Chinese Okra
A long, cylindrical variety of squash, native to Asia, that is generally harvested when it is between 1 to 2 feet in length, but can be grown as long as 8 to 10 feet. It has a dark green outer skin with longitudinal ridges covering a somewhat spongy and fiberous pulp, somewhat similar to a cucumber. If picked when it is young, about 6 to 10 inches in length, the meat is tender and similar to a zucchini in flavor.
A half-cup serving of cooked Chinese okra slices provides 2.6 grams of dietary fiber. This amount supplies nearly 7 percent of the amount of fiber the Food and Nutrition Board recommends for a man daily. For a woman, each half-cup of Chinese okra contains 10 percent of her required daily intake of fiber. The fiber that your body obtains from Chinese okra can help keep your blood sugar levels stable, lower your cholesterol and regulate your bowel movements. According to a 2009 study published in "Nutrition Reviews," it may also decrease your risk of stroke, obesity, heart disease, hypertension and digestive disorders like hemorrhoids or diverticular disease.