Okra Glycemic Index (GI) - Is It High or Low?
Okra contains 7.5g of carbohydrates in every 100g serving. However, around 70% of those carbohydrates comprise dietary fiber, which is why okra has a low glycemic index.
One study measured the glycemic index of okra sauce to be equal to 17. Besides okra, this sauce contained small amounts of onions, palm oil, milled crayfish, tomatoes, salt, and pepper (1).
Okra consumption may help improve glycemic and cardiometabolic markers in individuals with type 2 diabetes (2).
The aqueous extract of okra has also been researched to have the potential to promote insulin secretion and increase the activity of an enzyme that breaks down glucose, reducing blood glucose and lipid levels (3).
In summary, okra is a low glycemic index vegetable that can help prevent the development of diabetes or lessen its complications.
References
- Glycemic response of okra African Spinach and lettuce sauces
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.6782
- https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0101-20612020005010207&script=sci_arttext
