A green fruit often used in soups could be a secret weapon against high cholesterol, according to a pharmacist. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that our bodies naturally produce and is essential for many bodily functions.
However, when levels become too high, it can block our blood vessels, making it more difficult for blood to flow through. This can lead to serious health problems, including strokes and heart attacks.
Various factors can cause an increase in cholesterol, including genetics, but lifestyle choices such as poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption are the most common culprits. While some people may need medication, cholesterol can also be managed through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Cutting down on saturated fats, like processed meats, cheese, butter and cakes, is known to help lower cholesterol, and the NHS recommends increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. One fruit, in particular, has been singled out for its potential benefits, as research suggests it can bind with cholesterol during digestion.
Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist at Chemist Click Online Pharmacy, has discussed the potential health benefits of okra. This flowering plant, native to East Africa and often used as a vegetable in cooking, could play a role in reducing cholesterol, he explained.
"Some studies have suggested that okra, also known as lady's fingers, may help lower cholesterol levels," he explained. "It is commonly used in soups and stews and a thick, gel-like substance found in okra, called mucilage, can bind with cholesterol during digestion so it is passed from the body."
He went on to say: "Studies conducted on mice showed lower blood cholesterol levels after they were fed a high-fat diet containing okra powder."
The research Abbas mentioned was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry in 2014.
The study discovered that when obese mice were given the fruit, their cholesterol and blood sugar levels dropped. "Our results indicate that okra may serve as a dietary therapy for hyperglycaemia [high blood sugar] and hypertriglyceridemia- [high levels of fat in the blood]," the study concluded.
Okra is also "rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease", Abbas noted. However, he cautioned that individuals with diabetes "should be cautious when adding more okra into their diets, as it can also interfere with metformin, a medication often used to treat type 2 diabetes".
Harvard Medical School has identified okra as one of 11 foods that can aid in lowering low-density lipoprotein, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol, due to its "low calorie" and high soluble fibre content. The NHS website notes that high cholesterol usually doesn't show symptoms, and a blood test is the only method to diagnose it.
Should you have concerns about your cholesterol levels, seeking advice from your GP is advised. For further details on high cholesterol from the NHS, follow this link.
