A vegetable that you have probably never heard of.
On social networks, slimming trends appear and disappear at crazy speed. But when a doctor followed by several million people decides to give his opinion, interest takes on another dimension. This is what happened when a British practitioner, known for his pedagogy and viral videos, commented on the surprising use of an unusual vegetable, accused of strange texture but praised for its effects on the silhouette.
Doctor Karan Rajan, surgeon and university teacher, has more than 5.4 million subscribers on Tiktok. In one of his videos, he became interested in a practice that intrigues: drinking water in which a rare vegetable macerated on our plates. This house drink has been circulating for some time on the platform, presented as a tip to reduce the superfluous pounds. The doctor wanted to provide scientific clarifications. According to him, the liquid obtained contains a viscous substance called mucilage, often considered to be not very appetizing, but with remarkable digestive properties. “Although your vegetables may seem oozing, this viscous substance is actually a soluble food fiber to intestinal superpowers”, he explains in his video.
Indeed, mucilage acts as fuel for the intestinal microbiota. By nourishing good bacteria, it promotes their balance, which contributes to better digestion and, indirectly, more effective management of weight. Doctor Rajan specifies that this fiber slows down the journey of food in the digestive system: the feeling of hunger therefore takes more time to come back. “You are therefore satisfied longer, which can contribute to any weight loss”, he details. And this vegetable that everyone is talking about is none other than the Gombo.
The doctor, however, wanted to qualify: no need to force himself to swallow infused water if the experience disgusts. Because the essential remains to consume the vegetable itself, cooked or prepared in a conventional way.
The plant keeps its mucilage when cooked, but also brings other useful nutrients and insoluble fibers. The latter too participate in maintaining optimal digestion and more sustainable weight control.
