via Minga Foods
The Moringa tree also known as Moringa Oleifera, is known by hundreds of other names in different languages. “La libertad” and “mother’s best friend” are just two of the nicknames recognized in the Dominican Republic. Moringa Oleifera contains more than 92 nutrients and 46 types of antioxidants and has the ability to grow under adverse subtropical conditions, such as that in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia where it is easily cultivated and grows abundantly. This superfood is said to cure or at the very least accelerate healing of about three hundred diseases and contains almost all the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables in larger proportions. All of its nutritional benefits easily make it the most nutritional herb on the planet and consuming it has caused no documented side-effects.
Because it is a nutritional powerhouse, moringa is a plant which has the potential to virtually wipe out worldwide malnutrition. This is due to its The Moringa trees powerful qualities come in large part from but are not limited to its’ leaves. Moringa leaves are a solid rich green but not dark in appearance, that contain all eight essential amino acids and 18 of the 20 amino acids absolutely essential for good health! Not only that, it has seven times the vitamin C content of oranges, four times the vitamin A of carrots, four times the calcium of milk, and three times the potassium of bananas. It also contains high amounts of iron, and phytochemicals. These humble but giving leaves are a complete protein in perfect proportions, which in plant form makes it super bio-available to your body and easy to assimilate. Some see Moringa as an ideal for a multivitamin supplement, but it is a bonafide superfood.
If you don’t know, antioxidants are key in slowing the aging process because they neutralize free radicals. The combination of superior nutritional value including providing 46 antioxidants makes moringa probably one of the strongest natural sources of antioxidants. In the O.R.A.C. rest (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) test, moringa was tested against and beat out superfoods like acai, dark chocolate, garlic, blueberries, goji berries, pomegranate, red wine, and baobab for the most antioxidant capacity. In addition to the powerful antioxidants, moringa leaves contain healthy amounts of cytokinins, which are naturally occurring plant hormones that induce cell division, growth, and delay aging of cells. A review of clinical studies have shown that this compound also called Moringa YSP produces anti-aging properties in humans and caused new skin cells grew faster than the older cells died. This resulted in an almost miraculous reduction of wrinkles on the face and other parts of the body.
Small scale village case studies in several countries in Africa have shown that Moringa tree can be utilized in treating malnutrition in a local and cost-effective manner. “In 1997-98, Alternative Action for African Development and Church World Service tested the ability of Moringa leaf powder to prevent or cure malnutrition in pregnant or breast-feeding women and their children in southwestern Senegal. Malnutrition was a major problem in this area, with more than 600 malnourished infants treated every year. During the test, doctors, nurses, and midwives were trained in preparing and using Moringa leaf powder for treating malnutrition. Village women were also trained in the preparation and use of Moringa leaf powder in foods. Result had indicated that children maintained or increased their weight and improved overall health, pregnant women recovered from anemia and had babies with higher birth weights and breast-feeding women increased their production of milk,” [2].
This is primarily because all parts of the moringa plant have nutritional value root, flowers, leaves, pods, and seeds:
Fresh leaves from Moringa oleifera are a good source of vitamin A which has important functions in vision, reproduction, embryonic growth and development, strengthening immunity and cell differentiation. Moringa leaves are a good source of carotenoids and also contain 200 mg/100 g of vitamin C, a concentration greater than what is found in oranges. MO leaves also protect the body from various deleterious effects of free radicals, pollutants and toxins and act as antioxidants. The leaves are a good source of vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant, with concentrations similar to those found in nuts. The dried leaves of moringa are a great source of polyphenol compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. The main flavonoids found in Moringa leaves are: myrecytin, quercetin and kaempferol. Compounds found in the leaves contribute to moringa’s anticancer, antidiabetes, hypotensive, and cholesterol reducing effects.
Moringa roots are known for their antibiotic properties and have been used to treat a variety of conditions such as asthma, digestive disorders, gastritis, inflammation and skin disorders.
The Seeds contain a significant amount of oil (up to 40%) with a high-quality fatty acid composition which can be extracted and used for hair, skin, and food preparation. Folk medicine uses raw or crushed M. oleifera seeds as a decoction for treating stomach pain, ulcers, poor vision, joint pain and for aiding digestion. The edible oil known as Ben Oil extracted or pressed from the seeds is clear, sweet and odorless, and never becomes rancid. Overall, its nutritional value most closely resembles olive oil but it has a higher smoke point.
The immature pods are extremely nutritious, containing all the essential amino acids along with many vitamins and other nutrients. The immature pod can be eaten raw or prepared like green peas or green beans.
Moringa is not completely understood in its totality but it is indeed, a miracle tree. This kind of superfood could have a special place in a new world, where malnutrition is unheard of, and the majority of us begin to choose optimal health and sustainable living.
References:
- Abdull Razis AF, Ibrahim MD, Kntayya SB. Health benefits of Moringa oleifera.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(20):8571-6. Review. PubMed PMID: 25374169. - Dhakar, Ram C & Maurya, Sheo & Pooniya, Brijendra & Bairwa, Narendra & Gupta, Manisha & Sanwarmal,. (2011). Moringa: The herbal gold to combat malnutrition. Chronicles of Young Scientists. 2. 119-126. 10.4103/2229-5186.90887.
- Leone A, Spada A, Battezzati A, Schiraldi A, Aristil J, Bertoli S. Moringa oleifera Seeds and Oil: Characteristics and Uses for Human Health. Int J Mol Sci.
- 2016 Dec 20;17(12). pii: E2141. doi: 10.3390/ijms17122141. Review. PubMed PMID:27999405; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5187941.
- Vergara-Jimenez, M., Almatrafi, M. M., & Fernandez, M. L. (2017). Bioactive Components in Moringa Oleifera Leaves Protect against Chronic Disease. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 6(4), 91. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox6040091