Okra water has recently become a fad among pregnant women. Women are drinking okra water in place of plain water or other beverages to quench their thirst.
This trend started when a woman posted on social media that she was drinking okra water and credit it for how much weight she had lost during her pregnancy. Since then, many women have tried it out for themselves!
Unfortunately, there is no evidence that shows that drinking okra water will help with weight loss or even pregnancy symptoms. In fact, there is no real evidence that shows that eating okra will do anything for you.
But wait…what is okra water? Is it just plain old water with the vegetable added into it? Or is it something else? Let’s find out!
To start off, we need to know what the nutrients in water affect your body. Water is the universal solvent-it dissolves substances such as minerals and chemicals making it an essential part of our health.
Benefits of okra water
Besides being a delicious vegetable, okra is also known as the good for you vegetable. It contains vitamins A and C, lutein, and zeaxanthin which are antioxidants.
Antioxidants help fight free radicals in your body. Free radicals are caused by factors like smoking, pollution, and diet.
Okra also has folate which helps prevent neural tube defects during pregnancy. Neural tube defects are where the spinal cord or the covering of the spinal cord does not form properly.
How to Make Okra Water?
To make okra water, you need to first cut off the tips of the okra and then slice it lengthwise. Then, you need to place the slices in a jar with water and let it sit overnight.
Where to buy okra water?
If you want to buy okra water, you will have to go to a specific store that sells it. Most grocery stores do not have it, and if they do, it is probably not fresh.
You will have to visit a health store or diet shop to find it. These stores usually have the bottled water in large gallons, so you can purchase as much as you want!
The best time to drink the water is in the third trimester when body temperature and sweating increases. It helps to maintain hydration and overall health for you and the baby.
If you are unable to find it, do not worry! You can simply drink enough water each day to keep yourself and the baby hydrated.
Is it safe for my pregnancy?
Okra water is considered safe for most pregnancies. However, if you have a history of GI issues like GI ulcers or stomach issues, it may not be the best choice.
Because of the added expense, you will want to make sure it is worth it! The average cost of okra water is about one dollar per liter, which is less than one dollar per bottle.
It also does not take very long to make, so you are not spending a lot of time filtering it. It takes about twenty minutes to filter one liter of water using the right size filters.
If you have a very sensitive baby, some tests can detect if there are any genetic disorders or birth defects. Because there are no known risks or harm from using Okra Water during pregnancy, it is up to you and your doctor if you want to do this test.
What else can I drink?
Other options for hydration include coconut water, lemon water, and fresh vegetable and fruit juices. You can make these at home or purchase them from the store.
Coffee and tea are acceptable unless you are allergic to them or they cause you to have severe stomach problems. If that is the case, please talk to your doctor about alternative drinks.
Avoid drinking bottled water, ice cubes, and sugar-laden or high-dehydration beverages like juice drinks and coffee drinks that contain lots of ice.
Your doctor may ask you to avoid tap water depending on where you live. If this is the case, do not worry—your doctor will give you permission to drink something else.
Limits to drinking fluids
If you are very hot and thirsty, limit your intake of liquids to one full glass every hour. If you are not very thirsty, drink less.
This helps because if you drink more than you need, the extra will just pass through your body without being absorbed.
This may be difficult at first, but your body will adjust. As your fluids decrease, so does the swelling in your body which helps reduce the extra fluids.
Drinking more than one full glass per hour may actually increase your risk of needing to use the bathroom frequently which can be difficult during a heat wave. Avoid doing this!
Tip: Keep a water bottle with you and sip from it every 10 to 15 minutes to help prevent dehydration. Alternatively, mix half water, half juice or tea to make it more palatable.
Signs of dehydration
If you are concerned about the amount of water you are drinking, you can always measure the amount of water you drink in a specified time.
For example, if you fill up a liter bottle every two hours, then you are on track. You can also use the eight glasses per day rule, but remember that one glass of water is approximately eight ounces.
If you have trouble remembering to drink water, invest in a reusable water bottle and keep it with you at all times. Keep it in your hand or nearby when working or sleeping to ensure you get your intake.
You can also set reminders on your phone to remind you to drink water. This helps enforce good health habits!
Dehydration can cause many things such as dry mouth, dry skin, headaches, and urinary frequency and urgency.
Sources of okra water
Sources of okra water include swimming in it, bathing in it, and even drinking it. Though it may seem strange to drink it, it is a way to be continually exposed to the bacteria.
Swimming in the ocean is one of the best ways to experience the healing powers of the ocean. You can also take a bath in the ocean, just be sure to keep your head above water.
Ocean baths can help with anxiety, stress, and general wellness. They are a great way to be immersed in healing properties of the ocean.
Sea sponges can also be used as an alternative to towels when getting out of the water. By using sponges instead of towels, you are preventing transferring of contaminants onto dry surfaces.
Can I make it at home?
Yes, you can make it at home. There are several recipes for lucy water online and in books. Most of them include lemon or lime juice, water, salt, and epsom salts.
Many people also add baking soda to the mix to help soothe the stomach and uterus. This is important in late pregnancy when the stomach is more sensitive.
Lucy water can be a nice way to spend some time away from computer screens and doing chores. It is a relaxing activity that brings about more health benefits than just making it.
It is nice to have the freedom to make it when you want instead of relying on the store-bought bottles. Plus, you know exactly what went into it!
There are some people that have an allergic reaction to eggs, so if you are making this for someone else make sure to use egg-free alternatives like soy milk or rice milk.
