Moringa Joins the Ranks of Superfoods

Moringa oleifera is the newest addition to the elite group of superfoods. It is a resilient tree that grows in Asia and Africa. Other names for it are “the drumstick tree, “the horseradish tree,” and  “the ben oil tree.” Although the leaves taste bland when cooked in soups and curries, they are somewhat bitter and spicy when eaten raw.  The taste of the uncooked leaves has been compared to mustard or horseradish.

The Moringa tree thrives in dry, sandy soil. Many cultures have been using its leaves, pods, flowers and roots for food as well as for medicinal purposes. It may be new to some, but it has been known for centuries in places like India for its healing effects. In traditional ayurvedic medicine, the Moringa is said to treat 300 different kinds of illnesses. Science is beginning to prove that these beliefs are not without basis.

In 2008, the Moringa was awarded the “Plant of the Year Award.” The leaves can be eaten as a vegetable, boiled in water as a tea or dried and used in the form of a powder. In some Southeast Asian cultures, the seeds are consumed as a natural vitamin source. It is no wonder that Moringa has gained so much recognition. From a nutrition standpoint, it packs a wallop of vitamins, protein and minerals. The leaves of the Moringa contain 4 times more calcium than milk, 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 3 times more potassium than bananas, 4 times more vitamin A than carrots and 2 times more protein than yogurt. It contains 46 different antioxidants, 27 vitamins, 9 essential amino acids and several minerals.

As if its nutritive value weren’t impressive enough, Moringa is also a natural water purifier as well as a remedy for a wide range of diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, anemia, diarrhea, rheumatism, asthma, malaria, cholera and gastric ulcer. It has natural antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. As a tea, it is said to be a cure for the cold as well as the flu. As a poultice, it can be used for skin diseases, insect bites and cuts. It is also known to aid in lactation and is often served to breastfeeding mothers.

Perhaps only newly-recognized in the West, this wonder-plant is now being made available in countries like the United States. It is becoming an enterprise that supports women, small-scale famers and cooperatives. Marketers and distributors of Moringa make sure that there is always an adequate supply left for the local consumers. Most notable is the role Moringa plays in fighting malnutrition. Malnourished children have been observed to gain weight when fed moringa in porridge. It is also being used as a health supplement for patients who are HIV-positive. Moringa helps build up the body’s ability to fight off disease. It is also now an ingredient in cosmetics, soaps, shampoos and lotions, as it beautifying effects have also been discovered. It has also been found to boost men’s sperm-cell counts. Lately, it has also proven effective in managing  body weight, blood pressure and cholesterol  levels. Moringa also has anti-cancer and anti-tumor properties.

Other monikers for Moringa are “the miracle tree“, “the tree of life,” and “the miracle herb.” Indeed, it is not difficult to understand why Moringa olifeira is so highly-regarded by traditional healers and medical doctors alike. So move over, goji and acai, Moringa is here!

Is Moringa Oleifera for You?

Moringa Tree, as it’s more commonly known, is found everywhere in tropical Asia and Africa. What’s of particular interest about this tree is that the leaves and pods are edible. Yes, Moringa Tree is an edible, or mostly editable, tree.

And what’s even more interesting is that Moringa Tree is an excellent source of nutrition, maybe one of the best, a superfood. It’s been an important food source for at least two thousand years in India and in many African countries. The leaves, pods, and oil from the seeds are commonly eaten. Moringa Tree provides excellent protein, is packed with vitamins and minerals, and loaded with all the essential amino acids.

For example, the leaves provide vitamin C and beta-carotene, protein, vitamin B6 and riboflavin, calcium, potassium, and iron. While the leaves are more nutritious than the pods, one serving of the pods contains more than a day’s supply of vitamin C.

The dried leaves are used to produce supplements, which you can find in natural foods stores or on the Internet in powder or capsule form. And you might also see Moringa Tree as an ingredient in other supplements.

If your local grocery doesn’t happen to carry Moringa Tree leaves or pods, you could grow your own tree, assuming you have a large area available. That’s because the trees grow quickly, although you would probably want to keep yours trimmed to facilitate harvesting the leaves and pods.

Otherwise you can get Moringa oleifera in supplement form. But why would you consider supplementation?

Moringa Tree has been shown to be of benefit for a variety of health concerns. It helps lower cholesterol, reduces higher than normal blood sugar levels, and decreases inflammation by fighting free radicals. So if you’re tired of oatmeal, or your doctor said you need to watch your blood sugar, or if you’re experiencing stiff finger joints as you age, you might consider Moringa Tree as a possible remedy.

Studies also show that Moringa Tree may also protect against the effects of arsenic in food or water. Contamination is a problem in some areas of the world, and rice grown in contaminated areas is sometimes found to contain arsenic. Arsenic contamination is not necessarily a problem in this country as you would need to consume such food or water for a long period before experiencing problems. But it seems that a little Moringa Tree couldn’t hurt.

If you are thinking of adding Moringa Tree supplements your diet, be aware that the supplements don’t typically provide the same nutrition as the whole food, so read the label before you decide.

You also need to know that Moringa Tree is an anti-nutrient, meaning it’s a food that may interfere with your body’s ability to absorb certain nutrients. You might have heard similar things about spinach and kale, that spinach has oxalates and that eating too much kale could interfere with nutrient absorption.

Although it sounds serious, this probably isn’t something you need to worry about, either. First, you’d need to eat a lot of the anti-nutrient food, in this case Moringa Tree leaves or pods. Second, you can decrease the possibility of an anti-nutrient problem by cooking the food. One study found, for example, that boiling Moringa Tree leaves is a good way to limit the anti-nutrient quality of the leaves.

Moringa Oleifera for Skin and Hair

Have you heard about Moringa oleifera, or Moringa Tree? The highly nutritious leaves, pods, and oil that come from this tree are important sources of food in much of Asia and Africa. Moringa Tree provides high-quality nutrients, including protein, several vitamins and minerals, and amino acids.

How, you might ask, will that help my skin and hair?

The idea is that skin and hair problems, for example thinning hair, or dandruff, or maybe lots of split ends and breakage, are associated with how well you feed your body. The better you eat, the better chance your skin and hair have of feeling and looking their best.

Of course you could supplement your diet with synthetic vitamins and minerals. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. Moringa Tree is real food, which logically supports the idea that the body is better able to absorb the nutrients from Moringa that it would synthetic nutrients.

Also be aware that Moringa Tree is high in antioxidants, which means it supports your body in fighting free radicals, which are a major cause of early aging. So reducing or limiting free radicals will lead to improvement in the overall appearance of your skin and hair. Another benefit of Moringa that will directly improve your skin and hair is that it builds collagen.

How to Improve Your Nutrition

If you don’t have access to fresh Moringa, you can supplement with powder or capsules, and you can use Moringa oil.

Add the powder to smoothies, for example, or make a tea. The taste is slightly peppery, somewhat like radish. Experiment and try it various ways. Maybe add the powder to soup, for example, to learn what suits you best.

If you can find fresh leaves, you can use them as you would spinach. Add them to salads, for example, or cook them. Cook the pods as you would cook green beans.

Moringa oil is traditionally used for cooking, and is valued because it doesn’t tend to go rancid. You can also use it in salad dressings, as you would use other oils.

How to Use Moringa on Your Skin

Moringa oil is valued by Ayurvedic practitioners for its ability to moisturize the skin, and it’s valuable for treating dry or rough skin, for example for psoriasis or dermatitis. And it soothes sunburns, and helps with insect bites and rashes. So rub it on your face and any areas that need attention. In addition to applying the oil directly to your skin, you can make a paste with Moringa powder and use it as a mask. You can also buy a product called Moringa seed extract. At first this might not sound like something you need, but it’s worth a try. Moringa seeds are used in water purification because they have an ability to bind impurities. Because of this “binding” quality, people sometimes use the seed extract in facials. It will help reduce fine lines and protect the skin from environmental pollution, and it may help clean and detoxify the skin,

How to Use Moringa on Your Hair

Besides ingesting Moringa Tree, people make use of Moringa oil by rubbing it directly on the hair. This is especially useful if your hair is dry or breaking, and it helps with split ends.