As an ancient, flowering plant with origins all over the world, okra has several more names: gombo, bamia or bamya in France; bhindi in India, quibombo in Spain and simply “bamies” in the Mediterranean and Middle East. It was probably brought to the Southern U.S. by slaves from West Africa, who often used it to thicken soups.⁵ In fact, this plant does require balmy temperatures to thrive, as previously noted. Here Dr. Joseph Mercola, Mercola.com, reflects on whether okra can help control hunger and diabetes:

“What vegetable looks like a cross between a jalapeno, a mini cucumber and a star fruit, has enjoyed a long Southern tradition and was recently found to provide some really incredible benefits for your health? If your answer was okra, you get a thumbs-up, and if you or someone you care about struggles with their blood sugar, not to mention bouts of hunger that only exacerbates their blood sugar woes, listen up.

But first, a little okra history: Also called “ladyfingers,” and closely related to both cotton and hibiscus, okra comes in more than one variety, so it can be tinged with red and have either a smooth or a rough and even prickly texture.

A favorite in the American South and areas of Africa and the Mediterranean, where it’s usually cooked to reveal a slimy texture, there are (fortunately) serving alternatives; five possibilities, with a few twists, are inspired by Smithsonian Magazine:¹

• Fried okra is the traditional Southern way of serving okra, involving corn meal and so-called “vegetable oils,” but it’s not the healthiest. If you choose to eat fried okra, at least be sure you use a healthy cooking oil (mentioned below), perhaps with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese added, and cook it at a lower temperature.
• Gumbo with okra² for taste and as a thickening agent with the obligatory “holy trinity” of bell pepper, onion and celery is a Southern staple. In fact, the African name “gombo” is where the recipe was derived. It’s often mixed with meat, tomatoes and bay leaves.
• Pickled okra,³ especially the sweet and spicy variety, is another way to serve this little pod, often with dried chilies, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, hot peppers, vinegar, fresh dill, salt and rice wine vinegar.
• Grilled or oven-roasted okra⁴ can be as simple as dousing clean, quartered okra pods with olive oil and sprinkling them with salt and pepper on a baking sheet, then cooking for 15 minutes. The best part: It’s not slimy and actually becomes partially caramelized.
• Stewed okra is a great way to add the nutrients but with stronger-flavored flavors, such as beef broth, lamb, balsamic vinegar, cloves, tomato paste, garlic, mint leaves and spices, like in the case of banya,⁵ an Egyptian meat and okra stew.

It should be noted that far healthier oils than the standard fare include coconut oil, avocado oil, organic grass fed raw butter, ghee and sesame oil, which are recommended when frying. Olive oil is good, but only at temperatures lower than 180 degrees F, as fumes emitted from cooking olive oils can potentially be carcinogenic; plus, the oil is easily damaged by high heat.

Beneficial Nutrients in Okra and What They Can Do for You

Okra, aka Abelmoschus esculentus, a rather forgotten garden vegetable, provides a number of valuable nutrients, including fiber. Several of the most prominent of them must be obtained through food, and if you don’t get enough of them, a deficiency can seriously compromise your health. Five of the most beneficial include:¹²