Scientists have identified a natural Ozempic hiding in nearly every grocery store across the US.
Brazilian researchers discovered that okra, a fuzzy green pod often overlooked in supermarkets, may help reduce body fat, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and even protect vital organs like the liver from obesity-related damage.
The research, conducted on rats, points to the vegetable’s potential as a low-cost tool in fighting metabolic disorders and supporting long-term health, similar to the powers of Ozempic that costs around $1,000 a month.
Often priced at around $4 per pound, okra is an edible seed pod available in green and red varieties.
It’s long been praised for its high fiber and antioxidant content, but this new research shines a light on its lesser-known metabolic benefits.
Researchers credit catechins, powerful antioxidants found in okra, and also in green tea, for many of its effects. These compounds are known to combat inflammation, support cardiovascular health and may play a role in disease prevention.
While human trials are still needed, scientists believe introducing okra early in life could offer protective health effects over time.
Registered dietitian Dr Sereen Zawahri Krasuna, who was not involved in the study, said: ‘Okra may not be at the top of most people’s grocery lists.
‘But it’s easier than you’d think to use it in the kitchen. Okra’s health benefits definitely make it worth the effort.’
Brazilian researchers discovered that okra, a fuzzy green pod often overlooked in supermarkets, may help reduce body fat, improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and even protect vital organs like the liver f rom obesity-related damage
In this animal trial, researchers worked with newborn rats, dividing them into two initial groups based on litter size to simulate different feeding conditions.
The first group included only three pups per mother – allowing them to have more access to milk and gain weight more rapidly.
The other group followed a standard litter size of eight pups, creating more competition for milk and slower early growth.
At three weeks old, all rats were weaned and placed on one of two diets: a standard rodent diet or the same diet supplemented with 1.5 percent okra.
The form of the okra, whether fresh, powdered, or otherwise, was not specified.
The rats remained on their assigned diets until adulthood at 100 days old. Researchers tracked body weight, food and water intake, blood sugar, fat accumulation, and muscle mass every two days.
They also measured insulin sensitivity in both the body and brain, and analyzed inflammation markers in the hypothalamus, the brain region that regulates appetite and energy balance.
By adulthood, rats from small litters on a standard diet showed greater food consumption, higher blood sugar, and increased fat mass compared to the others, highlighting the metabolic risks tied to early-life overnutrition and the potential mitigating effects of okra.
While human trials are still needed, scientists believe introducing okra early in life could offer protective health effects over time
Rats that were overfed early in life showed clear signs of metabolic dysfunction, including insulin resistance, a key driver of Type 2 diabetes.
However, those same rats who were later placed on an okra-supplemented diet had lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels compared to those that didn’t receive okra, despite identical early-life overfeeding.
The small-litter rats on the okra diet also experienced slightly increased fat mass but showed gains in muscle mass, better glucose tolerance, and improved blood sugar control.
Strikingly, their brains also exhibited reduced inflammation and responded to insulin administered directly into the brain.
This was something not observed in the overfed rats on a standard diet, suggesting improved central insulin sensitivity, which plays a role in regulating hunger and energy balance.
In contrast, rats from standard-sized litters, whether on an okra diet or not, showed no significant differences in weight, blood sugar, fat accumulation, or brain inflammation.
This led researchers to conclude that okra’s benefits may be most effective in those already at risk of obesity-related conditions.
While human trials have not yet been conducted, the researchers believe that compounds in okra, such as catechins, quercetin, and other phenolic antioxidants, may help counteract the long-term effects of early-life overnutrition.
They noted that consuming excess calories during critical developmental windows, whether in animals or humans, can lead to lasting damage to the liver, heart, and brain.
Introducing antioxidant-rich foods like okra, they suggest, could be a simple and affordable strategy to reduce metabolic disease risk later in life.
The fruit can be eaten raw in salads or salsa as well as cooked or roasted along other fruits and vegetables into various dishes
However, the scientists believe that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of okra can help fight against the damage caused by obesity, improve blood sugar levels and heart health.
Additionally, previous research has shown that eating okras can also reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and improves bone health.
Dr Krasuna noted: ‘Fiber also helps with blood sugar control. It works by slowing down the absorption of sugar and carbs. Okra is a great high-fiber food.
‘One-half cup of cooked okra provides more than 2 grams of fiber – nearly 10 percent of what adults need in a day.’
Furthermore, one-half cup of cooked okra also provides 32 micrograms of Vitamin K (essential for blood clotting and bone health), 14 milligrams of Vitamin C (supports the immune system and enhances iron absorption) as well as 37 micrograms of folate ( a crucial B vitamin essential for cell growth and division).
The fruit can be eaten raw in salads or salsa as well as cooked or roasted along other fruits and vegetables into various dishes. The study was published in Brain Research earlier this month.
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