It could also help lower cholesterol levels and prevent bloating, he said
An NHS doctor has recommended an unusual “superpower” drink made from combining a fruit with water in order to boost your gut health. According to the expert, this beverage could also aid weight loss efforts, reduce bloating, and even lower cholesterol levels.
Speaking on social media platform TikTok, Doctor Karan Rajan – who is best known online as Dr Raj – revealed more about okra water. Okra is a fruit that is typically eaten and prepared more like a vegetable, and is popular in many African and Indian dishes.
Also called lady’s fingers, okra contains a slime-like substance known as mucilage which is similar to the gel found in aloe vera plants. It is this slime that is key in its health benefits, Dr Raj said.
His advice was given in response to another creator, who told her followers: “I have been drinking okra water for six months now and here’s how it’s absolutely changed my life. My bloating has gone down a significant amount.”
Dr Raj explained further: “If you want to improve your gut health, drinking okra water might actually help. This okra slime is basically plant lube, it’s called mucilage.
“And while it may look like your vegetables are oozing, this plant slime is actually a soluble dietary fibre with gut-friendly superpowers.” Combining okra with water is key to getting the most from it.
“When you mix okra’s mucilage with water it forms a gel-like substance in your gut and this gel absorbs water, bulking up your stool to make it thick and juicy,” he said. “But the benefits of mucilage don’t stop there.
“It also acts as a prebiotic buffet for your microbiome allowing beneficial bacteria to thrive.” For those looking to lose a few pounds, okra water could be something to consider.
Dr Raj said: “It also slows down gastrointestinal transit. That’s a fancy way of saying food takes longer to pass through the digestive system so you’re fuller for longer, which can aid with any weight loss efforts.”
On top of this, the drink could even help reduce “bad” cholesterol – low-density lipoprotein cholesterol – in the blood. He added: “Meanwhile, the gel-like structure also binds to cholesterol in your gut helping to lower LDL cholesterol level.”
This is backed by a scientific study published in Global Journal of Medical Research in 2014. Researchers found that mucilage can help lower cholesterol by binding to it during digestion. This is because it helps cholesterol leave the body through your poo.
However, you don’t need to drink okra to enjoy its benefits. Dr Raj also recommended adding it to meals. “If drinking okra-infused water feels like sipping vegetable-flavoured regret you’ll be pleased to know that cooking and eating okra is actually even better for you,” he concluded.
“It still delivers mucilage along with micronutrients and insoluble fibre. But if you’re looking to spread the love and slime, you can also get mucilage in aloe vera, psyllium husk, flax seeds, and chia seeds.”
