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Moringa
Moringa, Moringa oleifera, is a species of genus Moringa in the Moringaceae family. It is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree native to the foothills of the Himalaya in Northwestern India. However, it is now cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
Moringa grows to a height of 32-40 feet. Its bark is grayish white, while its five-petaled flowers are yellow and white, and grow on slender branches. It contains long, hanging fruit pods that contain several dark brown seeds. Moringa also goes by the names drumstick tree, horseradish tree, and benzoil tree.
Moringa trees love the sun and heat and grow in drier conditions that other plants and trees cannot survive in. According to the USDA, it grows in hardiness zones 9 and 10 in the U.S.
Parts of the moringa tree that are used for food include its seed pods, leaves, mature seeds, oil pressed from the seeds, and its roots. However, the leaves are the most nutritious part, and are often cooked, eaten raw, or dried and ground into a powder.
Moringa Benefits
Moringa contains high amounts of vitamins A, C & K, iron, magnesium, protein, and several B vitamins. It contains 18 amino acids and all 9 essential amino acids, making moringa a wonderful source of complete protein for vegetarians. And it contains an abundance of antioxidants that contribute to cellular health by combating the damaged caused by oxidative stress.
One of the things that makes moringa special is that it contains high amounts of numerous vitamins and minerals, rather than just one or two, which is generally the case. It has …
- 4 times more vitamin A than carrots
- 4 times more potassium than bananas
- 4 times more calcium than milk
- 25 times more iron than spinach
- 36 times more magnesium than eggs
- 50 times more vitamin B3 than peanuts
The combination of high levels of calcium and magnesium are important, as magnesium is needed to help the body absorb the calcium. Plus magnesium is one nutrient most of us are deficient in.
Moringa is a potent antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and it has anti-diabetic effects, as it helps to balance blood sugar by reducing blood glucose levels. Moringa also has anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties, in part because of a compound called niaziminin, which studies have also shown to be a potential treatment for the Epstein-Barr virus.[83]
It seems science is catching up to traditional medicine regarding the health benefits of moringa. Benefits that include …
- Increasing energy levels
- Improving focus and concentration
- Lowering blood pressure
- Improving digestive health
- Balancing cholesterol levels
- Improving cardiovascular health
- Improving liver function
- Enhancing the health of skin and hair
- Protecting against neurodegenerative diseases
- Improving bone health
This seems to be merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to moringa benefits. And a lot of these benefits come from the superior nutrient density of this superfood, as this 2