Is okra's mucus collagen? What is okra's mucus?

We all know that okra is a common food. There are many types of okra, including yellow okra, red okra, green okra, etc. They all have good edible value and are deeply loved by people. When many people eat okra, they will find that there is mucus on the okra. So is the mucus of okra collagen? Let's take a closer look!

What is the mucus in okra?

It is easy for us to mistake these mucus for some kind of "gel", after all, it is sticky, but in fact these mucus are some polysaccharide compounds, in short, they are what we often call "soluble dietary fiber".

Although these mucus look a bit like glue, our human body does not have the enzymes and other substances needed to effectively digest and absorb them, so these mucus in okra will not be digested and absorbed after being eaten, but will absorb water and swell, promote gastrointestinal motility and assist defecation. Moreover, these soluble fibers can slow down our absorption of fat and cholesterol to a certain extent, and can also prolong the feeling of fullness, so for friends who want to lose weight, okra is a good choice among vegetables.

What is the function of okra mucus?

Okra, also known as lady's finger, has been regarded as a high-end nutritious health vegetable in recent years. May to September every year is the production season of okra. Although many people are quite resistant to the villi on the surface of okra and the mucus inside, the mucus can adhere to the gastric mucosa to protect the stomach wall.

According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, okra is a plant used for food therapy. Its mucus is rich in nutrients, which can promote gastrointestinal motility and protect the stomach wall, which is commonly known as "taking care of the stomach". The sticky substance contains 50% soluble fiber, which will make you feel full after eating it, and it is also helpful for weight control.

Nutritional value of okra

Okra, i.e. okra and lady's finger, has a water content of 91.2g, energy 25kcal, protein 1.8g, fat 0.2g, hydrolyzate 6.2g, dietary fiber 1.8g, vitamin A 20ug, carotene 238ug, thiamine 0.06mg, riboflavin 0.05mg, niacin 0.42mg, vitamins 7.2mg, calcium 101mg, phosphorus 41mg, potassium 19mg, sodium 8.7mg, magnesium 38mg, iron 0.2mg, zinc 0.24mg, selenium 0.54ug, copper 0.03mg, manganese 0.13mg

From the above, we can see that okra is rich in calcium, which is about to catch up with the content of milk, but of course the absorption rate is lower than that of milk. In addition, it contains dietary fiber, pectin, mucilage and galactan. It has the effect of strengthening the stomach and aiding digestion.

The vitamin A and mucilage polysaccharide contained in okra can protect the skin and mucous membrane and promote immunity. In addition, the content of energy, fat and sugar in okra is very low, which is suitable for people who want to lose weight.

However, many people have exaggerated the nutritional value of okra, for example, eating okra regularly can help boost yang and improve sexual function. In fact, okra does not have this effect. The ingredients in okra that boost yang, such as vitamin A and zinc, are not high.

How to eat okra

There are many ways to eat okra, such as garlic salad, egg stir-fry, salad, egg okra pancake, etc. The most classic way to eat it is to mix it with various kinds of salads. For example, garlic okra, honey okra, etc. But remember to blanch okra before eating.

Okra is very suitable for people with poor gastrointestinal digestion and people with three highs.