Moringa Plant
The Moringa plant (Moringa oleifera) is a plant which originated in the Philippines. It has recently attracted quite a bit of attention because of its nutritional qualities. It has a long history in traditional Indian medicine, primarily in the form of moringa tea. The moringa plant itself is actually a tree which grows to about 30 feet high. Various parts of the tree are used, primarily the green pods which taste a bit like asparagus. The flowers can also be eaten and have a taste similar to mushrooms. They are cooked with green beans and potatoes especially revered in Bangladesh. Moringa root is sometimes used as well despite having a chemical which can cause paralysis if ingested in large quantities. The leaves are also used and have been well studied. They contain iron, Vitamin C, protein, beta-carotene, phosphorous, calcium and other nutritional benefits. The leaves are sometimes dried and prepared as soup after crushing them into a powder.
Moringa Benefits
Although it has only recently been studied, the moringa plant lends itself to a wide variety of medicinal uses. A single teaspoon of moringa leaf power contains roughly 1/4 to 1/3 of many of the nutritional requirements of a child (1/6 the protein, 2/5 the calcium and 1/4 the iron). Pregnant women often take 6 teaspoons to get all the iron and calcium they need while pregnant and breastfeeding. The oil derived from the moringa plant is known as ben oil and is also used in medicine. The moringa plant is so nutritionally dense that it is considered invaluable in the fight against starvation around the world.
Moringa Plant - Seed Pods
Although few clinical trials have been published, people report some of the following benefits:
- Blood Sugar Control – The moringa plant is full of many different types of antioxidants as well as other nutritionally important components such as protein, calcium and iron. Since it is high in protein, it may be helpful in diseases such as diabetes.
- Muscle Building – Most plants which contain protein do not contain all of the amino acids which are necessary to build muscles. These types of proteins are called incomplete. The moringa plant, however, has a complete protein as it contains all 9 amino acids as well as high levels of protein.
- Breastfeeding – The moringa plant has a uniquely dense chemistry which is widely used in some parts of the world to fortify a mother’s breast milk. It is especially helpful that the moringa plant is high in various vitamins, iron and calcium as these are often depleted from the mother’s body.
Moringa Capsules, Moringa Powder and Ben Oil
These are the three forms in which you can typically find the moringa plant. Moringa capsules are probably the most popular supplement. They are high in Vitamins A and C as well as protein, calcium and iron. Moringa powder can sometimes be found and can be infused into a tea-like drink although it is relatively uncommon. The oil from the moringa plant which is known as ben oil or behen oil has a wide variety of uses such as skincare, possibly acne treatment and is high in antioxidants. It is widely available but probably more inexpensive online. Since the moringa plant is not widely cultivated in the US, most of it is has to be imported. The best way to get it is to order it from a reputable seller. Amazon sells the capsules and powder from a variety of sellers and their prices are typically the best online.