Usually ladyfinger vegetable is available whole year in the market.But the ladyfinger available in the winter season is dark green and soft.In lady finger there are also big sized ladyfinger.The seeds of these lady finger are bigger in size and are little hard.It is also used in making ladyfinger curry.There is no softness in such ladyfinger.While cooking the ladyfinger vegetable it should be cooked as per our need.If it is overcooked then its medicinal values will get destroyed.Ladyfinger cooked on low gas is very beneficial for our health.If it is eaten raw also it will not harm your stomach.The stalk of ladyfinger has very soft layer of thorns which should be removed while cutting this vegetable.If possible fresh ladyfingers should be used.If ladyfinger is too wet then there will be problem of cutting it as well as cooking.Ladyfinger water is also used for medicinal purposes.Ladyfinger tastes best with curd.This vegetable is available and cultivated worldwide.The trees grows straight 60-90 cm.The leaves are long.The seeds inside ladyfinger are white like small pearls.Ladyfinger is mainly from Africa.In 12th century it came in Egypt and then spread worldwide.Today India, Malaysia, Philippines, China and African countries are top in the production of ladyfinger.It can grow on mountains too.
Nutritional value :
Ladyfinger contains Sodium, Potassium, Carbohydrate, Protein, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Manganese, Vitamin A, B6 and C.
Medicinal uses :
- Ladyfinger has good proportion of fibrous substance.In it there is a substance named as mucilage.It is useful in absorption of water.Fibers present in this vegetable is useful for maintaining proper working of intestine.Mucilage also helps for removal of wastes through excreta.Mucilage accumulates the wastes stuck in intestines and throws out.Thus ladyfinger is useful in constipation.For this eat well cooked vegetable of ladyfinger regularly.
- Insoluble fibers are present in good proportion in ladyfinger.It is helpful in maintaining proper level of cholesterol.Ladyfinger removes the bad cholesterol from our body.So the total cholesterol level is properly maintained.The excreta cholesterol accumulates in veins which comes from the heart.The hollow portion inside blood veins gets reduced and blood pressure increase.We call this as high blood pressure.This gives rise to many heart problems.There is problem of improper working of heart.We get easily tired.Respiration problem arise.To avoid all these problems have ladyfinger in your diet regularly.
- Ladyfinger vegetable is a boon for pregnant women.Iron, calcium and folic acid present in ladyfinger is very essential for pregnant women.Doctors gives tablets which contain all these nutrients.Folic acid is very much essential for the growth of the infants.If there is deficiency of folic acid then it might result in birth defects.Iron which is useful for hemoglobin and calcium for growth of bones are present in ladyfinger.If there is less supply of calcium then pregnant women face the problem of backache and it affects the infants.To avoid all these problems these women should eat ladyfinger regularly.
- Diabetes and ladyfinger have close relationship.In diabetes the working of spleen gets collapsed and the production of insulin fluid is educed.Due to this blood sugar is not easily burnt and gets accumulated in our blood.For proper burning of blood sugar ladyfinger is very much beneficial.Cut two ladyfingers from middle and keep it in a glass of water overnight and cover it.Next morning strain the water, remove ladyfinger and drink it.It is useful to cure diabetes.
- The people who are obese require low calorie diet.These people should eat lady finger at least three times in week.This vegetable has very low calories and does not contain saturated fat.It contains good amount of fibers.It also helps to keep our body energetic.For weight loss lady finger is very useful.
- Magnesium, Manganese and vitamin C is present in good proportion in ladyfinger.To fight against bacterias and viruses our immunity of body should be strong.These all substances helps for stronger immunity.If we eat ladyfinger regularly we will fall ill easily.Sudden climatic changes will effect our health.It also protects our body from harmful toxins.