Have you ever heard of moringa before? Moringa, also referred to as the Ben oil tree, has gained worldwide recognition as an exceptional plant full of potential therapeutic benefits in the holistic health market. It has only been in the last few thousand years that people have learned of the medicinal properties of this plant.
In 2008, the National Institute of Health acknowledged the amazing potential of Moringa oleifera and titled it “plant of the year,” noting that it could potentially solve or alleviate numerous environmental and human needs.
What are the health benefits of moringa? Up to now, there have been more than 1,300 different researches, papers, and reviews that look at the advantages of moringa and discover that it holds certain compounds that are particularly essential in areas where poor nutrition and disease outbreaks occur regularly.
Studies indicate that nearly all elements of the moringa plant can be employed in some capacity – making a strong tea to combat oxidation or producing an oily material to moisten and sustain the skin.
What Is Moringa?
Moringa oleifera is referred to in more than 100 different languages worldwide. This plant species, which originates in the Himalayan mountains, India, and African parts, is simple to cultivate. It contains greater than 90 beneficial compounds, such as isothiocyanates, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.
It is assumed that there are a minimum of twelve different types of the moringa tree, all of which are a part of the Moringaceae plant family. These plants are rapidly expanding, with an impressive height and an abundance of foliage, and they yield blossoms or seedpods.
Moringa oleifera is unquestionably the most commonly used species out of all the others.
Before its capacities had been proven in science, the plant had been in use in traditional medicinal options such as Ayurveda therapy for over 4000 years.
Moringa has been popularly known for its ability to quell inflammation and counteract the impacts of poor nutrition and ageing, which has resulted in it nicknaming as the “miracle plant”.
Nutrition Facts
Moringa is an extraordinary plant due to the fact that nearly all of its components – including the leaves, seeds, blossoms/pods, stem, and roots – can be taken advantage of as a nutritional source or for medicinal purposes.
The most commonly accepted application of this plant is the processing and milling of moringa leaves, which is where most of its antioxidants are derived.
Research has shown that moringa powder is filled with phytochemicals, protein, calcium, beta-carotene, vitamin C and potassium. Every year, thousands of kids from less developed countries who are dealing with a serious vitamin A deficiency, which affects their immunity, are given a concentrated form of vitamin A as a treatment.
Eating it can likewise increase the amount of trace minerals, amino acids, and phenolic compounds that is consumed. This plant is remarkable because it has a special and extraordinary mixture of substances that help stop illnesses, for example flavonoids, glucosides, glucosinolates, zeatin, quercetin, beta-sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol.
The moringa tree has not only precious foliage, but the pods carry seeds that are oil that possess healing qualities. Moringa seed oil can be used both for culinary purposes and as a topical skin treatment.
According to Kuli Kuli, an organization that harvests moringa plants in Africa, gram for gram, the plant contains:
- two times the amount of protein of yogurt
- four times the amount of vitamin A as carrots
- three times the amount of potassium as bananas
- four times the amount of calcium as cow’s’ milk
- seven times the amount of vitamin C as oranges
Potential Benefits of Moringa
Many assume that Moringa is beneficial due to its properties that aid in combating malnourishment, thus making it good for all individuals. Moringa is well-known for its healthful qualities and many supplement companies exist which focus on its advantages. It is accessible in several shapes like pills, teas, and more at more economical costs.
The leaflets are thought to be the most nutritious section and are commonly used in dietary additions. Many people in the developed world are considered “overfed but undernourished”, and Moringa tea and supplements could potentially help those individuals. However, it is essential to pay attention to the warnings associated with roots and stems of the plant.
These are a few of the benefits attributed to Moringa:
1. High in Nutrients
As mentioned, Moringa is a source of antioxidants and some vitamins, including:
- B-vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Vitamin A
- Zinc
It’s possible you’ve noticed some of the health benefits of Moringa, which is on a gram-for-gram basis, has more protein than yogurt, more potassium than bananas, more calcium than milk and more Vitamin C than oranges. This is factually accurate, but it’s important to remember that these figures are based on the weight of the item, not the amount by volume. 100 grams of Moringa leaves would occupy a larger amount of space than 100 grams of an orange due to its lightweight nature.
Take this into account: an average sized orange is about 130 grams or 4.5 ounces. Now consider a leafy substance like Moringa leaves. To make it straightforward, we’ll utilize a comparable leaf, Spinach, for examination. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approximates that a single cup of uncooked spinach has a weight of 30 grams. In order to obtain the same amount of grams, a person would have to consume more than four cups of fresh spinach leaves, far exceeding the quantity in just one orange.
This contrast becomes even more obvious with some of the other nourishing substances. For example, it is said that this plant has double the protein of yogurt per gram, yet when you look at them in terms of volume you would need to eat six times as much of the fresh leaves, about three cups, to get the equivalent amount of protein as 100 grams of yogurt.
I’m not disregarding the nutrients present in this vegetation, however I’m citing this comparison to reveal that for people who have a sound diet, Moringa may not be as helpful as it is to those who are lacking in essential nutrition.
In addition, although it does contain a large number of nutrients, one cup of fresh Moringa leaves only provides 10-20% of someone’s recommended daily intake for such nutrients, so it would take quite a lot to reach the levels of nutrients known to be found in ‘superfoods’. Typically, Moringa supplements come in a dried form, not in the raw state, which leads to a decrease in certain types of nutrients and an increase in others.
2. May Reduce Inflammation
Moringa might not provide a significant quantity of nutrients to individuals who already have a well-balanced diet, but it is still potentially beneficial to people living in the modernized world. The amounts of antioxidants in the leaves could possibly aid in decreasing some forms of inflammation.
Moringa has been known to incorporate Flavonoids, such as quercetin, as well as including beta-carotene, Vitamin C, and Chlorogenic acid. Quercetin is sometimes taken as a natural remedy to help with histamine production by stabilizing it in the body. Coffee contains a comparatively higher amount of chlorogenic acid which has been observed to normalize blood sugar levels in certain laboratory tests.
Having a balanced blood sugar level may be a critical element in protecting oneself from diabetes, inflammation, and other related conditions.
3. Positive Effects on Cholesterol
Investigations have been conducted to observe the potential for Moringa to lower cholesterol in humans. This appears to be relevant with the developing studies downplaying the efficiency and safety of Statin medications. From Chris Kresser:
- Statin drugs do not reduce the risk of death in 95% of the population, including healthy men with no pre-existing heart disease, women of any age, and the elderly.
- Statin drugs do reduce mortality for young and middle-aged men with pre-existing heart disease, but the benefit is small and not without significant adverse effects, risks and costs.
- Aspirin works just as well as statins do for preventing heart disease, and is 20 times more cost effective.
It appears that foods that reduce inflammation in the body may have a positive influence on cholesterol levels, and that diets high in antioxidants and vegetables, yet low in sugars, may also be of aid. Nevertheless, research in both humans and animals demonstrates that Moringa is particularly advantageous.
4. Help for Breastfeeding Mothers
Some people have suggested that Moringa may be beneficial in increasing the amount of breast milk produced by nursing mothers. Some companies typically suggest their nutraceuticals with Moringa as a woman’s prenatal vitamin, or while nursing (however, if you are a woman of childbearing age, please be sure to read the warnings provided before taking it!).
The only scientific backing I could find for the use of Moringa as a galactogogue (to increase milk supply) is in an old study from the Philippines that looked at the use of this plant for mothers with pre-term babies in the first three days of breastfeeding only, and found:
In women during postpartum days 3-5 (after giving birth to preterm infants), supplementation of 250mg moringa oleifera leaf extract twice daily appears to increase milk production in a time dependent manner on the first day of supplementation (31% increase over placebo) as well as the second (48%) and third (165%) day.
5. Possible Arsenic Protection
It hasn’t been measured in humans, but research conducted on rodents indicates that compounds inside the Moringa plant leaves might provide protection from arsenic poisoning.
Studies which have been observed indicate that there is a potential danger of cancer and heart disease arising from being exposed to arsenic on a long-term basis.
Research conducted on rodents suggests that Moringa oleifera leaves and seeds could possibly guard against some impacts of arsenic poisoning. It is still unclear if the positive results from these studies can be replicated in human subjects.
6. Natural Energy Booster
It appears as though Moringa may have a lot of personal testimonies to back it up, likely due to the high content of amino acids within it. Many individuals in web based discussions and message boards assert that they experienced an obvious gain in vitality from consuming Moringa.
It may be hard to discern whether it is the Moringa or merely a larger amount of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that is providing people with more energy, since adding these components to one’s diet could have a similar effect.
Risks and Side Effects
What are the side effects of taking moringa? It appears that consuming or applying high quality natural brands orally or on the skin is safe, because it has no artificial components.
Moringa side effects are still possible and may include:
- lower blood pressure
- slowed heart rate
- uterine contractions
- cell mutations when high amounts of seeds are consumed
- interference with fertility
For centuries, humans have safely consumed moringa leaves, fruit, oil, and seeds; however, now there exist various forms of these elements as supplements and extracts. Therefore, it’s essential to purchase the utmost purest form and read the ingredient labels attentively.
When expecting or nursing, it’s wise to stay away from moringa extract, root, and large doses of supplements because there hasn’t been enough research to ensure its safety. It may be the case that components located inside the root, bark, and blossoms of the plant could cause contractions of the uterus, potentially causing issues during pregnancy.
How to Use It
It is evident that this plant may offer numerous advantages and can be implemented in a variety of contexts. Due to the extended amount of time it takes to send Moringa from African or Asian countries where it is grown, it is usually sold in the U.S. as powder or tablets, which preserves its freshness for a longer period.
An interesting characteristic of moringa? It is said that the taste is comparable to a combination of horseradish and asparagus. It may not be the most pleasant tasting, but this supplement provides one of the largest amounts of essential nutrients accessible on the planet.
Dosage Recommendations
No official guidelines exist on how much moringa one should consume, as it is an herbal supplement and not something that humans need to survive. It has been suggested that the best amount of this item to take for people is 29 milligrams per kilogram of a person’s bodyweight.
It is advocated that you begin by taking one-half teaspoon of powdered moringa orally a day for three to five days, and gradually build up your intake for two weeks as your body gets used to its consequences.
Most people choose not to take moringa every single day for a lengthy period, as it may lead to laxative effects and a stomach ache when used excessively.
Conclusion
- What is moringa good for? In 2008 the National Institute of Health called moringa (moringa oleifera) the “plant of the year.” Moringa health benefits include providing antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, balancing hormones and slowing the effects of aging, improving digestive health, balancing blood sugar levels and helping fight diabetes, protecting and nourishing the skin, and helping stabilize mood and protect brain health.
- There are actually believed to be at least a dozen different varieties of this plant, but one (moringa oleifera) is by far the most utilized.
- Most commonly, supplements are made from dried moringa leaf which forms a powder. Other forms include tea and oil/tincture.
It’s a great source of nutrients including antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, calcium and even amino acids.
Leave a Reply