Have you tried Okra? Mostly used in the South, this green pod vegetable is a staple in soulful Southern dishes such as gumbo or fried okra. It’s also known as “lady fingers” and originally comes from Africa. This unique plant can survive extreme heat and also drought. In fact, the okra plant has even been known to survive heat above 100F.
Some may not appreciate its rarified mouthfeel; when cooked the pods become gooey or slimy. Okra is known to be “mucilaginous”. This slime is actually very healthy and contains soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is a unique form of fiber that can actually be metabolized by the flora in our lower intestine, and helps to keep our arteries clean and healthy. In this way, Okra is potentially good for heart and brain health.