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Moringa - the most nutritious food? Well here’s what you need to know..
Moringa is colloquially known as the "miracle tree", why? This large wonder plant has been used to overcome malnutrition in developing countries owing to its high nutritional content (Mushtaq et al., 2019).
That's only scratching the surface of Moringa's benefits; Moringa is one of the most nutritious greens you can eat, the leaves of Moringa have more calcium than spinach, more iron than kale and they're loaded with antioxidants.
Are you considering adding this nutrient-packed power plant to your diet? Here is everything you need to know.
MORINGA IS NATIVE TO INDIA
Moringa comes from a tropical plant native to India, in the Himalayan foothills. The leaves are used for eating fresh or drying for later use. In many parts of Africa and Asia, moringa is used as an ingredient in soups, stews, salads, and other dishes, and it's popular in the west as a dietary supplement.
MORINGA IS ONE OF THE MOST NUTRITIOUS GREENS YOU CAN EAT
Moringa outperforms many well-known fruits and veggies when it comes to nutritional content.
With 7 times more Vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more Vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium than milk, 9 times more protein than yogurt, and 25 times more iron than spinach, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more nutritionally dense plant (Islam et al 2021).
The powder is good for your skin, hair, and nails due to such high levels of Vitamin C and Vitamin B, making Moringa a benefit to any beauty routine!
Moringa also contains a compound called quercetin which helps fight inflammation and may help prevent allergies by reducing histamine production in the body (Mlcek et al., 2016).
Moringa powder has been shown to improve gut health by increasing stool frequency (which means you'll have more regular bowel movements) as well as promoting better digestion by improving stomach acid production (you'll feel less bloated after meals).
The seeds have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce symptoms associated with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis - two common inflammatory bowel conditions - according to an animal study from researchers at Virginia Tech University.
MORINGA DOES NOT AFFECT THE FLAVOUR OF YOUR FOOD
Here at Oneself Wellbeing we understand convenience is key to maintaining a healthy habit; we offer Moringa in its powdered form, which can be added to any meal without affecting the flavour.
It can be added to juices and smoothies, soups and stews, or even sprinkled onto salads for an extra boost of vitamins and minerals.
Prefer to replace -or complement- your morning matcha with Moringa? Moringa tea bags are a caffeine-free, earthy alternative that packs a powerful nutritious punch!
Conclusion
The bottom line is that Moringa is an all-round superfood that you can add to your day in many, convenient ways.
Moringa makes eating healthy easy; its mild, earthy, flavor will not sacrifice the taste of your favourite food!
What’s your favourite way to include Moringa in your routine?
REFERENCES
Islam, Z., Islam, S.M.R., Hossen, F., Mahtab-ul-Islam, K., Hasan, Md.R. and Karim, R. (2021). Moringa oleifera is a Prominent Source of Nutrients with Potential Health Benefits. International Journal of Food Science, [online] 2021, p.6627265. doi:10.1155/2021/6627265.
Mlcek, J., Jurikova, T., Skrovankova, S. and Sochor, J. (2016). Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules, [online] 21(5), p.623. doi:10.3390/molecules21050623.
Mushtaq, B.S., Hussain, M.B., Omer, R., Toor, H.A., Waheed, M., Shariati, M.A., Sergey, P. and Heydari, M. (2019). Moringa Oleifera in Malnutrition: A Comprehensive Review. Current Drug Discovery Technologies, 16. doi:10.2174/1570163816666191105162722