collagen, a substance that promotes skin firmness and elasticity.