Why Okra Is a Fruit? [RAW, Water, Benefits of Lady Fingers]

Okra is one of those vegetables that’s actually a fruit. But, why is that since it isn’t sweet and doesn’t grow on a tree?

Okra thrives in hot and humid climates, and the plants are relatively small.

It’s also become very popular recently and has even been dubbed ‘the new asparagus’.

In this article, I will explain everything there is to know about okra such as whether you can eat it raw, what nutrients it has, and whether it’s bad to eat okra everyday.

Can You Eat Okra Raw?

Certain vegetables are poisonous to eat raw.  So, I was curious about whether you can eat okra raw or does it need to be cooked.

I did some research and here’s what I found.

Both raw and cooked okra has a similar taste. But, there’s something about fried food that just tastes so good.

Therefore, fried okra is a well-known favorite.

It’s also used to thicken gumbo which is a well-known traditional soup/stew.

And is the State dish of New Orleans.  Most people swear by using okra in curries.

As well as, eating them raw with salt and pepper.

Another way to eat okra raw is to pickle them. Where they can be eaten alongside a dish as a garnish.

Simple pickled okra recipe

It takes around 2 weeks for a jar of pickled okra to be ready.

The general recipe does not involve cooking the okra at all.

Simply boil a quarter of a cup of salt in 3 cups of white vinegar, and 2 cups of water.

Then place chopped or whole okra in a mason jar together with some garlic, thyme, onion, and/or carrots.

As well as other vegetables you want to pickle.

After that, you let the brine cool to room temperature and then pour the brine over the okra and other vegetables.

You then seal the mason jar and leave it to someone for 2 weeks.

Some people like to leave it outside. If you leave it in the sun it will turn a darker color.

But, if you leave it in the shade it will be a lighter color.

The vinegar and salt in the brine make the water very inhospitable for bacteria to grow.

Therefore, it’s fine to leave it in the sun or outside.

Cooked okra can sometimes get lost in the other flavors in a vegetable stir fry.

So, you may be wondering what raw okra tastes like. Here’s what people generally say okra tastes like.

Asparagus can be difficult to grow as the individual shoots grow directly out of the ground.

However, okra is relatively easy to grow because it grows on a plant.

Raw okra is definitely a great way to eat it. Interestingly, when you wet the surface of okra it develops a slimy texture.

And the texture of raw okra is similar to capsicum or a green bean.

Okra isn’t the most well-known fruit/vegetable but most vegetables are good for your health.

So, what are the unique benefits of eating okra everyday?

Therefore, if you eat it everyday as well as other fruits and vegetables then you will be giving your body the nutrients it needs to maintain good health.

Okra vegetable juice also contains the same amount of nutrients except for vitamin C and fiber (source).

Most fruits and vegetables contain about 10% of your daily fiber needs, as well as other vitamins and nutrients.

Therefore, it’s recommended to eat about 5 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

The high amounts of fiber in fruits and vegetable aids in digestion and keeps your digestive system in good health.

Fruit and vegetable juice though only contains about 5% of the fiber of the whole fruit or vegetable.

So, it’s best not to drink fruit and vegetable juice as a replacement for fruits and vegetables.

Or you should combine other fruits and vegetables with fruit and vegetable juice.

Okra can be quite delicious and goes well with a range of different dishes.

So, I was intrigued about whether eating too much okra is bad for you, or can you eat as much as you like?

I’ve seen certain people go on a fast where they only eat one type of fruit or vegetable.

However, your body functions best when it gets a broad range of different nutrients.

And therefore, it’s best to consume okra as part of an overall varied diet.

Around 1 to 2 cups of okra per day will generally be fine.

Similar to eating 2 to 3 apples, or 2 to 3 bananas. Also, the most nutritious way to eat okra is raw.

Okra water is one of those new recipes that people have been trying and appears to be the result of an experiment to create the next best infused water.

So, I wanted to know what are some of the benefits of okra water.

One of the most well-known and popular infused water recipes is cucumber, mint, and lemon.

Okra has a characteristic asparagus taste that could also pair well with other flavors.

So, I’ll leave it up to you to experiment with different okra water recipes.

However, overall okra water contains an insignificant amount of nutrients.

Certain people are known to make infused water out of frozen or fresh berries.

And as they drink it, they will eat the berries.  I’m sure this is also possible with okra water.

However, in my opinion, you should add some other flavors to it to make it more delicious.

I personally like apple juice with green vegetable juice such as celery.

The apple juice adds a really sweet flavor.

Regular okra water on its own can be a bit bland but if you love raw vegetables then you may like eating a few of the individual okras as you drink okra infused water.

You can buy over-the-counter powders that are good for constipation, but eating a good amount of fruits and vegetables is also a good way to remain regular.

But, does okra make you poop more than other fruits or vegetables?

If you eat a lot of one food, it can give you an upset stomach or you might get diarrhea.

Therefore, if you eat nothing but okra it can have a laxative effect.

However, there are typically other plants that work better for inducing vomiting or diarrhea for a cleanse.

Nature’s digestive system cleaner

Fruits and vegetables naturally clean your digestive system as they pass through your intestines.

As you chew food it breaks it up into very small bits that are quite sharp and odd-shaped.

There can also be fibers in the case of vegetables like celery and cabbage.

As they move through your intestines they will scour the walls and pick up any food that is stuck there.

It’s also common for parasites to latch on to the inside of your intestines and eventually grow very large, which can lead to low energy as they steal your nutrients.

Typically an enema is effective at removing them.

But, they can be killed quite easily by fasting for 24 to 48 hours and then consuming something very strong such as lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or raw garlic.

However, fruits and vegetables such as okra will naturally give them a really hard time, and even cause them to detach.