A popular social media medic has revealed that eating an unusual vegetable could help lower cholesterol and aid weight loss. Dr Karan Rajan, who has more than 5.4 million followers on TikTok, was responding to videos shared by creators drinking a concoction of okra in water.
Giving his verdict on the trend, he revealed that “if you want to improve your gut health, drinking okra water might actually help”. The green vegetable contains a slimy substance called mucilage. Dr Rajan explained: “While it may look like your vegetables are oozing, this plant slime is actually a soluble dietary fibre with gut-friendly superpowers.
“When you mix okra’s mucilage with water, it forms a gel-like substance in your gut. This gel absorbs water, bulking up your stool to make it thick and juicy.
“But the benefits of mucilage don’t stop there. It also acts as a pre-biotic buffet for your microbiome, allowing beneficial bacteria to thrive.”
The slimy substance can also help to slow down gastrointestinal transit, Dr Rajan said.
He added: “That’s a fancy way of saying food takes longer to pass through your digestive system, so you’re fuller for longer which can aid with any weight loss offer.
“Meanwhile, the gel-like structure also binds to cholesterol in your gut, helping to lower LDL-cholesterol levels.”
Commenting on his video, some social media users complained about the texture. One wrote: “Sorry but I can’t drink slime.” Another said: I know you’re right but that slime is unbearable.”
However, drinking okra in water is not the only way to reap the plant’s benefits, Dr Rajan said.
He added: “If drinking okra-infused water feels like sipping vegetable-flavoured regret, you’ll be pleased to know that cooking and eating okra is actually even better for you.
“It still delivers mucilage along with micronutrients and insoluble fibre.”