Moringa, a Marvel of a Tree

If you knew a way to prevent or cure a few hundred diseases or so, what would you do?

Well, according to Ayurvedic medicine, Moringa oleifera, or Moringa Tree, offers such a possibility. They should know because Moringa Tree, which is native to Asia, is used by Ayurvedic practitioners to address all sorts of health concerns. But you don’t need to take their word for it. Studies support these claims and more. For example, studies indicate that Moringa Tree may have anti-cancer properties, and it be of help in regulating thyroid function.

Moringa Tree grows rapidly, some say like a weed, and better still the leaves and pods can be harvested throughout the year. Even better still, the leaves and pods are superfoods. They contain a large variety of nutrients and are an important food source in many parts of the world. An equivalent serving of Moringa leaves beats the calcium you get from milk, the iron from spinach, and the vitamin A from carrots. Well, you get it, the Moringa Tree provides great nutrition.

What other benefits might you get from eating Moringa leaves and pods? You’ll get antioxidants to help fight free radicals. If you’re diabetic you can expect to get lower blood sugar, and you’ll be able to reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol. Ayurvedic practitioners use Moringa Tree for a wide variety of health issues, for example to treat stomach ulcers, to help nursing mothers with milk flow, to improve digestion, and to help reduce high blood pressure. It’s also thought to have anti-fungal properties.

Moringa oil, which is made from Moringa seeds, is used for cooking. Unlike many vegetable oils, Moringa oil resists going rancid. The oil is also thought to help protect the liver from inflammation, and is commonly used to treat arthritis. Many people use it as a skin moisturizer, and it’s increasingly used in cosmetics.

Some other facts about Moringa Tree are that it helps protect the body against arsenic from contaminated food or water, and a really interesting use for the seeds is to purify well water. Apparently the seeds contain a protein that attaches to impurities and causes them to aggregate, and as a water purification method this works better than many synthetic materials. Some researchers are pondering the question of whether this protein may perform the same function in the body, which would mean Moringa might prove useful in detoxifying the body. So how do you get these benefits from Moringa Tree? You can buy Moringa as powder or capsules. You can also buy Moringa oil, although be aware that it’s expensive, much more so than high quality olive oil.

If you have access to fresh Moringa leaves, use them like you would spinach, for example in salads or by boiling them. They have a sort of peppery taste, reminiscent of radish. The powder works well added to smoothies or sprinkled on salads. But, like a lot of green supplements, a little goes a long way. Start slowly and taste often is the best advice.