VENDAKKAI FOR MATHS- FOOD MYTHBUSTERS

This is one of the things that most people would have experienced during their student life. The default option for food in the morning before a maths exam is vendakkai. The reason is….”vendakkai saapta maths Nalla varum”. For those who can’t understand this, it is a popular saying that if we eat a lady’s finger we can do better in mathematics.

Lady’s finger also known as okra is one of the vegetables that were an essential part in every child’s plate. This vegetable would have been cooked at least 2-3 times per week and the count might increase when the exams are approaching.

Does a lady’s finger really help in doing better in mathematics?? This must have been running through a lot of minds especially for those who had a hatred for the gooey vegetable.

For this, it is essential to know about the benefits of lady’s fingers.

The lady’s finger is known as Abelmoschus esculentus. This plant is known for its succulent and edible green seed pod. The pod of the plant is mucilaginous and this is the reason for the vegetable to become slimy even if it is cooked. This sliminess won't be liked by many, so they do some processing to remove the slimy mucilage. However, this mucilage is completely digestible by the human.

The following are the health benefits of consuming a lady’s fingers: -

·         Aids Weight Loss since it is filling yet low in calories.

·         Lowers Cholesterol.

·         Helps Control Blood Sugar.

·         Helps in Better Digestion due to high fiber content.

·         Builds Immunity.

·         Improves Anemic Condition due to high iron content.

·         Betters Eyesight due to the rich content of Vit A and other proteins like carotene, xanthein, etc.

·         Helps In Hair Health.

 

A special point is that a lady’s finger is good in reducing blood sugar levels and this can be ideal for diabetics. The diabetics’ The community of the United Kingdom has declared the lady’s fingers as a superfood for its natural ability to prevent diabetes and cancer. The pods are rich in anti-inflammatory and tumor suppressants. 

The best and the new way for diabetics are to soak the cut pieces in water overnight and then drinking the water in morning on empty stomach. Soaking the vegetable results in releasing many vitamins and other nutrients that are essential for reducing blood sugar naturally.  

Okra contains omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, phosphorus, and folate. Okra is an excellent source for pregnant women to make up their daily folate levels. Folate is essential for brain development and its deficiency can result in nerve damage and other complications.

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids contribute to the PUFA (Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids). These are the essential fats required for the body and these are good for cardiovascular problems. Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids play an important role in brain growth and development. They help in improving memory and can reduce mood swings.

So now let’s come to the question we are waiting for. Does a lady’s finger really help in improving in mathematics? We have seen that the lady’s finger has Omega 3 & 6 FA, folate, and other kinds of stuff. These compounds are vital for boosting memory. This can be useful for mathematics, considering the fact that maths involves a lot of formulae.

Remembering the correct formula for a problem is not only the solution for a problem. We have to apply the formula or change the formula, make some substitutions, and so on. These are some of the tasks/skills which demands practice and not by eating food.

But if we consider the mathematic problems seen in engineering and other advanced streams, they might be big, complex, have a lot of formulae and concepts and they might require a lot of memory power. This is the place where this vegetable can come in handy!

 So the lady’s finger cannot completely help in performing better in mathematics. Practice and hard work are essential for acquiring any skill like mathematics. Foods like lady’s fingers and almonds can supplement the particular task by boosting memory.

So start practicing and work hard to get optimum success. Don’t rely on the lady’s fingers alone and don’t grumble that it is not working!!

HAPPY READING!!