May lower heart disease risk

High cholesterol levels are linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Okra contains mucilage, a thick gel-like material that can attach to cholesterol during digestion, causing it to be expelled with feces rather than absorbed. In one 8-week trial, mice were randomly separated into three groups and fed a high-fat diet with 1% or 2% okra powder or a high-fat diet without okra powder.

The mice on the okra diet had lower overall blood cholesterol levels and excreted more cholesterol in their feces than the control group. Okra's polyphenol concentration is another potential cardiac benefit. A 4-year study of 1,100 adults found that those who ate a polyphenol-rich diet had fewer inflammatory markers associated with heart disease.