Moringa Superfood is Taking the World by Storm

The drumstick tree scientifically known as Moringa oleifera is a small tree that is native to India but can be found in many countries of the world. The Moringa tree is believed to have been used as medicine in India around 5,000 years ago; there are also accounts of Moringa oleifera being utilized by the Egyptians, Romans and ancient Greeks several decades ago. Today, Moringa is one of the hottest superfoods that Naturevibe Botanicals is bringing to the West.

Moringa oleifera has the ability to grow in different kinds of climates, especially the subtropical climate. Moringa oleifera grows in almost all countries of the world where malnutrition is prevalent and can be part of the comprehensive plan to alleviate malnutrition. The entire drumstick tree is considered to be edible.

Moringa is being touted as a superfood because it is rich in nutrients, antioxidants and other nutrients like calcium, essential amino acids and iron that are beneficial to the human body. Little wonder why the tree is referred to as the “Miracle Tree”, “The Wonder Tree” and “The Divine Tree” among several other names that have been used to describe how beneficial Moringa oleifera is to the human body. There are technically thirteen species of the Moringa oleifera tree. But for the purpose of this article, all species shall be referred to as Moringa oleifera.

Moringa usually comes in two forms – Seeds and Greens.

Moringa seeds: Moringa seeds are usually gotten from the tree. When raw and fresh they are tender, but once they become dried, they are very hard and look like small beans. The colors of the seeds are grayish-white and have a unique kind of wing-like shapes.  The seeds are edible; they can be boiled, roasted or steamed, says Dr. Divya Choudhary, Chief Dietitian, Max Super Specialty Hospital.  Oil can also be extracted from the seeds which can be used in different beneficial ways.

Moringa Green Leaf powders: Moringa leaves are used as herbal leaves because of its numerous health benefits. The leaves can be dried and used as traditional medicine, powder and can also be used as a home remedy. The best way to use the Moringa oleifera leaf is through the leaf powder. The leaves are dried at an extremely low temperature, then grounded and screened to remove impurities and packaged into capsules or sealed airtight. The dried powder remains the best way of maximizing Moringa because of the concentration of the nutrients when dried.

MAJOR HEALTH BENEFITS OF MORINGA OLEIFERA

1. MORINGA REDUCES INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is a natural response of the body to injury or infection. Inflammation is essential to the body because it acts a protective mechanism to the body when there is an injury or infection. However, prolonged inflammation may become a major health challenge. When inflammation becomes prolonged it can lead to serious health issues such as cancer and heart diseases.

Moringa pods, seeds and leaves have been shown to contain anti-inflammatory properties that can stop inflammation.

2. MORINGA LOWERS CHOLESTEROL

A high amount of cholesterol in the body has been linked to increased risk of heart disease. Many plant foods such as almonds, oats and flaxseeds can effectively reduce cholesterol. Studies in human and animal have also shown that Moringa can lower the cholesterol level in the blood.

3. MORINGA LOWERS BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL

High levels of sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems including heart disease and diabetes; high blood sugar is the main root cause of diabetes. When the level of sugar is consistently high, it raises the risk of serious health problems. Moringa oleifera contains Chlorogenic acid that helps in moderating the level of sugar in the blood, keeping it within acceptable limits.

4. MORINGA IS EXCEPTIONALLY NUTRITIOUS

Most parts of the Moringa oleifera tree are edible and can also be used as herbal medicine. The pods and the leaves are commonly eaten in parts of Africa and India. The leaf contains bountiful amounts of minerals and vitamins.

A cup of fresh chopped Moringa leaves (21 grams) contains

Magnesium: 8% of the RDA

Protein: 2 grams

Vitamin C: 12% of the RDA

Iron: 11% of the RDA

Vitamin A (from beta-carotene): 9% of the RDA

Riboflavin (B2): 11% of the RDA

5. MORINGA IS RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidants fight against free radicals in the body. When the free radical in the body becomes high, it can cause oxidative stress which contributes to a whole bevy of diseases. Research has shown that Moringa leaves contain several antioxidant plant compounds such as Quercetin which can help lower blood pressure.

The health benefits from Moringa oleifera are immense. Naturevibe Botanicals wants to bring this product to the western market, so that more people can benefit from the wonders of this superfood. “Moringa oleifera could blaze the trail for alleviating many of our chronic health conditions, and help define natural medicine in the 21^st century,” says Rishabh Chokhani, CEO, and founder of Naturevibe Botanicals. “Asia and Africa have long benefited from this underrated superfood. Now it’s time for the western world to witness the full potential of Moringa.”