Do you know how many diverse nutrients there are in this forgotten or rather ignored plant in our country? Yes, Moringa leaves, which have taken the western world by storm, belong to a commonly grown tree in South India. Almost every other household has this tree in their yard.
Moringa or Moringa oleifera is a fast growing tree which is commonly grown in Asia and Africa. It is called the “Miracle Tree” because of its exceptional nutrition value and enormous benefits. The Moringa plant has great importance in Ayurvedic teachings and is used to treat over 300 diseases. It hardly requires any maintenance and grows round the year. Moringa is one of those rare trees that produces fruit (Drumstick), flowers, leaves and seeds that are all edible.
Drumstick is a long stick-like vegetable with multiple seeds and very little meat on the inside. It is a popular ingredient in sambhar and is a permanent ingredient in most restaurant recipes.For this reason the Moringa tree is also known as the Drumstick tree.
The Moringa is very rich in many vitamins, minerals and nutrients like Vitamin A (Beta Carotene), Vitamin C, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Fibre, Essential and Non Essential Amino Acids, Omega 3, 6 and 9 (making it a very powerful antihyperglycemic), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid regulator. It is believed that in ancient times, powdered moringa leaves were used to treat and manage skin diseases and infections as it has antifungal, antiviral, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants may also help improve the quality of your skin and hair, by fighting inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, and from free-radicals damage .
It also has a high concentration of Phytochemicals like alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroids, phenolic acids, glucosinolates, flavonoids, and terpenes out of which some serve as good Anti healing and prevents body from oxidative damages whereas some contributes to numerous pharmacological uses.
Some trivia about the Moringa. While Moringa Oleifera is its scientific name, in English its known as Drumstick. See the various names of this super-food in different parts of India.
Moringa as a Blood sugar Regulator:
Several early studies show that insulin-like proteins found in moringa may help lower blood sugar. It contains an Antioxidant Chlorogenic acid which stabilizes blood sugar levels. The Chlorogenic acid found in moringa may help the body process sugar better
Moringa for Blood Pressure:
Moringa leaves have Quercetin which is an antioxidant that helps to lower blood pressure The moringa leaf extract contains isothiocyanate and niaziminin, compounds that help stop arteries from thickening, which indeed can cause blood pressure to rise. So moringa helps maintain our Blood Pressure. Moringa leaves can be consumed by patients suffering from Hypertension to show a good improvement in CV health.
Moringas Medicinal Effects:
Moringa is rich in Vitamin A, E, C, Calcium and other important minerals so it has been used in Ayurveda medicine — an ancient Indian medical system — to treat skin diseases, diabetes, and infections for thousands of years.
Moringa for Hormonal Imbalance:
Moringa contains good amount of fiber which can regulate estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone levels within the body. Fiber helps to regulate blood sugar and also works to clean the intestines and the liver which allows our hormones to get absorbed by cells and do their work rather than circulating back into the bloodstream, which leads to imbalances.
Moringa for Blood Cholesterol:
Moringa seeds have close to 40% oil content, among which is present a high amount of fatty acids, including oleic acid (considered a cholesterol lowering agent) which is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, Omega 3, Omega 6, tocopherols, and sterols which helps in reducing the bad cholesterols like VLDL (Very Low density Lipoprotein ), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) And increases the HDL which is the High Density LipoProtein which helps reduce the blood cholesterol level by taking the cholesterol back to the liver for excretion. This prevents development of Atherosclerosis.
Now we have seen the enormous health benefits of these tiny leaves and seeds. Now the anti-effects of the plant also need to be known. Are the roots and bark good or bad? Why?…Let’s see!
Moringa Roots / Bark and its Uses
Both M roots and bark, mostly for medicinal purposes. Roots possess higher amounts of antinutrients as compared with other parts of the MO tree, limiting its edible use. Roots have higher concentrations of tannins and oxalates, which are not useful as nutritional sources…We all are aware that tannins and oxalates are suppressors of nutrient absorption from the food by our intestines. And also create the risk of kidney stones and increase the deposition of calcium in unwanted parts of the body. So consumption of bark and roots are to be avoided.
So friends I have shared all the best of the best information which I came across about this super green food with all of you..If you have any other facts about the same please don’t hesitate to share it with me …I’ll be happy to learn more.
See you in my next post. Stay Healthy !
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