More Than Amazing Moringa

A new superfood has emerged! The “Tree of Life,” Moringa oleifera, is also called the “miracle tree.” In 2008, it was declared “plant of the year.”
Moringa is creating quite a stir because of its many health and healing properties. It may seem like a newcomer to the elite superfoods category, but the many benefits of Moringa have actually been recognized for hundreds of years in many different cultures. Other names for it are “the horseradish tree,” “the drumstick tree,” and “the Ben Oil Tree.”

A native of South Asia, this resilient tree easily flourishes even in dry, sandy soil. It has also thrived in tropical areas in South America and Africa. Stick a branch to the soil and it will grow. Cut off its branches and see new ones spring up rapidly, in only a matter of days. Indeed, Moringa seems determined to survive in order to ensure that the world is not deprived of its many benefits. And its benefits are astounding! Consider this: Moringa leaves have 4 times more calcium than milk, 4 times more vitamin A than carrots, 3 times more potassium than bananas, 2 times more protein than yogurt, and 7 times more vitamin C than oranges!

People in India, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and many places in Africa have used Moringa‘s leaves, pods, seeds, roots and flowers in their cooking. It has also been used to make teas and juices. As a cooked vegetable, it has no dominant flavor, although it imparts some bitterness when consumed raw. Moringa leaves have been observed to improve the overall palatability of a dish.

The cultures familiar with Moringa have also known of its medicinal properties for a long time. Ancient Indian ayurvedic medicine claims that Moringa heals 300 illnesses. Scientific research is beginning to confirm this. Indeed, Moringa’s superfood status is not only attributed to its exceptional nutritional content. Its healing properties cannot be overlooked. Here are only some of Moringa’s numerous medicinal benefits:

• It boosts as well as sustains energy in the body, stabilizes blood sugar and lowers blood pressure.
• It can be used to soothe anxiety and aid in sleep.
• It boosts the immune system and helps the body fight off infections.
• It improves digestion.
• It has natural antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
• It can be used to treat diarrhea, arthritis and even gonorrhea.
• It has anti-parasitic properties.
• It improves lactation and is helpful to mothers who are breastfeeding.
• It is a cure for anemia.

Science is only beginning to discover what this amazing plant can do. The oil from Moringa seeds is called Ben Oil, which is much preferred over other oils for many purposes . This oil is used for food, cosmetics and even industrial purposes. Moringa also stands beside soy as one of the few plant sources of protein that may be considered complete. This is quite a feat as soy protein had for many decades been considered as the only complete protein from plants. To top this all, Moringa has no known adverse effects and some believe it may be the answer to the problem of malnutrition in the world.