Monday, November 3, 2008

The Power of Moringa Tree

moringa tree
Biochemists are calling Moringa the most nutrient-rich plant on the planet. They say that "with complex range of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other important phytonutrients (plant nutrients), Moringa is a rare powerhouse of nutrition."

Monica G. Marcu, PhD, Pharm.D., author of Miracle Tree says that "Among all the plants I know I cannot think of a more nutritious one than Moringa. And while I am definitely supporting a diet including a wide variety of plants, mostly un-cooked (in order to preserve the activity of enzymes, vitamins and phytochemicals), I believe that Moringa (leaves, pods, fruits) should be used as often as possible. One plant has it all! One-stop nutrients supply with few calories or salt."


The Leaves: Nutrition & Medicine
Moringa Leaves are full of essential disease-preventing nutrients
  • Vitamin A, which acts as a shield against eye disease, skin disease, heart ailments, diarrhea, and many other diseases.
  • Vitamin C, fighting a host of illnesses including colds and flu.
  • Calcium, which builds strong bones and teeth, and helps prevent osteoporosis.
  • Potassium, essential for the functioning of the brain and nerves.
  • Proteins, the basic building blocks of all our body cells.
The Pods: Nutrition & Medicine
The young green pods also known as "drumsticks" are highly nutritious containing all the essential amino acids.
  • If eaten raw, pods act as a de-wormer, treat liver and spleen problems and lessens joint pains
  • Due to high protein and fibre content they play a useful part in treating malnutrition and diarrehea.
  • It is generally prepared in a similar fashion to green beans and have a slight asparagus taste.
  • Tender drumstick leaves, finely chopped, make an excellent garnish for any vegetable dishes, dals, sambars, salads, etc.
  • It is primarily utilised worldwide by the Asian population as a vegetable but its other usage is increasing
The Roots,Bark & Gum: Medicine
Used for their antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties more concentrated than that of the seeds.
  • The roots and bark are pounded and mixed with salt to make a poultice for treating rheumatism and joint pains
  • It is also used for cardiac and circulatory problems, as a tonic and for inflammation.
  • The alkaloid spirachin (a nerve paralysant) has been found in the roots.
  • The gum is diuretic, astringent and abortifacient and is used against asthma
  • The bark produces a sappy gum that can be used in cooking and food preservation
The Flowers:Medicine
The Moringa Tree takes about 8 months to a year to flower and continues flowering all year round in ideal conditions. The flowers are pleasantly fragranced, white or cream coloured and are borne profusely in axilliary drooping panicles 10-25 cm long.
  • They contain good amounts of both calcium and potassium.
  • Flower juice improves the quality and flow of mothers’ milk when breast feeding.
  • Flower juice is useful for urinary problems as it encourages urination.
  • In Haiti, villagers boil Moringa flowers in water and drink the tea as a powerful cold remedy.
  • They can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. When cooked they have a taste similar to mushrooms.
The Seeds: Medicine Oil, Water Purifyer
The seeds contain 40% edible oil which is called Ben Oil (from the high concentration of behenic acid contained in the oil).

  • The oil is highly nutritious and has a fat composition similar to Olive Oil. As with any vegetable oil, Moringa oil is best used raw and not heated. Heating damages the molecular structure of the fats in a similar way to Hydrogenation,
  • The oil contains a potent anti-oxidant which makes it highly resistant to rancidity.
  • Including Ben Oil in the diet will ensure the supply of many essential fatty acids which are utilised by the body to construct cellular membranes and other structures.
  • The seeds when roasted, pounded, mixed with coconut oil can be effective against skin-infecting bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They contain the potent antibiotic and fungicide terygospermin
  • Roasted seeds and oil can encourage urination.
  • May also be used as a relaxant for epilepsy.
Moringa seeds make excellent water purifiers.
  • The seeds are ground into a powder and the powder is used as a flocculant working as well or better than the expensive, toxic and environmentally harmful aluminium sulphate which many municipalities use to remove particles from the water.
  • The Moringa seed powder flocculant joins with the particles and they sink to the bottom. Between 90 and 99% of the bacteria are removed in the same way.
  • About 5 tablespoons of seed powder will purify 10 litres of water.
  • It is believed that this flocculant effect takes place in the body as well, making the Moringa an excellent detoxifier 
MORINGA (Malunggay Philippines)

    1 comment:

    Moringa said...

    Moringa is a natural product as it best for your health. I personally also use moringa weightloss products and my reviews towards moringa products are positive. Moringa weightloss is really effective and good energy drink.