Maybe you found yourself the other day looking at your old photos. Not that long ago, you had that great look, semi-smile, great shape and now…

You have made improvements with your diet and committed to getting out and exercise regularly.

But, it’s almost mid-year, and you’ve discovered that this journey of health is not as easy as you thought it would be . . . And the annual health checkup tells that you were neglecting your body in years.

The bridge for better health leads through better nutrition with Moringa

Professor Mike Golden, a world-renowned expert in nutrition, said that the health problem is not in the amount of the food you eat, but the quality of the food you eat. And we need about 40 different nutrients to stay healthy.

No surprise there, but what is a surprise…

It is rare for a plant to contain many essential nutrients and furthermore in such high quantities. However, the Moringa oleifera on its own was reported to have a higher content of various ingredients compared to those found individually in several different types of food and vegetables.

So far, scientists have only researched a fraction of the many reputed health benefits, but here are 6 health benefits of Moringa Oleifera that are backed by scientific research. The benefits of Moringa for cancer related illness is covered in another article in this blog, this article covers other benefits.

Moringa vs. Diabetes

Moringa promises a lot to those who have diabetes. In the first place, this is due to its many stunning features. It has been shown that Moringa oleifera naturally enhances the immune system, which is usually compromised by those suffering from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes often causes circulatory problems that can be managed with anti-inflammatory nutritional supplements, although, very few MDs would admit that fact.

So how Moringa does it?

Scientists believe plant compounds such as isothiocyanates cause these positive effects. They are chemical compounds in Moringa which act as inhibitors of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis.  (1)

A small study in people with diabetes found that adding 50 grams of Moringa leaves to a meal reduced the rise in blood sugar by 21%.

Also, it showed that there are no adverse side effects associated with the use of Moringa oleifera, which means that it is a safe, natural way for you to manage your blood sugar and take care of diabetic symptoms.

Moringa protects the cardiovascular system

Did you know that while Moringa energizes every cell in your body, it’s also reducing the risk of heart disease??

Atherosclerosis is becoming the leading cause of death in most of the developed countries, and

cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as myocardial infarction (heart attack), acute coronary syndrome, or stroke nowadays arise at any age thanks to the development of plaques and lesions inside the arteries.

The risk of heart diseases can be reduced through the consumption of flavonoid-rich diets, and Moringa is the champion in its quantity. Flavonoids may inhibit vascular diseases development through alteration in endothelial cell production.  (2)

Also, Moringa being very high in iron helps facilitate the creation of hemoglobin, which plays a heart protection role.

A fascinating study has shown that (8g) of Moringa daily can reduce LDL by 29% over 40 days thus lowering the risk of developing heart disease. Furthermore, the same study has been reported that Moringa decreases systolic blood pressure and reduces cardiac hypertrophy.

So keep Moringa in mind the next time when you need to go to check up your ticker…or sooner.

Moringa protects your brainstorming no matter how old you are

It’s a great feeling to be appreciated and still helpful as a senior, right?

Alzheimer’s Association estimated that one in eight Americans above the age of 65 years has been suffering from this devastating neurodegenerative disorder.

Moringa is full of bio compound Zeatin. This world-class substance protects our brain from plaque deposits, so-called amyloid plaques, which eventually lead to the death of brain cells, making your thinking mode slightly next to impossible.

Moringa is also able to normalize the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline in the brain, which play a crucial role in memory, mood, organ function…

On the other hand, with its high content of vitamins E and C, Moringa fights oxidation that leads to neuron degeneration, thus improving brain function.    (3)

Get away from optometrist while you still can

The primary vitamins you need to think about when supporting your vision are antioxidant vitamins – vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. There is some scientific evidence that suggests that if we take a lot of antioxidants in our daily diet, it can help protect our vision.

These are true.

When our sight weakens, it is mainly because of the damage caused by free radicals. They are considered to be at least partially blamed for everything from wrinkling to cancer.

It is, therefore, no surprise that many scientists also associate them with visual impairment.

Ensuring the abundance of vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, Lutein and zeaxanthin in your diet,(which Moringa have in abundance), you are already crossing an absolute path to protect the health of your eyes.

The first study, which was published in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 2010 showed the remarkable activity of flavonoids from Moringa to prevent and stop the development of cataracts. In happier societies like ours, we do not have to think twice about getting enough vitamin A, C, E, beta-carotene, Lutein, and zeaxanthin. You can find them in abundance in our Moringa products.  (4)

Get your nutrients but still lose weight

Moringa’s role in weight loss efforts can be attributed to its low fat and high nutritional quality which makes it an acceptable substitute for many other low-calorie foods (100 g of Moringa leaves contains only about 200 calories).

According to researchers at John Hopkins University, Moringa leaves provide us with a rich diet of essential vitamins, proteins, and minerals that give all the necessary nutrients without unhealthy fats or high-calorie carbohydrates.

And here’s the catch… the same study reported that Moringa leaves contain twice as much protein of the same kind as in milk or eggs but without fat and calories.

And that’s not all!

Moringa leaves provide 42 % of the recommended daily minimum protein requirements and 125 % of the recommended daily minimum requirement for calcium.     (5)

Moringa- your private fountain of youth

The human skin life cycle is approximately 300 days long. More than 40,000 individual skin cells die every minute. With Moringa, there is a change in the human skin cycle where the new skin cells grow faster than old cells die.

This results in stunning wrinkle reduction on the face and other parts of the body.

Its secret?

Moringa contains only recently discovered cytokinin (a plant hormone that causes cell division, growth, and delays their aging). Clinical studies have shown that Moringa products produce the properties needed to counter aging.

Again Zeatin, one of the ingredients of Moringa, comes to the rescue with its powerful anti-aging properties. It slows down the aging process by helping the body to replace the cells with a faster pace, giving your skin a younger look.

Furthermore, it promotes the maintenance of small cell size (the primary determinant of youthful skin) and prevents the accumulation of macromolecular damage in the cells.  (6)

Since Moringa has several thousand times more Zeatin than any other known plant, it’s no wonder that 92% of ladies would use Moringa again.

Conclusion

For centuries, people on many continents have used Moringa’s traditional medicines for common diseases.

Clinical studies have begun to suggest that many of these allegations are valid. With such considerable medical evidence suggestive from conventional, and modern medicine, Moringa could become an invaluable resource for people looking for much-needed help in areas where other types of treatment can only “unhelp”.

Oh… one more thing…

As known, most vegetables lose their nutrients upon cooking. However, Moringa leaves whether fresh, cooked or stored as dried powder for months without refrigeration did not lose its nutritional value.

Bon Appetit!

References:

M. Ndong, M. Uehara, S.-I. Katsumata, and K. Suzuki, “Effects of oral administration of Moringa oleifera Lam on glucose tolerance in Goto-Kakizaki and Wistar rats,” Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 229–233, 2007. (1)

Elujoba AA, Odeleye OM, Ogunyemi CM (2005) Traditional medicine development for medical and dental primary health care delivery system in Africa. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 2: 46-61. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18249514 (2)

Choi SJ, Jeong CH, Choi SG, Chun JY, Kim YJ, Lee J, et al. Zeatin prevents amyloid beta-induced neurotoxicity and scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits. J Med Food.   2009;12:271–7. (3)

F. Anwar, S. Latif, M. Ashraf, and A. H. Gilani, “Moringa oleifera: a food plant with multiple Medicinal uses” Phytotherapy Research, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 17–25, 2007 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30618744  (4)

Iqbal S, Bhanger M. Effect of season and production location on antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifera leaves grown in Pakistan. J Food Compos Anal. 2006;19:544–51. (5)

Today, we are going to interview our Miracle Tree – Moringa, popularly known as the Wonder Tree, or Tree of Life, because of her medicinal properties and she is as well famous for the healing, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-mutagenic, anticancer and antibiotic properties for a long time among the traditional healers in many parts of the world. Let’s welcome MORINGA.

Interviewer: Thank you for coming to our interview Ms. Moringa. We would like to ask you few questions, so that our readers will know more about you.

Moringa: The pleasure is mine and please, go ahead. I will answer all your questions.​      

Interviewer: What is your full name and may we know about your family?​           

Moringa: I go by the formal name of Moringa Oliefera. I belong to the family of ​Moringaceae.​ 

Interviewer: Do you go by any other names?​                 

Moringa: I have many names in several languages like drumstick tree, horseradish tree, west indian ben, mothers​ best friend (English), Murunga (Tamil), Munaga (Telugu), Dandalun (Burmese), Mmunga ara (Bengalese), Shajna (Hindi), Kelor (Bali, Indonesia), Kachang Kelur (Malaysia), Mawonga (Cayman Islands), Chintto Borgo (Mexico). I can’t remember all my names actually, the list is very large.

Interviewer: Awesome! Where do you live?​

Moringa: I live in hot and sunny, tropical and subtropical countries like India, Philippines, and Thailand. I also live in Central American, African and south east Asian countries.

Interviewer: Why are you famous among farmers?​  

Moringa:  I am extremely drought resistant and I need little effort from the farmers to grow, and I also grow very fast.​ I can reach up to 30 feet in few months after sowing, provided the conditions are right. I can’t tolerate snow and frost, hence, I am grown as an agricultural crop in countries with hot, sunny climates. All parts are useful in one or other ways.

Interviewer: All you parts are useful!! Can you please explain about that in full detail?​   

Moringa: Yes, my leaves, flowers, pods have medicinal values and can also be consumed, and my seeds, bark, wood​                   are of technical values.

Interviewer: How are you significant in a nutritional kind of way?​           

Moringa: I am rich in vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, B3 and B6, and also folate and ascorbic acid, iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. I provide plenty of protein and fiber. I have many chemical compounds present which are responsible for my medicinal properties.

Interviewer:​ Can you please explain about the parts, their properties and uses in detail?

Moringa:​ Ok good. Let me explain about my parts in detail.

Leaves: ​I have small greenish leaves that turn to yellow color on aging. My fresh leaves are a rich source of vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E. My dried leaves contain polyphenol compounds such as flavonoids and phenolic acids. The flavonoids present in my dried leaves are quercetin​, ​ myrecytin, and kaempferol. The phenolic acids present​ in my leaves are cholorgenic acid, gallic acid and caffeic acid. The quercetin is responsible for the hypo-lipidemic, anti-diabetic and hypotensive properties. The cholorgenic acid is responsible for the anti-dyslipidemic properties as it decreases the production of cholesterol and triglycerides. The tannins present in my leaves are responsible for the anti-atherosclerotic( preventing the deposition of fat in the blood vessels), and anti-inflammatory and anti-hepatotoxic properties. The saponins in my leaves are responsible for the anti-cancer properties.

Flowers: I have small milky white to light yellow color flowers as shown in the picture. My flowers are used in making tea, as they are known to reduce common cold and my leaves are also known to increase sexual drive. The flowers are considered as delicacy and consumed in many forms like raw or fried.

Pods: I have long, slender pods with seeds in green color. The immature pods are called drumsticks and they are widely used in several countries’ cuisine. In south Indian cuisine, sambar is a curry made with drumsticks and pigeon peas are like a staple food types, and they’re made at least once in a week or probably every other day in several households. The pods retain their vitamin C content even after boiling (which is unusual for several vegetables). Hence, a rich source of vitamin c and fiber.

Seeds:​ ​I have a small brownish seed with three paper like wings. All I need is a shallow and well aerated soil to germinate and grow. You can extract my seeds from dried pods. I lose my germinating capacity if stored, hence, I would advise to sow my seeds as soon as you get your hands on them. The seeds have high nutritional value and the oil extracted from my seeds is called ben oil, it is used in cosmetic industry and also as lubricating oil in machines. The seed cake after extracting the oil is used in filtering water as it removes the salt contents from the water.

Bark:​ I have a dark greenish brown bark when the tree is immature and brownish bark in mature trees. It is also used in treating skin infections, scurvy and also intestinal worms. The decoction of the bark is used in treating intestinal spasm and renal stones. The bark juice is also used in relieving ear pain.

Stem: The stem also has medicinal properties and it’s used as tea made along with leaves and flowers in some​ parts of the world. Nonetheless, they should be consumed with caution and in moderation, because of its toxic​ properties.

Roots: My roots are milky white in colour and are also rich in polyphenols. They are used as a condiment in some​ cuisines.

Interviewer:​ Wonderful, that’s a detailed explanation of your parts. Did you get any recognition or awards?​

Moringa: The food and agricultural organization of the United Nations have written an article about me and​ advocated for my use to combat malnutrition in developing countries, as I am widely cultivated in many developing nations, and a cheap alternative and good source of protein,vitamins and minerals. Many charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are advocating my uses to treat malnutrition and fortification of foods with my extracts.

Interviewer: Would you give us a summary of your uses and how you can be used by us.​                  

Moringa: Sure. Ok, I know talking about all the minerals will make it sound like a biology class. I will summarize what​ I have said in a easier way.

Uses of moringa:

1.​     I give better eyesight, because of the vitamin A present in my leaves.​

2.​     I am helpful in reducing cholesterol levels, decrease the chance of heart problems and stroke, because of my querticin, tannins, and anti-oxidant properties of vitamin E and vitamin C.

3.​     I am helpful in preventing diabetes and also maintaining normal blood glucose levels, because of the antidiabetic​ effects of querticin.

4.​     I am helpful in lowering blood pressure levels, because of anti-hypertensive effects of quercetin.​

5.​     I am helpful in faster healing of wounds, because of the vitamin C and my bark juice.​  

6.​     I am helpful in treating some cancer symptoms and also preventing cancer, because of anti-cancer properties of​ tannins and and anti-oxidant properties of vitamin C and vitamin E.

7.​     I am helpful in treating scurvy, because of the high vitamin C which will be retained even after cooking.​ 8.​     My flower tea can increase sexual drive and treat premature ejaculation.​         

9.​     The bark and stem extract have anti-analgesic properties, and they’re also used to treat ear and tooth pain.​         

10.​   I am helpful in treating constipation as my leaves and pods are high in fiber content.​

11.​   I am helpful in treating anemia due to high iron content and minerals.​

12.​   I am helpful in getting strong bones. As calcium and phosphorous in my leaves combine to create calciumphosphate, the building block of the bones.

13.​   I am helpful in achieving glowing skin due to the antioxidant properties of vitamin A, C, and E.​

14.​   I am helpful in aiding weight loss, still, there is a confirmatory evidence as fiber decreases the​ fat level.

15.​   My seed’s oil is used in perfumes, soaps, and as a lubricant oil in machines.​

16.​   The seed cake is used in filtering water.​

17.​   My other uses are in treating intestinal worms, renal stones,intestinal spasms, thyroid disorders, and most importantly, malnutrition.

Interviewer: Thank you for that. Do you think you have any negative side?​        

Moringa: Yes, my fresh parts are not available in some parts of the world. The western world is using my dried leaves powder in the form of capsules. Although I have been used for centuries by traditional healers, a little research has been done on me and there is only a little evidence supporting my properties. My parts contain phytogens, which restrict the absorption of some nutrients. Consuming excess amounts of my products can lead to hypotension, decreased heart rate, fertility problems and renal stones, due to high calcium content. So moderation is the key. You will be amazed to see the positive results.Disclaimer: This post is only for the educative purpose, please consult your doctor before consuming any moringa​ product.

References:

1.      ​ ​ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221345301630036_​ 2

2.      ​ ​ https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/view/13088_​ 9

3.      ​ ​ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319916.ph_​ p

4.      ​ ​ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-moringa-oleifera#section_​ 2

5.      ​ ​ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/moringa-powder-for-weight-loss#bottom-lin_​ e

6.      ​ ​ https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1242/moring_​ a

7.      ​ ​ https://examine.com/supplements/moringa-oleifera_​ /

8.      ​ ​ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745501_​ / 9.      ​       ​ https://www.moringaforlife.com/moringa-bar_​ k

What is Moringa?

Moringa is a small leafy tree that originated from India and growing increasingly famous around the world because of its high nutritional value and potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Welcome to Moringa.Works – a website dedicated to the Moringa tree and maintained by O. M. Jonathan. Continue reading…

The moringa tree goes under numerous appearances and is called the horseradish tree, ben tree, or drumstick tree.

There are 13 kinds of species; however, the most generally cultivated is the Moringa oleifera; a little tree from India, Pakistan, and Nepal but its use has extended to Eastern nations for the treatments and prevention of diseases.

Moringa oleifera trees rapidly grow and can reach a height of 10–12 m (32–40 ft) with trunk measurement of 45 cm (1.5 ft). The bark has a whitish-dim color and surrounded by thick cork. Its shoots have purplish or greenish-white hairy bark. The tree has delicate branches, and the leaves develop feathery foliage.

The flowers of the moringa tree are about 1.0 to 1.5 centimeters, half inches long, and 2.0 cm in width. They look like bisexual and fragrant, yellowish-white, narrow veined, encompassed by five unequal petals. They develop on thin stalks in spreading or hanging flowers groups with a length of about 10 to 25 centimeters.

Flowering starts barely six months after planting. In seasonally cold regions, flowering occurs annually, usually around April and June whereas flowering can happen twice or even all through the year in areas with more constant seasonal temperatures and with continuous rainfall.

The fruit is a hanging, three-sided darker capsule of about 20 to 45 cm size which holds dim brown colored, globular seeds with a width about 1 cm. Its seeds have three whitish papery wings and quickly scattered by wind and water.

During cultivation, it is often cut back annually to 1–2 m (3–6 ft) and allowed to re-grow, so the pods and leaves remain within arm’s reach.

Why is Moringa Widely Regarded as a Superfood?

Moringa is a highly nutritional food; hence commonly called a “superfood.” With about seven times the vitamin C found in orange, four times the calcium and twice the quantity of protein found in milk, four times more vitamin A found in carrots, and three times more potassium found in a banana. The leaves of Moringa tree recorded a score 157,000 of ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) – more than most antioxidant superfoods that are traditionally used, including Acai berries, blueberries, pomegranates, green tea, dark chocolate, red wine, goji berries, and garlic. Moringa trees keep people healthy in places where they can’t afford the standard pharmaceutical privilege. This tree is commonly known as “vitamin tree” because it has a fresh burst of vitamins and nutrients in a single handful and this encourages people to reach up and pull the young leaves off moringa trees for chewing.

Moringa oleifera is the most widely harvested species of all moringa family with 13 species grown in tropical and subtropical climates. Each of the species is unique, ranging from tall trees to tiny plants.

What is its Usefulness?

For at least 4,000 years, serves a host of medicinal purposes (and as food). Little wonder it is called “Miracle-Moringa.”

• Moringa can suppress obesity and is known as an anti-diabetic supplement with the ability to fight Type 2 diabetes.
• Moringa leaves are known to be effective in lowering blood sugar levels.
• It is beneficial for the prevention of hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia.
• With the high presence of iron in the leaves (31% Daily Value per 100 g consumed, table), it is used to prevent anemia.
• The leaves protect the liver and cleanse the body of toxins.
• Research has shown moringa to be effective in fighting cancer.
• It is highly nutritional, full of essential amino acids, antioxidants, protein, and so forth.

Moringa is an excellent source for protein, having 18 out of the 20 amino acids, including the nine most essential amino acids. It makes it highly beneficial for gym enthusiasts for muscle building.

Methanolic an extract of M. oleifera reduces serum glucose and nitric oxide and increases serum insulin and also increases protein level.

Moringa helps to fight skin infections or scurvy because it has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory characteristics. It clots and improves healing for wounds or bites and stops bleeding.

With its anti-bacterial and cardioprotective property, it fights H. Pylori bacteria, a known cause for stomach ulcer.

Moringa flowers make an excellent recipe for tea and are believed to fight off colds.

With its anti-inflammatory function, it’s believed moringa can fight inflammation in the body, which can lead to cardiovascular disease and chronic disease like diabetes.

Moringa is a natural adaptogen meaning that it increases the body’s resistance to stress by putting a balance to the body’s cortisol levels. Together with its protein content, each leaf is also a source of iron, calcium, and vitamins E, K, and A. They’re also rich in fiber, which supports your gut, and Sainsbury’s say that moringa has six times the antioxidants of goji berries.

Traditional Uses

The use of moringa extends to tradition medicinal purpose and creating a nickname of sort- ‘tree of life’ because every part of the tree is consumable. The pods, seeds, flowers, and leaves are used as foods, while the root, bark, stems, and the rest of the tree come handy in tools making and serves as medicine for various ailments.

Malnutrition Expulsion

Moringa trees have been used to fight malnutrition, especially among nursing mothers and infants. Since moringa grows better in semiarid and arid circumstance, it is likely to provide a vast nutritional source all year long.

Because its leave has a rich source of iron, it is efficiently used to combat deficiency of iron. However, further research is needed to test practical applications of using this dietary source and its iron bioavailability.

Culinary Uses

Moringa has various applications in cooking. The fruits or seed pods also called “drumsticks,” are a culinary vegetable commonly utilized in soups and curries. The leaves have a variety of culinary usage, and the flowers are eaten raw in a salad.

The long drumsticks are sliced and used as ingredients in soups and curries.  Since the outer skin is intense and sinewy, drumsticks are regularly bitten to remove the juices and supplements, with the remaining stringy material discarded. Others use a marginally different strategy for sucking delicate seeds and flesh, disposing of the tube of skin.

Traditional dishes like South Indian sambar include drumsticks as an ingredient where it is made a stew with lentils; Thai dish Kaeng som (dry curry with drumsticks and fish) is another dish that utilizes the drumstick.

Depending on how a cook chooses, the leaves can serve as an ingredient, maybe most regularly added to clear juices-based soups, for example, the Filipino dishes Tinola and Utan. Delicate moringa leaves, finely slashed, are utilized as a garnish for vegetable dishes and salad, for instance, the Kerala dish Thoran. The leave can serve the purpose or taken together with coriander.

Water Purification

Moringa seed cake, gotten as a remnant from squeezing seeds to get oil, is utilized to purify water using flocculation to produce drinkable water for animal or human consumption. Moringa seeds contain dimeric cationic proteins which ingest and kill colloidal charges in turbid water, making the colloidal particles cluster together, causing the suspended particles removable as slime by either filtration or settling.

Moringa seed cake purifies water. This benefit is exceptionally compelling for being non-toxic and sustainable compared to other materials in moringa-growing regions where drinking water is affected by pollutant.

Moringa Tree Anti-Cancer Benefits

Apart from its immense nutritional benefits, moringa also has several medicinal benefits, perhaps most notably is its stance as an anti-cancer supplement.

In India, its fruit, leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots are used primarily as anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor medicines.

As medical practitioners have long recognized moringa, scientists have been compelled to research its anti-cancer characteristic.

In 2003, the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention published a study where scientists examined skin tumor prevention by ingesting mice with moringa seedpod extracts. Results showed a dramatic reduction in skin papillomas and suggested that moringa has possible cancer-preventing properties.

Another study that was done in 2006 published that a molecule found in M. oleifera can induce death of cells in ovarian cancer cells grown in a lab. Based on these findings, researchers want to research if the plant has the potential to treat this type of cancer.

Other Uses

Moringa is known to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable land care. It might be used to feed livestock, a micronutrient fluid, a characteristic anthelmintic, and conceivable adjuvant.

Moringa oleifera leaf powder has the same powerful effect as a cleanser for hand washing when wetted ahead of time to enhance anti-septic and soap properties from phytochemicals present in the leaves. Moringa oleifera press cake seeds have been executed as wastewater conditioners for dewatering and drying fecal slime.

How Do You Eat it?

Almost all parts of the moringa are edible or utilized as ingredients in herbal medicine; this includes the leave, immature seed pods, oil pressed from seeds flowers and roots.

Leaves

The leaves are the most nutritious piece of the plant, loaded with vitamin B, vitamin C, provitamin An as beta-carotene, vitamin K, manganese, and protein, among other fundamental supplements. When contrasted with foods rich in specific supplements per 100 g crisp weight, cooked moringa leaves are a vital source of these equivalent supplements. A portion of the calcium in moringa leaves comes from crystals of calcium oxalate.

The leaves are cooked and utilized like spinach and are regularly dried and squashed into a powder, used as ingredients in soups and sauces.

The easiest way to take moringa is in powder form, made from crushing the naturally dried leaves into a fine dust.

The vibrant green color might look off-putting, but it has a tasty spinach-like flavor that goes great in smoothies, as a flavoring in soups or even taken as a tea.

Immature seed pods

The tender seed pods, called “drumsticks,” are commonly eaten in South Asia. They are set up by parboiling and cooked in a curry until they soften. Even after being boiled, the fruits and seed pod retains its high vitamin C (albeit boiling might reduce the level) content and are also a decent source of dietary fiber, manganese, potassium, and magnesium.

Seeds

The seeds, when extracted from developed pods, can be eaten like peas or roasted and taken like nuts. They contain large amounts of vitamin C and moderate measures of vitamin B as well as dietary minerals.

Seed oil

Developed seeds yield 38–40% consumable oil called ben oil from its large grouping of behenic corrosive. The refined oil is clear and scentless and opposes rancidity. The seed cake staying after oil extraction might be utilized as a fertilizer or as a water purifier. Moringa seed oil likewise has the potential for use as a biofuel.

Roots

Roots serve as a condiment with sharp flavor characteristics gained from the substantial content of polyphenols.

How Much Moringa Supplement Can You Take?

Depending on the size of a capsule, supplements usually have about 300 to 500 milligrams of moringa leaf powder.

The prescribed dosage for adult supplements is two capsules every day, one taken in the morning and one in the night.

However, it is advised you seek the medical advice of a medical practitioner before taking the supplements so that the dosage is appropriate for you or that the supplement will never interact with any other medications you may currently consuming.

Conclusion

Moringa oleifera is famous for its numerous health benefits. Moringa Health Benefits Superfoods is the name it earned by its qualities. It’s called a superfood because most of its parts like the roots, seeds, fruit, and leaves are consumed. Regardless of the eaten part of the tree, It is highly nutritional, full of essential amino acids, high amounts of vitamin C and moderate measures of vitamin B, iron supplement, and other dietary minerals. And it is widely used for medicinal purposes like blood sugar control, anti-cancer and a host of others. Its benefits extend to water purification, detergent, forage for livestock, and so forth.

Research Links

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/healthandlife/what-is-moringa-the-new-superfood-could-help-beat-stress-and-fatigue-924695.html

https://articles.mercola.com/vitamins-supplements/moringa-oleifera.aspx https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleifera

http://www.superlife.com/what-is-moringa/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleifera

This article provides you with some published data related to the scientific research done in the area of cancer prevention and cure using Moringa. The references are provided at the end of the article. The author of this article does not claim to have verified the results or the data, and we are merely summarizing the already published data in this article. Welcome to Moringa.Works – a website dedicated to the Moringa tree and maintained by O. M. Jonathan. Continue reading…

PATIENT;     Good afternoon doctor.

DOCTOR;     Good afternoon. Please, have a seat and let’s look at your results.

PATIENT:      During the day, I feel fatigued, and at night, I get sweats, or sometimes fever.

DOCTOR:      Hmm…

PATIENT:      My wife is concerned that I eat a lot of greasy food before I go to sleep.

DOCTOR:      I’m afraid John that is much serious than that. I have to run the biopsy test to find out more.

Have you ever been in a situation like this? Or any of your family members?

Are you suffering from that old repeating question; “Am I healthy and what is my MD going to discover during the next health checkup”… among others, maybe even cancer?!

The medical crisis is over us whether we want to admit it or not, and malignancy stands out amongst the most dangerous ailments worldwide.

Every year, diseases caused by microbes and bacteria become more and more resistant to conventional treatments. Already now, health threats have evolved and are resistant to superb drugs. Bacteria and germs developed resistance due to an excessive overdose of drugs over the past decade. . .

. . . and now scientists are in a hurry to find new types of cures. In 2012. , 14.1 million cases were accounted around the world, from which 52.5% are men and 45.4% are women. These percentages are expected to be steadily increased by around 70% in 2035.

Liver malignancy is considered to be the third reason for mortality around the world. In like manner, the most common type diagnosed among women was breast cancer.

Although chemotherapy regimens are currently available for any cancer treatment, there are many physiological and psychological burdens, and many never recover from chemotherapy ending up like rejects – a poor excuse for a human being.

But where is the end? And what you can do to avoid life-changing dialogue with your MD?

How Moringa oleifera fights cancer?

M. oleifera is a plant that has been recognized to give cell reinforcements, as well as anti-cancer and antihepatotoxic properties.

Considering that, all parts of the M. oleifera tree were tested for anti-cancer activity. However, the most extensive research was from the leaf extracts.

The Moringa is an evergreen tree that grows new leaves year-round, with a production of six tons per hectare almost every year. These are full of polyphenols and polyflavonoids, which are antioxidants and anti-cancer compounds.

Concerning that, one of the factors that can cause any cancer is oxidative stress, which is a disbalance in the production of free radicals and their elimination by antioxidants.

With more antioxidants from Moringa leaf, your body can agitate the formation of free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which ultimately prevents cancer.

And Moringa Oleifera has over 40 antioxidants!

Antioxidative activities of Moringa oleifera

Scientists have explored the antioxidant role of various parts of the Moringa leaf. They tested the five different fractions extracted from the leaf;

• crude extract,
• diethyl ether extract,
• phenolic fraction,
• polyphenolic fraction and
• aqueous fraction.

All five fractions were tested for their antioxidant power using several different antioxidant test models.

Scientists concluded that the polyphenolic fraction has the highest antioxidant activity, but all five fractions also have the antioxidant strength.   (1)

In summary, this study showed us that Moringa leaf extract is a source of potent antioxidants with prolific activity both in vitro and in vivo, which indicates that it has potential anti-cancer activity.

Therefore, no matter how you use the Moringa leaf, your organs will gain anti-cancer protection.

Anti-cancer activities of Moringa leaf – (in vitro)

NOTE:

In vitro studies are done with microorganisms, cells, or biomolecules outside their typical biological environment.

In another study, scientist tested the anti-cancer and cytotoxic potential of hot water, methanol, and hexane extracts of the Moringa leaf on cervical cancer cells, aka (HeLa cell line).

The specific cause of this type of cancer is not entirely clear. It is mostly due to the effects of hereditary factors, factors of the environment, diet, and lifestyle.

No matter what is the reason, this study showed that you could exit like a winner.

Although the weakest, an aqueous leaf extract showed the most properties against this type of cancer. The cancer cells were detached and started dying due to the consequence of cell necrosis in which they lose membrane integrity and die quickly.

The named study showed that the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa leaves had the most significant cytotoxic activity and is capable of fragmenting DNA thus killing the cervical cancer cells.   (2)

In vivo studies of Moringa show the anti-cancer activity of the Moringa leaf extract in a complex organism such as plants, animals, or humans.

This particular study from 2015 tested the effects of a water-soluble Moringa leaf extract in vivo, using a mouse model, and it’s showed the impact on the most common type of liver cancer – hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells.

The mice infected with HepG2 cells were treated with Moringa leaf extract to determine the effects of the extract on DNA content, which showed increased proliferation, thus showing that cells treated with 50 g/ml of leaf extract (highest tested dose) had a 70% reduction in colonies compared to the negative control group.

In other words, cancer cells in mice were dying due to the DNA damage caused by Moringa leaf extract.    (3)

Now you must be asking yourself… “Is the Moringa leaf only provider of anti-cancer properties?”

Anticancer activity from other parts of Moringa; bark, seed, and root

Researchers were also curious to see whether Moringa bark, seed, and roots will act the same when in the ‘ring’ with the cancer cells.

They tested the effects of leaf, seed, bark, and root ethanol extracts of M. oleifera on human breast adenocarcinoma from breast mammary glands.

Results were astounding because they showed suppression in the growth of cancer cells and reduction in their motility by 90% for the leaf extract, 50% for the bark extract, 40% for the root extract but had no perceptible decrease for the seed extract.

Results also showed significant breast cancer cell death caused by the leaf, bark and root extracts at 250 g/ml and toxic effects on the cells at 500 g/ml but again no great impact for the seed extract.   (4)

In the end…

If the healing profession works with an alignment with nature and science, then it should be to the benefit to the patient.

But if the healing profession doesn’t understand (or won’t) nature and science, then it works against the health of the patient.

To put it differently…

The leading causes of death in the USA are cancer, cardiovascular disease, and the number one is an iatrogenic illness.

What’s that?

It is illness due to medical treatment or in the simplest form; that is my friend when your MD decides that you should use medications/treatments that are not quite for you, but according to the “Big pharma” it’s passable to use them.

References

1 )  M. Al-Yahya, R. Mothana, M. Al-Said et al., Attenuation of CCl4-induced oxidative stress and hepatonephrotoxicity by Saudi Sidr honey in rats, Evidence-Based Complementary And Alternative Medicine, vol. 2013, Article ID eCAM, pp. 569037569037, 2012.

2 )  S. Nair and K. Varalakshmi, Anticancer, the cytotoxic potential of Moringa oleifera extract on HeLa cell line, Journal of Natural Pharmaceuticals, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 138138, 2011.

3 )  I. L. Jung, J. H. Lee, and S. C. Kang, A potential oral anti-cancer drug candidate, Moringa oleifera leaf extract, induces the apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, Oncology Letters, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 15971604, 2015. View at Publisher  View at Google Scholar  View at Scopus

4 )   A. K. Al-Asmari, S. M. Albalawi, M. T. Athar, A. Q. Khan, H. Al-Shahrani, and M. Islam, Moringa oleifera as an anti-cancer agent against breast and colorectal cancer cell lines, PLoS ONE, vol. 10, no. 8, 2015. View at Google Scholar

5 )  Guevara AP, Vargas C, Sakurai H, et al. An antitumor promoter from Moringa oleifera Lam. Mutat Res. 1999;440:181–8.

Why should one use Moringa and what are the Benefits?

Do you know Moringa or even heard about it? If you didn’t, you are soon going to hear it. Moringa Health Benefits Superfoods found in fresh leaf form and also in the form of powder supplements is in the limelight these days. It is the powerhouse of anti-inflammatory, healing as well as free-radical-fighting properties that can benefit your skin, heart and guard against diseases. Welcome to Moringa.Works – a website dedicated to the Moringa tree and maintained by O. M. Jonathan. Continue reading…

A Short Description:

• Every part of a moringa tree can be useful as medicine and food, but moringa leaves contain the most healing properties as well as potent nutrition.

• There are more amount of vitamin A compared to carrots in Moringa, more iron compared to spinach, more potassium compared to bananas, as well as more vitamin C compared to oranges.

• Moringa has properties of high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help in protection from various disease and brain, as well as in the treatment of cancers.

Moringa can be taken as powder or supplements; both contains moringa leaves.

In India, moringa is also called a miracle tree and is eaten by most of the localities. It has antifungal, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, and generations of people use it to treat digestive, heart conditions, skin, and many more diseases.

What is Moringa?

Moringa is still a new plant to the West; the small tree called moringa oleifera is valued highly in southeast Asia. It is used as many things, such as rope, dye, fiber, spices, fertilizer, and medicines.

The truth is that every part of the moringa plant can be used and is edible, and therefore, named as “miracle tree.” It has other names, such as a ben tree, drumstick tree, horseradish tree, etc. But whatever name it is called with, you will find moringa seeds, fruits, roots, flowers, and leaves everything is used as a food, and are packed with minerals, proteins, and phytonutrients. But the leaves of moringa trees are the ones that contain most of the healing properties as well as nutrition. The leaves of Moringa are eaten cooked or even raw, but in the USA, they are available in the powder or capsule form mostly.

Nutrition of Moringa

Moringa’s superfood condition is from an abundant nourishment account. It provides more nutrients than numerous other plants. The density of nutrients in moringa differs by their growth conditions as well as preparation work, but lots of research studies rank moringa with even more vitamin C compared to oranges, a lot more vitamin A compared to carrots, a lot more potassium compared to bananas, and a lot more iron compared to spinach. Moringa also has healthy proteins, as well as includes eight of the nine important amino acids, which is very rare in plant-based healthy proteins.

However, the incredible density of nutrients isn’t the end of the moringa’s claims as superfood fame. It also has antimicrobial, antioxidant compounds, and anti-inflammatory properties that help protect you as well as reinforce your body from a wide range of illness.

Advantages of Moringa

Decreases blood sugar as well as protect from diabetes mellitus

• Treats as well as prevents diabetes mellitus: Moringa leaves are a valuable natural supplement to treat as well as avoid diabetic issues, and might also turn around type one as well as two diabetes in research studies carried out on rats.

• Controls blood sugar level: In studies, it was found that moringa aids in stopping sugar spikes when a meal are taken and decrease fasting sugar levels in blood in both diabetic as well as non-diabetic animals. Preserving a healthy sugar level is essential to minimizing swelling, boosting mood, as well as preventing diabetes and heart disease. Various other antioxidants present in moringa assist in protecting the cells that produce insulin from damaging oxidative stress.

• Prevents complications from diabetes: The antioxidant phytochemicals present in moringa leaf likewise aids to protect the kidney as well as retinas from any damage caused by diabetes, and researches reveal that moringa supplements can assist bring back kidney as well as pancreatic features in rats that have diabetes.

Lowers swelling and oxidation

• Reduces swelling: Moringa is an effective anti-inflammatory representative, as well as aids to relieve persistent inflammation by reducing inflammatory enzymes as well as improving the anti-inflammatory cytokines’ production. Decreasing swelling is the No. 1 objective for the Bulletproof Diet regimen, and vital to raising your stamina, longevity, strength, as well as, resistance to chronic illness such as weight problems, diabetes, and joint inflammation.

• Reduces DNA damage and oxidative stress: Moringa also flaunts a remarkable toolbox of antioxidants that includes vitamins C as well as E, flavonoids as well as polyphenols. All these compounds feed on free radicals that are harmful and secure cells from the stress of oxidation, DNA damage, as well as inflammation.

Avoids weight gain: One additional perk? Reducing inflammation, blood sugar, and oxidative stress will all assist in stopping unwanted gain of weight.

Defends from fungal, bacterial, and viral infections

• Food poisoning: Numerous substances in Moringa are antibacterial. Naturally, they are also antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic. So, this makes moringa very useful in food conservation as well as water filtration and also securing you from horrible bugs that are food-borne such as fungi or salmonella.

• Herpes as well as HIV: These impacts are so solid, that moringa is utilized as an encouraging treatment for HIV and herpes simplex infection.

• UTIs as well as stomach infections: Integrating moringa in the diet plan can help enhance your longevity of life versus digestive and blood system bacterial infections.

• Acne and Fungal infections: Topically applied Moringa oils can combat fungal acne and skin infections.

Moringa can combat cancer and starts cell death

• Boosts cancer cells treatment: Moringa might play an interesting role in the treatment of cancer and improving cancer treatments, for example, chemotherapy. The leaves of Moringa is a powerful antioxidant, substances that fend off cancers cells by counteracting free-radicals that damages cells as well as DNA to cause growth advancement.
• Sets off the death of cancer cells: Researches show that certain extracts of moringa leaf such as quercetin and glucosinolates help hinder growth and starts cell fatality in expanding tumors. Along with these interesting cancer-combating properties, one more research shows that therapy with extracts of moringa leaf actually enhanced the chemotherapy effects in human cells in the pancreas.

Favorable Impacts on Cholesterol

Moringa has additionally been researched for its capability to reduce cholesterol level in human tests. This may be substantial with the emerging study discounting the effectiveness and security of statin medications.

• Statin drugs do not lower the risk of fatality in 95% of the population, consisting of healthy and balanced men without pre-existing heart problem, women of any type of age, and the senior.

• Statin drugs reduce the mortality of young men and middle-aged men who have a pre-existing heart problem, while the benefit is tiny as well as they are not without significant negative effects, dangers, and prices.

• Pain killers’ functions just as well as statins do for protecting against cardiovascular disease and are 20 times even more budget-friendly.

Several foods that help in reducing inflammation in the body may also have a favorable result on blood cholesterol levels as well as eating a diet plan high in antioxidant-rich foods and veggies as well as low in sugar may additionally be helpful. However, moringa appears to be especially helpful in human as well as animal researches.

Defends from cognitive decrease

One more benefit of moringa’s content of high antioxidant is its capability to protect brain cells against neurodegeneration damage. Extract of Moringa leaf might be useful in dealing with memory-related problems such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. In one study with rat shows that treatment involving moringa assisted in managing and restoring healthy natural chemicals after Alzheimer’s, such as brain damage.

Safeguard your liver and kidneys

Particular substances that are present in moringa assist to safeguard your kidney as well as liver against toxic substances or medicine exposure. Moringa’s high antioxidant material and capability to detoxify all the heavy metals to make it a perfect supplement for liver and kidney wellness. But what regarding the calcium? Level of calcium oxalates in Moringa is high, but not the type of oxalates that trigger stones in the kidney. Calcium oxalates in Moringa are non-soluble, that indicates your body should be able to eliminate them without bothering about kidney stones.

Strengthens hair and skin

With Moringa as we have seen can make you glow from your inside, oils from moringa can improve your radiance from the exterior.

• Hydrates skin: Extracted from seeds as well as leaves, the vitamin, as well as antioxidant-rich oil, can make a superb skin cleanser, moisturizing as well as a hair treatment.

• Fights drooping skin and wrinkles: High vitamin C levels aid to boost production of natural collagen and saves your skin from any oxidative stress, battling wrinkles, sun damages, and sagging.

• Keeps the skin clear: Its anti-inflammatory, as well as antimicrobial buildings, can likewise assist clear skin troubles such as blackheads or acne.

• Heals wounds: With the help of Moringa oil, one can recover wounds and skin damages by advertising the development and motion of fibroblasts.

Deals with low-level iron anemia

An ideal iron supplement is Moringa, and it is best for vegetarians who might need assistance acquiring the ideal amount of iron and healthy protein consumption. Apart from providing a powerful iron that is plant-based, substances in moringa in fact boost level of iron absorption, rise in the red blood cell, as well as avoid the malfunction of red cell that is present in sickle-cell anemia.

Natural Energy Booster

This is one advantage of Moringa that definitely appears to have a big amount of anecdotal proof, and this may result from the amino acid account of this plant. Lots of people in on the internet forums as well as discussion boards declare that they have seen an obvious boost in power levels from taking Moringa.

Simply consuming more vitamins, amino acids and minerals might bring about a rise in power in lots of people, so it would be tough to know if this advantage specifies to moringa or just a result of consuming even more nutrients generally.

Assist for Breastfeeding Mothers

One more often-cited use for Moringa is to assist in raising milk supply in nursing moms. Specific supplement companies frequently suggest their Moringa-based supplements as a prenatal vitamin and throughout breastfeeding, although please see the warning below before taking this supplement if you are a childbearing woman.

The only scientific backing discovered for the use of moringa as a galactagogue, to increase milk supply, remains in old research from the Philippines that took a look at the use of this plant for mothers with pre-term infants in the initial three days of nursing, and it was found:

In females during postpartum days 3-5, after bring to life preterm babies, supplements of 250mg moringa oleifera leaf essence two times day-to-day show up to increase milk manufacturing in a time reliant fashion on the first day of supplementation, 31% rise over sugar pill, along with the 2nd (48%) and third (165%) day.

Side effects of Moringa

While moringa is normally risk-free as well as valuable to add in your diet regimen, it’s always a great idea to talk to a medical professional or functional wellness specialist if you prepare to utilize moringa to deal with any type of certain condition. This holds for especially true when you try to develop or taking various other medicines. Moringa specifically extracts of the barks and root, have properties of fertility-reducing that can discourage implantation. Very little research feeds on the security of moringa while expectant, yet extracts of moringa leaves have been used from a long time as a conventional remedy to improve the production of breast milk after the child is given birth.

Be careful integrating moringa with various other medicines that might imitate the very same impacts, such as blood pressure controllers or diabetic controllers as moringa might contribute to these results. Lastly, since moringa has an abundant resource of iron, make sure to prevent over consuming on this mineral.

How can Moringa be used?

• Moringa powder: In the western countries, extracted leaves of moringa are dried out and packed and sold as a supplement or powder. Moringa powder can be added to smoothie mixes or soups or can be used as a tea. It has a mild asparagus-like taste, so expect it to have a flavor of “healthy.”

• Moringa dosage: Begin with 1/2 to 1 spoon of powder of moringa daily, or adhere to the capsule supplement’s recommendations. If taken in high doses, moringa does have an effect of laxative.

• Moringa oil: For aesthetic uses, oils or creams that have moringa oils or moringa seeds, also called ben oil or benzoyl, can be fantastic additions for your elegance routine. If you want pure moringa oil, search for natural as well as cold-pressed. The good news is, moringa oil is extremely oxidation resistant, so you don’t require to fret about it before you are finished with the bottle. 

The world is experiencing a shift in people’s attitudes towards medicines and more and more people are opting for natural or nature-derived medicines. This comes along with the search for novel chemicals that can help provide treatment for a wide range of diseases. Welcome to Moringa.Works – a website dedicated to the Moringa tree and maintained by O. M. Jonathan. Continue reading…

Most of this knowledge comes from traditional medicine, which makes use of a lot of plant-based remedies. Plant-based medicines or phytomedicines are thought to be more beneficial in comparison to conventional drugs. One of these upcoming phytomedicines is Moringa. It has been known to researchers as having numerous potential health benefits, both nutritionally and medicinally. It has been in use as a food source as well as natural medicine, and almost all parts of the plant are considered beneficial to health in some way.

What is Moringa?

Moringa oleifera is a plant that is native to the Indian subcontinent and is often used as a vegetable in cooking. It is commonly known as horseradish tree, drumstick tree, sajna, kelor and sheoga.

It is a tall tree that bears white flowers in bunches that mature into long, green seed pods that have winged seeds inside them. It belongs to the family Moringaceae and is closely related to the mustard family. It originated in the foothills of the Himalayas in North India and has now spread to Africa, Arabia, South East Asia, Pacific and Caribbean regions

What is it traditionally known for?

Besides being used as a vegetable by the locals, in some regions it is also known as the miracle tree. This is because of the belief that it can cure a wide range of ailments including chronic diseases. For centuries, many cultures around the world have been using Moringa.

Its nutritional content is so high that it is used in poor countries to fight malnutrition. The immature green pods are prepared like green beans. Once the seeds are dried, they can be cooked like peas or roasted like nuts. Leaves are cooked like spinach and can be dried and powdered to use as a condiment.

It is used to treat skin problems, anxiety, anemia, asthma, blackheads, blood impurities, bronchitis, catarrh, chest congestion, cholera and other problems.

During the Egyptian period, it was used to make skin ointments. Of recent, it has also received attention for its potential use in cosmetics.

These uses drew attention to the plant, which was found to have numerous bioactive compounds. It has a lot of medicinal properties including being anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-hypertensive, anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, anti-pyretic, anti-ulcer, anti-epileptic, diuretic, cholesterol lowering, renal, anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective.

Traditional uses of the leaves

• Rubbed against either of the temples to relieve headaches.
• Applied to insect bites or wounds to reduce swelling and prevent infection.
• A poultice of fresh leaves used to stop bleeding from grazes and small cuts.
• A concoction of leaves used against diarrhea and gastric ulcers.
• Against bronchitis, fevers, ear and eye infections, and painful mucus membrane inflammation.

Traditional uses of the flowers

• Sap used to improve the flow and quality of the milk of a breastfeeding mother.
• Sap used to remedy urinary problems.
• Floral tea used in as cold remedy by Haitian villagers

Traditional uses of the pods

• High fiber content helps treat diarrhea and malnutrition.
• Eaten raw as a de-wormer if eaten them raw
• Used to cure pain and spleen problems.

Traditional uses of the seeds

• To cure rheumatism, arthritis, gout, sexually transmitted diseases and cramps. Seeds are roasted and pounded properly and applied to the affected area after mixing with coconut oil. For similar ailments, many people use seed oil.
• Oil from roasted seeds encourages urination.

Traditional uses of the barks, roots and gum

• The bark and roots used for circulatory and cardiac problems, for inflammation and as a tonic. The bark is used as a digestive and an appetizer as well.
• In India and Senegal, roots are pounded and properly mixed with normal salt for making a poultice for the treatment of articular and rheumatism pains. This type of poultice is also used for relieving kidney or lower back pain in Senegal.
• The gum is abortifacient, astringent and diuretic, which is used against asthma.

Traditional uses of the oil

• To treat scurvy, hysteria, bladder troubles and prostate problems.
• To treat stomach disorders by the villagers of Oman. They also use it in hair oils and perfumes.

Nutritional composition of Moringa

The reason for Moringa’s usage is based on its nutrient content. The nutrient content of a plant gives it its medicinal, nutritional and therapeutic properties. It contains many essential nutrients, especially beta-carotene, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Moringa leaves have a high content of vitamin C, calcium, beta-carotene, potassium and protein. These natural antioxidants in Moringa along with flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolics enable it to extend the shelf-life of fat-containing foods.

The nutrient content varies slightly based on the harvest season, preparation method and leaf age. The incredible thing, however, is that unlike other vegetables, Moringa does not lose nutritional content over time. In fact, boiling it can increase the bio-available iron in the raw leaves by three times.

Additionally, Moringa contains a unique group of compounds that contain sugar and rhamnose, which are capable of chemoprotection through inducing apoptosis.

What are the medicinal properties of Moringa?

Antifibrotic/Antiulcer

Liver fibrosis is usually treated by natural drugs that prevent or protect against it. Moringa has hepatoprotective properties that help prevent hepatocellular injury. It inhibits the secretion of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase that indicate liver health.

Additionally, leaf-extracts of the plant have been found to help reduce stress and chemical induced gastric ulcers. The extract decreases peptic acid in the stomach as well as protects against ulceration in the future.

Anti-inflammatory effects

Several chronic diseases show inflammation as a symptom. Through the anti-inflammatory properties, Moringa can treat inflammation, hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. The property is attributed to the flavonoids and phenolic acids.

Leaf-extracts of Moringa also reduces serum globulin, myeloperoxidase activity in the liver and decrease inflammatory cell infiltrations.

Antimicrobial effects

Several parts of the plant including the seed, stem, bark, leaves and root bark are known to possess antimicrobial properties. A water-based concoction of the pods can inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and yeast strains. It appears to be stronger against gram-positive species like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia faecalis rather than gram0negative bacteria like Salmonella and Pseudomonas.

Anti-hyperglycemic effects

Quite often, Moringa is prescribed for diabetic patients. It has the property of lowering blood glucose. Especially a powder made from its dried fruits has N-benzyl thiocarbamate, N-benzyl carbamate and benzyl nitrile, all of which have been proven to trigger insulin release from pancreatic cells. They also contain terpenoids which stimulate the beta cells and secrete the precursor to insulin.

Antioxidant properties

As mentioned earlier, Moringa has several antioxidant compounds. These scavenge free radicals and prevent oxidative damage. The antioxidant capacity of the leaves varies and mature leaves have a higher content of antioxidants.

Studies have found that the property is due to the presence of phenolics, flavonoids and trace alkaloids in the leaves. The content varies seasonally and based on other agronomic cultivation practices.

Anti-tumor properties

Philippine-grown Moringa has antitumor agents that prevent the formation of tumors. It contains a chemical called niazimicin which helps the body produce antitumor promoters that protect against chemical-induced cancers. Some studies show that the ingestion of the seed extracts can help prevent tumor formation.

Anticancer properties

Moringa has been shown to help in treating or preventing cancer. It has fatty acids that modulate apoptosis in some kinds of cancer including that of the colon. It has been shown to be effective against several cancerous cell lines including lung, liver, colon and neuroblastoma. The seed extract selectively inhibits the growth of tumors and slow them. The most effective dose was found to be 500mg/kg body weight.

Neurological effects Moringa enhances brain health and cognition because of its antioxidant and neuroenhancing properties. It has also shown to help in cases of Alzheimer’s disease. It

can normalize the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline in the brain, which enables the proper functioning of memory, mood, organ function, responses to stimulus such as stress and pleasure, and mental health.

Wound-healing properties

Moringa has blood-clotting agents in its leaves, roots, and seeds that benefit wound healing. These reduce the clotting time and therefore, cuts, wounds and scratches stop bleeding faster and are less prone to bacterial infections and festering.

What can Moringa be used for?

Skin and hair care

Moringa oil can protect against oxidative damage and therefore help in maintaining skin and hair health. It also contains hydrating and detoxifying elements that add shine and bounce to the hair. Because of its wound-healing and antimicrobial properties, it can be used to heal wounds, cuts and sores.

Treating edema

Inflammation is a symptom of many diseases and is often painful. In the condition, fluid builds up in specific tissues. Moringa can help prevent and treat this swelling.

Treating stomach complaints

Constipation, colitis and ulcers are very common disorders. Moringa can treat these due to its antimicrobial and antibiotic properties which help fight off pathogens. The high vitamin content can help optimize digestion.

Bone health

Moringa also contains plenty of calcium and phosphorous which are essential bone-building elements. Along with this, the anti-inflammatory properties can help treat arthritis and heal damaged bones.

Treating diabetes

As mentioned earlier, Moringa can help lower blood sugar by promoting insulin secretion. It also improves hemoglobin levels and overall protein content.

Reducing blood pressure

The isothiocyanate and niazimin in Moringa help reduce arterial thickening and blockages, thereby ensuring that the blood pressure is maintained at a healthy level.

Improving eye health

It is well known that eyesight is improved with the help of antioxidants. These antioxidants are in plenty in Moringa, which help stop the dilation of retinal vessels, prevent capillary membrane thickening and reduce the chances of retinal dysfunction.

Weight loss

Moringa can reduce and control weight gain because of its high vitamin B content. However, these studies have been mainly carried out on animal models. It can help reduce weight gain, regulate cholesterol and convert fat to energy, improving overall energy levels.

Other conditions that Moringa may be able to treat

When consumed orally

• Asthma
• Increasing breast milk production
• Anemia
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Constipation
• Birth control
• Diarrhea
• Epilepsy
• Stomach pain (gastritis)
• Headache
• Heart problems
• Kidney stones
• Swelling (inflammation)
• Thyroid disorders
• Stimulating immunity
• Increasing sex drive
• Other conditions

When applied topically (to skin)

• Athlete’s foot
• Dandruff
• Warts
• Skin infections
• Snakebites
• Gum disease (gingivitis)

What forms of supplements are available?

Moringa is most commonly consumed as a vegetable locally. However, of late it has also been produced as supplements. These supplements are available in the powdered form of dried leaves. The powder can be mixed into food, made into smoothies or tea and consumed as such. Moringa oil is also available, and can be used as hair oil, in perfumes and to apply topically to help reduce swelling and symptoms of arthritis.

Side effects

Moringa is generally safe to take orally and topically. It is commonly used as a vegetable where its leaves, fruits and seeds are used. However, avoid consuming the root or its extracts. If improperly administered, these can cause paralysis and death. It has however been used safely in doses of 6 grams daily for 3 months.

There are some reports that suggest that Moringa can have antifertility effects, hence pregnant women and couples attempting to conceive should avoid the consumption of Moringa.

Moringa also contains thyroid-regulating compounds that can have interactions with conventional thyroid medicines like levothyroxine. It can also drastically reduce blood sugar if used in combination with other diabetes medicines.

Therefore, consuming these together must be avoided or blood sugar levels must be rigorously monitored to ensure that complications do not occur. The same can be said for blood pressure regulating drugs.

Remember never to start or stop medicating yourself. Always consult a trained medical professional before taking health decisions.

Conclusion

Moringa is rightly marketed as a superfood, due to its high content of nutrients that can prevent and cure health problems. Its bioactivity has been carefully studied and is backed by scientific research. Most of the traditional uses match with the properties of its chemical composition. It has several uses and is a great supplement to promote your health.

References

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319916.php

Click to access article_29959_144683da90d0087df5c7b5ec76da5b57.pdf

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-22401/10-powerful-benefits-of-drinking-moringa-every-day.html

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1242/moringa

The scientific name of the Moringa plant is Moringa oleifera and belongs to the family Moringaceae. It is known to have many health benefits. Welcome to Moringa.Works – a website dedicated to the Moringa tree and maintained by O. M. Jonathan. Continue reading…

Moringa plant is native to sub-Himalayan regions of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. It can also be cultivated in subtropical and tropical areas. Medicines are commonly made from the seeds, root, fruit, flowers, bark, and leaves of the moringa plant.

Other names of moringa plant include

• Drumstick tree
• Miracle tree
• Ben oil tree
• Horseradish-tree

Several health benefits are associated with the moringa plant.

Nutritional supplements

Moringa plant is full of healthy nutrients and contains many vitamins and minerals. That’s why the moringa plant is called a miracle plant. Healthful compounds in moringa plan include

• Vitamin A (from beta-carotene)
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
• B2 (riboflavin)
• B3 (niacin)
• B-6
• Folate 
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• Protein
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Zinc

It has very low fat content and contains no harmful cholesterol. Dried leaves of moringa plant can be used as a supplement in capsule and powder form. Leaves of the moringa plant are a rich source of minerals and vitamins as compare to pods and other parts.

There are some compounds present in the moringa plant that affect the absorption of the proteins and minerals.

Bone health

Presence of calcium and phosphorus make moringa plan a good candidate to support the bone health. It makes bone stronger and healthier. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties also manage diseases related to bones such as arthritis.

Treating mood disorders

Moringa regulates the levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline in the brain and thus play vital role organ functions, mood, and behavior. It also plays a critical role in managing fatigue, anxiety, and depression. It is also useful in the treatment of Alzheimer disease.

Rich source of Antioxidants

Free radicals in the body cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell damage and linked with many chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart diseases. Variety of antioxidant compounds are present in moringa plant, especially in seeds, flowers, and leaves. Leaves have higher antioxidant properties than seeds and flowers. Antioxidants fight against the free radicals in the body.

Vitamin c, Beta –carotene, Chlorogenic acid, Quercetin are the major antioxidants found in moringa plant.  Quercetin is helpful in lowering blood pressure, whereas Chlorogenic acid reduces blood sugar levels after meals. Moringa leaf extract can enhance the shelf life of meat by limiting oxidation and thus also used as a food preservative.

Anti-Inflammatory effect

Inflammation is a normal process our body shows after injury or infection. From minor injuries to chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, obesity, heart disease, and cancer inflammation occur almost in every case.

Anti-inflammatory affects are provided by many natural foods and vegetables, but the degree of anti-inflammatory effects highly depend on anti-inflammatory compounds. Isothiocyanates present in the Moringa seeds, leaves and pods have anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory enzymes and proteins in the body.

Lower Cholesterol levels

Risks of heart diseases increase with the increasing levels of cholesterol in the blood. Many natural plant-based foods are involved in lowering cholesterol levels such as oats, almonds, and flaxseeds. However, lipid-lowering benefit is also provided by the Moringa plant. Primarily the plaque formation in the arteries is prevented by moringa leaf extract and thus lowers cholesterol levels.

Protection Against Arsenic Toxicity

Food and water contaminated with the arsenic have many complications, including cancer, arsenic toxicity, and heart diseases. Leaves and seeds of moringa plant known to protect against some of the toxic effects of arsenic.

Healthy skin and hair

As moringa plant contain high protein content, it protects and nourishes the hairs and skin. Moringa seed oil is useful for protecting hairs as it fights against free radicals and keeps hairs healthy and clean. Moringa seed oil protects the scalp, gives strength to the hair roots, and boost hair growth.

Detoxifying and hydrating compounds found in moringa seed oil boost the hair and skin health. These compounds counter the effects of pollutants and slowdowns aging and prevent wrinkles. That’s why it is commonly used in cosmetic products. It also cures sores and skin infections and infections due to herpes simplex virus.

Treating edema

The anti-inflammatory properties of moringa also useful in treating edema, a condition caused by fluid buildup in tissues.

Reducing Blood Sugar Levels

The reason behind many health issues is higher blood sugar levels. Higher blood sugar levels cause diabetes, increases risks of heart diseases as well. To keep your blood sugar level within the normal range, moringa plant have some compounds such as isothiocyanates that can help to reduce blood sugar levels.

Chlorogenic acid present in Moringa plant has antidiabetic and hormone balancing properties, and also assist in controling blood sugar levels. It allows cells to utilize glucose only when needed.

Besides lowering blood sugar levels, moringa leaf powder also reduces the oxidative stress in diabetic patients and protect cell damage.

Useful in cancer PREvention

Extracts of moringa helpful in preventing the development of cancer, especially niazimicin found in moringa suppress the growth of cancer cells.

Protecting the liver

The damage caused by the anti-tubercular drugs to the liver can be protected by moringa extracts. It speeds up the repair process.

Moringa oil contains a high concentration of polyphenols which protect the liver against toxicity, oxidation, and damage. It also minimizes the fibrosis and liver damage by restoring enzymes of the liver to normal levels and increasing protein content in the liver.

Good for digestive health

Ulcerative colitis, gastritis, and constipation can be treated with the moringa. Moringa also useful in helping digestion due to the presence of vitamin B and it also inhibit the growth of many pathogens due to its antimicrobial properties and thus treats various digestive conditions. It’s anti-inflammatory properties also contribute to the treat various stomach problems.

Treating bacterial diseases

Moringa contributes to treat a variety of infections caused by Salmonella, E. coli and Rhizopus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, due to its antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial properties. These properties are useful in treating infections of the skin, blood, gastrointestinal tract, and urinary tract.

Protecting the cardiovascular system

Due to antioxidant properties, moringa extract maintains a healthy heart and prevent cardiac damage.

Presence of niaziminin and isothiocyanate prevent the arteries from thickening and thus help to reduce blood pressure.

Treating asthma

Moringa prevents bronchial constriction during athematic episodes and helps to improve the overall function of lungs and breathing.

Eye health

Moringa improves the eyesight and overall health of the eye by preventing the thickening of capillary membrane, inhibiting dilation of retinal vessels. These eyesight boosting properties are linked with its antioxidant properties.

Treatment of anemia

Red blood cell count can be increased by moringa, which is actually due to its property of facilitating absorption of iron. That’s why it is helpful in treating sickle cell disease and anemia.

Promote wound healing

Blood clotting properties are present in the seeds, leaves, and roots of the moringa plant, which can shorten the clotting time and promote wound healing.

Boosts Immunity

Moringa extracts promote the activity of the immune system by increases total leucocyte count and antibodies.

Immunosuppressive Properties

What is Immunosuppressive? Treatment that lowers the activity of the body’s immune system. This reduces its ability to fight infections and other diseases, such as cancer. Immunosuppressive properties of moringa plan are mainly due to its seeds. Immunosuppressive action of seeds of moringa assist in the production of antibodies and help in the transplantation of new organs so that they safely settle in the body.

Moringa hits all the points in the checklist of marketability. Highly nutritious, and easy to source, eaten by enough people so we can conclude on its safety, and its got attractive names to market itself. Welcome to Moringa.Works – a website dedicated to the Moringa tree and maintained by O. M. Jonathan. Continue reading…

The Tree of Life! The Miracle Tree!

I bet that you’ve got all the goosebumps right on your body and chills down your spine when you hear something like this, but hold your wallet just yet.

There’s a reason to be skeptical though.

How many times did you read something like this, buy it, try it and it was left behind on your high shelf or in the trash?

So, right now, you must be asking yourself; is it worth it? What is Moringa, and why is it so appealing?

Does it hold any promise for us in the modern world, or is it destined to be just another food product?

“ Although very few people have heard of it by now, Moringa could soon become one of the most valuable plants in the world, at least from humanitarian reasons. “
— Nil Vitmayer, National USA academy of science

“ In addition to providing other essential micronutrients, Moringa oleifera is the most abundant source of Beta-Carotene (vitamin A). Even more than most green vegetables.”
— DR. Kamala Krishnaswamy, National Institute of Nutrition, India

“ Moringa promises very much as a means to overcome one of the most severe problems of the developing world – malnutrition, land degradation, contaminated water, and poverty. This tree works best in dry regions where these problems are the worst.”
— Andrew Young, USA ambassador

So, how about you? What is your opinion on this plant?

You are here to find out?!

Ok, that’s fair. Keep reading.

What is Moringa oleifera?

Moringa tree OR the ‘drumstick tree’ is one of the most amazing plants you could ever meet. This could sound sensational, but Moringa’s nutritional and medicinal properties have the potential to end malnutrition, dying of hunger, prevent and cure many diseases around the world.

The Moringa itself is made up of 13 subspecies. The most common subspecies is Moringa oleifera.

It has been found in many tropical and subtropical regions in harshest climatic elements where hardly anything else would grow. Actually, one of Moringa’s nicknames is “Undying” because of its

incredible ability to survive severe weather and even drought.

All parts of the Moringa tree are edible

Imagine that!

The most miraculous thing about Moringa is the number of nutrients, medicine chemicals, and compounds found in it.

The graphics below will give you a glance at some of the crucial nutrients that are found in this plant.

It is said that Moringa contains 539 known compounds, and therefore, according to traditional African and Indian medicine (Ayurveda), it’s considered to be the cure for more than 300 diseases.

As you can see in the drawing above, not only does Moringa contain vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Potassium, Iron, and Proteins, It contains them in a high amount which the human body can quickly burn and assimilate. Furthermore, it follows with not one, nor two, nor three but over 40 anti-oxidants.

Take that oxidative stress!

But first let’s see what the science and lab are saying;

All values refer to 100 grams of edible part.

Just by looking at this wealth that is found in a number of different vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, as well as the high concentration of many other nutrients it’s easy to understand why it’s said that Moringa can prevent over 300 illnesses.

Although it’s called a miracle tree, some could say that Moringa is a weird plant at least.

Firstly, it contains isothiocyanate molecules. These nutrients are a group found only in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli that underlie their unique benefits against cancer and toxins, but Moringa oleifera is not a cruciferous vegetable. It’s just weird that it includes them. What is most interesting about this plant is that each part is edible. Seeds, fruits, flowers, and roots are edible and due to their unique taste are very often used in desserts in South India.

Moringa seed benefits

Moringa seeds are consumed in a wide variety of ways, and they can be boiled, steamed, or roasted and served as snacks.

The seeds are an excellent alternative for high sugary nutrients too. Moreover, people use them for their high boost of vitamin-C, proteins, and potassium.

Also, Moringa seeds are a surefire way to lower the sugar level in the blood, thus protecting you from developing other long-term complications associated with diabetes like cardiac and renal failure.

Besides that, Moringa seeds act as a stimulant for the cardio system,( contain 75% of oleic acid), which aids in the creation of a protective layer around the cardiac nerves.

Many developing countries are facing illnesses, and high mortality among children which are caused by bacteria, in water. Moringa seeds are an easy and affordable way to purify polluted water. The seeds remove bacteria, algae, and dirt and leave it safe for drinking.

Moringa flower benefits

The bloom of this Miracle tree varies depending on the climate where Moringa is growing. One of the most common uses is to boil the fresh flowers in water for 5 minutes to make a medicinal tea.

Moringa tea has a very distinctive flavor and is used in villages in Haiti as a cold remedy. However, some people are saying that the best way is not to boil Moringa flower at all. The alternative method is to press collected flowers and gather its natural juice.

This unprocessed juice is used to treat urinary infections and release excess water from your body. But again there are those who eat them raw in a salad.

Moringa leaves benefits

So, the research has shown that the majority of benefits comes from the leaves of the Moringa plant because the most nutrients are found in small leaves.

The leaves are known to have one of the highest antioxidant potentials to help you with keeping your health in top notch condition.

Some of the antioxidant compound that has been found in the leaves of Moringa besides of Vitamin C and beta-carotene is quercetin which works anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, anti-rheumatic, antiviral and anti-cancer, and its positive effects on fight against diabetes and its consequences.

NOTE: Keep in mind that antioxidants will have the maximum effect on the damage caused by free radicals only when they are introduced with food in combination with nutrients.

Using leaves also encourages the normal function of the cardiovascular system and healthy blood sugar levels after a meal.

One study with a female control group showed that taking 1.5 teaspoons (8 grams) of grounded moringa leaf every day for three months had significantly increase of blood antioxidant levels.

(https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13197-012-0859-9)

Moringa root benefits

Moringa root was used by ancient Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians for its healing properties. They used it to protect their skin, to make incense or aromatic oils. Although it has higher nutrient quantities then seeds and leaves, its bark contains some alkaloids and phytochemical compounds that are toxic, so it’s best to use Moringa roots as a medicine.

If you buy fresh root and decide to use it as a food, please remove the bark from the roots first.

Moringa root is well-known for its antibiotic properties and based on that; it’s used to cope with a wide range of conditions and illnesses like asthma, circulatory/endocrine disorders, digestive disorders, gastritis, inflammation, rheumatism, nervous disorders, reproductive health, skin disorders.

Moringa oil

Moringa oil has a particular nutrient profile, dominated by vitamin C and B-family vitamins, as well as a high level of monounsaturated and some saturated fats. The most crucial ingredient is oleic acid (omega-9), of which more than 70% of this oil is composed.

Furthermore, there are significant amounts (5-10%) of behenic acid and docosanoic acid (saturated fat) which has a number of eminent effects on the body like skin care, liver care, lowering of the blood pressure, boosting immunity, and promoting good nights sleep.

In the end…

Now… The simplest and also the most challenging question is…

Is Moringa for you?

Knowing your body and its health condition is the first step.

Of course, certain supplements such as vitamins minerals, and antioxidants are welcome no matter the gender, age, and health goal. Simply put, they are necessary because we live in an unhealthy and stressful environment.

Obviously, this is an area in which we have a plethora of evidence – classical scientific, as well as extensive anecdotal evidence – that are extremely convincing. These are already present for over 50 years, but most of them are utterly unknown to western folks.

But now you know more.