Malunggay Moringa Oleifera

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How to cook malunggay.png
How to get the best out of the Malunggay
Moringa (Malungay) leaves compared to common foods
Values per 100gm. edible portion
Nutrient Moringa Leaves Other Foods
Vitamin A 6780 mcg Carrots: 1890 mcg
Vitamin C 220 mg Oranges: 30 mg
Calcium 440 mg Cow's milk: 120 mg
Potassium 259 mg Bananas: 88 mg
Protein 6.7 gm Cow's milk: 3.2 gm
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Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) mature Tree with fruits.
Sonjna (Moringa oleifera) flowering branch at Kolkata W IMG 2118.jpg
Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) branch with Flowers.

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Kalamunggay (Moringa oleifera).jpg
Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) mature Tree
Sonjna (Moringa oleifera) flowers at Kolkata W IMG 2123.jpg
Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) Flowers
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Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) Fruits
Fresh Kamalunggay (malunggay - moringa) fruits, as vegetable.jpg
Fresh Kamalunggay (malunggay - moringa) fruits, as vegetable
Malunggay Moringa Oleifera Planted in 2002, Tumaga, Zamboanga City.jpg
Malunggay Tree in Tumaga, Zamboanga
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Young Malunggay Tree

From the Department of Science and Technology

Source: Reeva A. Calapatia

Abstract:

Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) plant is abundant throughout the Philippines. This plant grows anywhere in the country. It has become the buzz due to the discovery of its many nutrients. The researcher tends to study on medical value of Moringa oleifera in lowering blood glucose. This study was performed to determine the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts in lowering blood glucose. The experimental mice where weighed and their blood glucose were tested using a glucometer before the experiment. The mice were fed with condensed milk using the gavage method for five (5) consecutive days. All the mice gained high blood glucose after the procedure.

Different concentrations of malunggay leaf extracts: 25%, 50%, 75% and 0% were prepared. These extracts were treated to three (3) mice each as treated to the four groups of mice.

Data analysis revealed that there was a significant difference in the mean blood glucose level of white mice when subjected to various levels of malunggay leaves extract, the lower the blood glucose, The findings confirmed that the malunggay leaf extract has a hypoglycemic property that can be used as hypoglycemic drugs. Thus, it can be used in treating diabetes.

What other websites are saying about Malunggay Moringa Oleifera

Malunggay Moringa Oleifera: What www.lifeinhealth.org/moringa/ says

Moringa Oleifera contains more than 92 nutrients and 46 types of antioxidants. Moringa is said to cure about three hundred diseases and almost have all the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables. Even in a larger proportions. With all the health benefits of this miracle herb, it can easily be termed as the most nutritious herb on Earth. There are no side-effects which also has tried, tested, documented and proved evidence to support the same. It can be consumed by small children and adults. Today, millions world over have started using Moringa based products in porridge, pastas, bread and to reap the everlasting health benefits of the extraordinary ‘Moringa’ herb.

Some Facts about Moringa- (Excerpt From The Book “Miracle Tree” by Author Monica G.Marcu,Pharm.D., PH.D.)

  • 92 Nutrients
    • 46 Antioxidants
    • 36 Anti-Inflammatories
    • 18 Amino Acids, 9 Essential Amino Acids
    • Nourishes The Immune System
    • Promotes Healthy Circulation
    • Supports Normal Glucose Levels
    • Natural Anti-Aging Benefits
    • Provides Anti-Inflammatory Support
    • Promotes Healthy Digestion
    • Promotes Heightened Mental Clarity
    • Boosts Energy Without Caffeine
    • Encourages Balanced Metabolism
    • Promotes Softer Skin
    • Provides Relief From Acne
    • Supports Normal Hormone Levels

Rare for a plant source -Moringa leaves contain all the essential amino acids to build strong healthy bodies.

Malunggay Moringa Oleifera: What wikipedia says

Moringa oleifera (synonym: Moringa pterygosperma) is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Moringa, which is the only genus in the family Moringaceae. English common names include moringa, and drumstick tree, from the appearance of the long, slender, triangular seed pods, horseradish tree, from the taste of the roots which resembles horseradish, or ben oil tree, from the oil derived from the seeds. The tree itself is rather slender, with drooping branches that grow to approximately 10m in height. In cultivation, it is often cut back annually to 1-2 meters and allowed to regrow so the pods and leaves remain within arm's reach.

In developing countries, moringa has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development, and support sustainable landcare. It may be used as forage for livestock, a micronutrient liquid, a natural anthelmintic and possible adjuvant.

What The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health says:

Evaluation of antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifera in experimental diabetes.
Gupta R, Mathur M, Bajaj VK, Katariya P, Yadav S, Kamal R, Gupta RS.
Source
Reproductive Physiology Section, Centre for Advanced Studies, Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India. gupta_rs@hotmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Moringa oleifera, a widely cultivated species in India, is an exceptionally nutritious vegetable with a variety of potential uses in treating rheumatism, venomous bites, and microbial infections. In the present study, we investigated the antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of methanol extracts of M. oleifera pods (MOMtE) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic albino rats. METHODS:
Diabetic rats were treated with 150 or 300 mg/kg MOMtE for 21 days and the antidiabetic effects of the extract were evaluated by measuring changes in biochemical parameters in the serum and pancreatic tissue. Two phytoconstituents, namely quercetin and kaempferol, were isolated from the MOMtE extract and their structures were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS:
The progression of diabetes was significantly reduced after MOMtE treatment. In treated rats, both doses of MOMtE induced a significant reduction in serum glucose and nitric oxide, with concomitant increases in serum insulin and protein levels. Furthermore, MOMtE treatment increased antioxidant levels in pancreatic tissue, with concomitant decreases in levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Histologic examination of the pancreas from diabetic rats showed degenerative changes in β-cells; MOMtE treatment significantly reversed the histoarchitectural damage to the islets cells. CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, M. oleifera exerts protective effects against STZ-induced diabetes. The MOMtE exhibited significant antidiabetic and antioxidant activity and active constituents may be isolated from the extract for evaluation in future clinical studies.

© 2011 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Malunggay Moringa Oleifera: What medicalhealthguide says

Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) has been used as herbal medicine in many cultures for hundreds of years, Malunggay is known as a very nutritious plant where it is used to combat malnultrition in third world countries especially for infants and nursing mothers.

The malunggay pods are the most valued and widely used part of the plant. Malunggay pods contains essential amino acids, vitamins and other nutrients. Malunggay pods may be eaten raw or may be prepared or cooked. Malunggay pods may be fried and may produce a clear, odorless and sweet oil mostly called - Ben Oil.

Malunggay leaves may be eaten as greens, in salads and as vegetable ingredients for soups and other tropical viands. Malunggay flowers are cooked and eaten either mixed with other foods or fried in batter.

Moringa Oleifera - Malunggay: What NutraBusiness says

Moringa Oleifera is also widely known as the miracle tree for all of its “miracle like” attributes. The Moringa tree is so rich in nutrients that it can be used for almost any purpose. The leaves of the tree are said to be a nutritional powerhouse and various parts of the tree can be used to cure over 300 diseases. The leaves of the Moringa contain seven times the amount of Vitamin A and Vitamin C compared to carrots and oranges. They are also densely rich in protein and are famous for their antibacterial properties. Moringa also boosts your mood and gives a sense of well-being. Along with all these health benefits Moringa is known to suppress appetite and boost the metabolism, contributing to quick, steady, and healthy weight loss without having to completely change your lifestyle. When making our Moringa supplements we make sure to use the most rich and nutrient dense parts of the tree ensuring that each of our supplements contain only the purest ingredients possible.

What the Philippines Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Training Institute) say about the Malunggay

Malunggay: The miracle vegetable
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 1:05pm by repost
By Nenita C. Planco, Agriculture magazine (10.2009)

Malunggay reportedly prevents 300 diseases, hence it is dubbed as "the miracle vegetable" and the "wonder tree."

Low in fats and carbohydrates, malunggay leaves are used to prevent anemia as these are rich in iron and vitamin B, and osteoporosis as these contain high amount of calcium.

The leaves also contain fiber, which is good against constipation, formation of gallstones and colon cancer. These have potassium, too that aids in managing blood pressure and is good for the nervous system.

Moreover, the leaves are rich in protein, which is good for bodybuilding and repair of tissues, plus vitamin A, which is good for the eyes, skin and heart.

Malunggay leaves also help strengthen the immune system due to its high vitamin C content. This helps the body fight scurvy and infectious diseases such as coughs, colds and flu.

According to studies, 3 tablespoons of powdered malunggay leaves contain 27 percent vitamin A and 22 percent vitamin C, which is equivalent to 7 oranges. It has 42 percent protein, 71 percent iron and 125 percent calcium equivalent to 4 glasses of milk. Its potassium content, meanwhile, is tantamount to 3 bananas. Malunggay leaves are slso three times more nutritious than spinach, and have four times more beta-carotene.

No doubt that malunggay is one of the world's highly nutritious vegetables. In fact, since the time immemorial up to this day, the leaves are used to treat fresh cuts and wounds.

Malunggay leaves were regarded as the poor man's vegetable, and this was especially true in the Visayas where malunggay trees were common in sight, hence leaves can be had by just asking.

The leaves are so easy to prepare. Since these are free from bacteria which are commonly found in vegetables growing close to the ground, leaves are dropped into a pot of boiling water even without washing.

Malunggay tree is also regarded as the lazy man's plant for it doesn't have to be cultivated and fertilized regularly. It thrives well in sandy loam soil provided it is exposed to sunlight. It bears leaves and flowers whole year round.

However, when its branches are already tall, these have to be pruned for new leaves to sprout. But if pods are needed, then the branches are left to bear fruits and pods. Pruning can be done after the pods are harvested.

It is best to plant malunggay tree during the rainy season. One can either sow its seeds or plant branches. But many prefer to plant the branch as it grows fast. It just takes three to four months.

Edible Parts of the Malunggay / Moringa Eleifera Tree

  1. The Leaves - As soup, in salad, as juice, as green tea.
    • To use the leaves as soup, simply pick the fresh malunggay leaves, wash them, remove the leaves from the stem and add them to boiling water.
  2. The Flowers - As salad, as soup.
  3. The Fruits - As a snack, mixed in salad, mixed in stir-fry

Medical Uses Of Malunggay - Health Benefits

Malunggay, combat malnutrition, used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers vitamins A, B and C, calcium, iron and protein. For post-natal care, the young leaves are eaten to stimulate lactation.

Malunggay - Antiinfectious: Antibacterial; Anti Fungal, . In late 1940's, The Department of Biochemistry at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore (PLN Rao) have found that malunggay or Moringa Oleifera leaves contain a compound "pterygospermin" that is known in medical science as having antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti fungal properties.

Malunggay - Anti Cancer Malunggay or Moringa has been shown in studies to have an anti-tumor capacity. Moringa contains benzyl isothiocyanate. There are many studies that have shown this chemical and compounds derived thereof to have anti-cancer and chemoprotective capabilities. This chemoprotective aspect is critical for those who are battling cancer; this helps strengthen cells so that they can tolerate chemotherapy. Malunggay is also considered int he treatment of prostate cancer and skin cancer. (Ref: Fuglie LJ (2000) New Uses of Moringa Studied in Nicaragua. ECHO Development Notes #68, June, 2000. www.echotech.org/network/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=194)

Malunggay - anti-inflamatory: Malunggay has been found to inhibit inflammation in a controlled scientific study conducted by Philippine DOST Scientists (Amelia P. Guevara, Carolyn Vargas and Milagros Uy). When an aquous seed extract of malunggay has been administered to a carrageenan induced inflammation, its was noted that the aquous seed extract of the Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) inhibited the development of edema in ratpaw. The Malunggay is traditionally used to prevent and treat inflammations associated with rheumatism, arthritis and joint pains.

Malunggay - Reproductive health. Fuglie LJ (1999) The Miracle Tree: Moringa oleifera: Natural Nutrition for the Tropics has reported that Malunggay or Moringa Oleifera is widely beleived to have an aphrodisiac action that enhances the sexual activity. Malunggay or moringa oleifera young leaves is also widely used to increase the flow of milk for lactating mothers.

How Manlungay compares to some common foods

 
Malunggay the Super Herb

Moringa (Malungay) leaves compared to common foods
Values per 100gm. edible portion
Nutrient Moringa Leaves Other Foods
Vitamin A 6780 mcg Carrots: 1890 mcg
Vitamin C 220 mg Oranges: 30 mg
Calcium 440 mg Cow's milk: 120 mg
Potassium 259 mg Bananas: 88 mg
Protein 6.7 gm Cow's milk: 3.2 gm

Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) Herbal Medicine Preparation

  • Malunggay as food. Malunggay pods may be eaten raw or may also be fried with peanut similar taste. Malunggay leaves and flower may also be cooked together with other vegetables and meat to form soups or viands.
  • Malunggay decoction for washing sores and wounds, Boil malunggay roots and let it cool to tolerable warm temperature and use it to wash wounds and sores. By gargling the Malunggay decoctionm, it may also be used to wash mouth sores and sore throats.
  • Malunggay poultice. Grounded Malunggay seeds, leaves and bark may be applied topically as poultice onto swollen flesh to relieve inflammation.
  • Malunggay oil may be taken internally as mixed with foods, it is known to be a powerful antioxidant even used by the early people from Egypt. Malunggay oil also known as Ben oil is widely used as oil base for perfumes and cosmetics. The oil is extracted from Malunggay seeds by pressing.

Malunggay Herbal Medicine Precautions, Side Effects

Although malunggay consumption is generally accepted as safe. But according to Indian traditional usage, Malunggay may have an abortificient effects. (Ref: Nath D, N Sethi, et al. (1997) Survey on indigenous medicinal plants used for abortion in some districts of Uttar Pradesh. Fitoterapia 68(3): 223-225)

How to plant or Grow the Malunggay - Moringa Oleifera

  • By Franklin H. Maletsky
Planting using cut malunggay branches:
  1. Cut a mature, healthy branch to about 2 feet to 3 feet long.
  2. Dig a hole in the ground to a depth of about 1/2 foot then plant the branch into the hole and cover it with soil.
  3. Maintain a planting distance of 3 feet to 4 feet.
  4. If you want to use the malunggay - moringa as a fence post. Cut it about 5 feet long. Put it in a hole about 1 foot deep. Keep them as close together or as far apart as you want.
Planting using seeds:
  1. Pick the dried mature seeds from the pod.
  2. Directly plant the seed into the ground about 1/2 inch deep only.
  3. If it is not the rainy season, keep the soil moist.
Planting from Seedlings
  1. Spread the seeds in a soil bed.
  2. Cover the seeds with about 1/2 inch of soil.
  3. Keep the soil moist.
  4. After the seeds sprout and the seedlings are about 6 inches tall, transplant them anywhere you want.

Plant Malunggay Trees to help Reforestation

Malunngay can be grown anywhere in the Philippines. Serves as one of the best vegetable and food supplement ever.

Line the highways with Malunggay. Let the people enjoy the harvest to provide the filipinos with better nutrition. The www.medicalhealthguide.com/articles/malunggay.htm says:

  • Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) has been used as herbal medicine in many cultures for hundreds of years, Malunggay is known as a very nutritious plant where it is used to combat malnultrition in third world countries especially for infants and nursing mothers.
  • The malunggay pods are the most valued and widely used part of the plant. Malunggay pods contains essential amino acids, vitamins and other nutrients. Malunggay pods may be eaten raw or may be prepared or cooked. Malunggay pods may be fried and may produce a clear, odorless and sweet oil mostly called - Ben Oil.
  • Malunggay leaves may be eaten as greens, in salads and as vegetable ingredients for soups and other tropical viands. *Malunggay flowers are cooked and eaten either mixed with other foods or fried in batter.

During the rainy season plant as many malunggay trees in the hilly areas of the watershed. This is a great way to prevent erosion. You can cut a malunggay tree down to only one inch from the ground and the tree will grow back with a vengeance. It does not die therefore the roots of the tree continue to hold the hill together preventing erosion.

Malunggay is easy to plant. You can plant it by simply spreading the seeds as I have suggested to the DENR regarding other types of trees. You can plant malunggay by planting saplings or you can simply stick a malunggay branch in the ground.

You can cut a malunggay branch into several foot long pieces. Stick the pieces in the ground about five inches deep and just leave it for nature to take over. It does not need any special care. If you plant these malunggay sticks during the rainy season, they will grow fast. Within 4 to 5 months you will have malunggay trees at least 4 feet tall.

I used to use malunggay as fence posts. I learned this as a young boy when I saw my mother sticking these malunggay branches to support the fence. She said "this will support the fence and it will keep the hungry neighbors from jumping the fence to harvest malunggay. They can simply harvest from the fence line and they won't bother what is inside."

Where does Malunggay / Moringa Oleifera grow

Malunggay / Moringa Oleifera will grow in any type of soil. Sandy loam is preferred but even in clayish soil it will grow. Malunggay can survive through droughts. It will even survive mild freezing winters.

It will grow real well anywhere near the growing zone of the equator (zone 12 to 13). But Malunggay/Moringa Oleifera will also grow and survive within zones 5 through 11. In areas where the temperature drops below freezing as in some parts of California and Texas, Malunggay/Moringa will still survive. The tops will freeze but the deep roots will survive. So as soon as the weather warms up in spring, the malunggay/moringa will shoot out some saplings. Within a couple of months you can start harvesting the leaves for vegetables.

In areas where the soil freezes, you can cut the Malunggay/Moringa tree down to about an 8" (eight inches) stump). Insulate it with leaves or grass (pile it wide and high) so the soil of about 3 feet radius of the trunk won't freeze. The snow on top of the pile will help insulate your malunggay. When the snow melts and the temperature is over 40*F remove the insulation and let the Malunggay/Moringa "breath", soon enough you will see saplings and you can start harvesting again within 2 months.

Malunggay for a healthy lifestyle

Malunggay can be cooked and eaten with rice, but MPFI board secretary Elena Van Tooren suggests drying the leaves, blending it until it is pulverized, and adding it to food or juice.

Malunggay leaves can be dried by bundling the harvested branches up and hanging them upside down to dry in the sun. Make sure that a mat would catch the dry leaves that would fall off. 10 kilograms of fresh malunggay shrinks to one kilogram when dried, Barrozo said, making dried malunggay richer and more concentrated. It loses its Vitamins A and C content when dried, but it does retain the rest of its nutrients.

Van Tooren recommends taking one tablespoon a day for people who want to stay healthy, and two tablespoons for those suffering from health issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

For pregnant women, she recommends taking three tablespoons a day. Malunggay is also sold as powder, tea, and capsules.

How to make Malungay Moringa Tea

  • Collect fresh green malungay leaves.
  • Hang to dry. Do not put under the sun. Just let the leaves air dry.
  • Crush the leaves.
  • Put the crushed leaves in a bottle or bag them. You can buy empty tea bags for packing.
  • Drink malungay tea just like any other teas.

How to get the best out of the super food Malunggay or Moringa:
✅ Briefly drop the leaves in boiling water then remove.
✅ Squeeze the juice out of the leaves into whatever you are cooking.
✅ Add the squeezed leaves into the stuf that you are cooking.

Malunggay Moringa Oleifera: CONSTRUCTION OF MALUNGGAY POWDER PROCESSING LABORATORY AT JGE Tagkawayan Campus

  • www.slsu.edu.ph/main/citizen-s-charter/37-bids-and-awards/166-construction-of-malunggay-powder-processing-laboratory-at-jge-tagkawayan-campus.html

Published on Wednesday, 19 December 2012 00:58

Republic of the Philippines

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY Lucban, Quezon INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID

The Southern Luzon State University, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites prospective bidders to apply for eligibility and to bid for the hereunder project:

Name of Project CONSTRUCTION OF MALUNGGAY POWDER PROCESSING LABORATORY AT JGE Tagkawayan Campus

Location Southern Luzon State University, Tagkawayan, Quezon

Approved budget for the contract ONE MILLION NINE HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE PESOS AND 01/100 ONLY (Php 1,934,655.01)

The Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of R.A. 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Bid Documents will be available only to prospective bidders upon payment of a non-refundable amount of Two Thousand Pesos (PhP 2,000.00) to the Southern Luzon State University Cashier.

The SLSU BAC assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid.

The Southern Luzon State University reserves the right to accept or reject any Bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all Bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected Bidder or Bidders.

The Secretariat
SLSU Bids and Awards Committee
Planning Office
Lucban, Quezon
Tel. No. (042) 540-7650

Malunggay - Moringa Photo Gallery

News About Malunggay - Moringa Oleifera

(PNA), LAP/LVM/JOHANNE MARGARETTE R. MACOB/RMA

MANGATAREM, Pangasinan, July 14 (PNA) -- Malunggay (moringga) will be grown side by side with ilang-ilang in Pangasinan to provide steady source of livelihood for the people.

Along with the development of a "fragrant" livelihood with the growing ilang-ilang (cananga odorata) nursery, is the provision of a ‘healthy’ future with the malunggay (moringa) nursery in this town.

This was bared by Pangasinan Second district representative Leopoldo Bataoil when he visited last July 9 a malunggay nursery he set up in Barangay Bueno. He said project moringa will go “hand-in-hand” with project ilang-ilang which has already nurseries in Bugallon and Mangatarem towns.

“This is a livelihood program for our people to take advantage of, in view of the willingness of one investor to put up a distillery to extract ilang-ilang and malunggay oils for the purpose of producing various products,” he remarked.

If ilang-ilang oil is mainly for fragrance production, moringa oils can be used mainly on health and medicines as food supplements, he added.

Further, the Congressman encouraged everyone to plant malunggay in their backyards or in other idle lands, citing that the plant, which is a natural medicine, a staple vegetable, and potential livelihood source, can be easily grown.

“I have also told the people of Barangay Bueno to be the model of this project moringa,” he also said.

The solon disclosed that they are presently planning to conduct trainings and seminar on moringa production wherein participants will also be provided with moringa seedlings.

The moringa plantation, like the ilang-ilang, will be put up in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’s (DENR) National Greening Program.

DENR is the one in-charge of the provision of seedlings and technical assistance to the organizations fending the nurseries.

Bataoil noted, the nursery in Brgy. Bueno is being looked after by out-of-school youths in the village.

Meanwhile, since the ilang-ilang project started, according to Bataoil, many people’s organizations in the district have signified their intentions in adopting the project in their respective places.

Bataoil noted that his high school classmate, Fred Reyes, the owner of Fragrance Factory, will put up distillery to extract not only ilang-ilang but moringa oils out of the produce of the local population.


Can I Use Vermiculite to Grow Moringa?

By Julie Richards

From roots to seeds, every part of the moringa (Moringa oleifera) tree is useful to the home gardener. A native of India and some parts of Africa, the moringa tree grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 10. You can propagate moringa from seeds or cuttings. You can use vermiculite to grow moringa from seeds. Vermiculite provides a sterile environment for the seeds to germinate. Cuttings should be rooted outdoors in garden soil.

Benefits of Vermiculite

Vermiculite is a mineral that is heat-processed to create an inert and sterile growing medium for seeds. The mineral helps the soil retain moisture, and when mixed with peat moss or sand, creates an aerated planting mix. The addition of vermiculite to clay or other compacted soils keeps the soil loose. Porous soils benefit from vermiculite because the vermiculite helps the soil stay moist. Because the mineral is sterile, there is less chance of bacteria infecting the seeds or seedlings in the seed tray.

Choosing a Seed Tray

The seed tray used to grow moringa seedlings should be evenly divided into cells that measure approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches square. The space gives the moringa seedlings time to develop a strong root system before transplanting. The seed tray needs drainage holes so the vermiculite does not get over-saturated. A cover is not necessary for the moringa seeds to sprout. You can choose a larger pot to sprout the moringa seeds if you want the transplants to be larger before moving them.

Sprouting Moringa Seeds

Moringa seeds should be fresh, as the older the seed gets, the less likely it is to sprout. Two or three moringa seeds should be planted at a depth of about 1/2 inch into the vermiculite. Once the seeds are covered, they need watering so the moisture surrounds the seeds. The vermiculite should remain slightly moist but not wet. The seeds need low light and warmth to sprout. If you sprout the seeds outdoors, they should remain in the shade while you grow the seedlings. The seeds will sprout in about two weeks. Care of Moringa Seedlings

The moringa seedlings need thinning as soon as possible so the strongest get a good start. Since vermiculite is nutrient-free, you should feed the moringa seedlings when they grow their first set of true leaves. You can feed the seedlings with a water-soluble plant fertilizer at a rate of 1 tablespoon of fertilizer to 1 gallon of water. Transplant the seedlings when they are about 12 to 24 inches tall.


10 Incredible Health Benefits of Moringa Seeds

(NDTV Food)

"Moringa seeds are obtained from the pods of the Moringa plant (Moringa Oleifera) or the drumstick tree, native to Northern India. Fresh and raw moringa seeds are quite tender, but as soon as they get dried, they become hard and start to resemble small beans. They are greyish-white in colour with unique wing-like structures. They can be steamed, boiled or roasted for various purposes," says Dr. Divya Choudhary, Chief Dietitian, Max Super Speciality Hospital.

According to Dr. Manoj K. Ahuja, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, "Moringa is a nutrient-dense plant that is rich in vitamins, calcium, iron and essential amino acids. It can benefit the body in a number of ways."

Here are 10 health benefits of moringa seeds:

1. Improves Sleep

"Steep moringa leaves in hot water for 15 minutes and drink it before you go to bed for a good night's rest. It helps you slip into slumber at night, and in turn will leave you energised to tackle the day," says Dr. Choudhary, Max Hospital.

2. High in Fiber

"Moringa seeds are high in fiber, and help in moving food along your digestive system," says Delhi-based Nutritionist Anshul Jaibharat.

3. Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

Dr. Ahuja says, "Moringa seeds are a great source of zinc and can regulate blood sugar levels which can help manage or even prevent diabetes."

4. Great Source of Iron

"Did you know that a single serving of moringa has almost three times the amount of iron as spinach? This is especially important for vegetarians/vegans or those who suffer from low iron issues, as the body needs iron to enrich the blood and carry oxygen to our muscles, organs and tissues," adds Dr. Choudhary.

5. Reduces Joint Pain

Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, Clinical Operations and Coordination Manager at Baidyanath says, "Moringa seeds make for a great supplement of calcium and help those suffering from joint pain. They help in reducing inflammation and severe bone disorders like arthritis."

6. Lowers Cholesterol

"Some plants have been known to reverse bad cholesterol and according to research, moringa is among them," says Dr. Divya, Max Super Speciality Hospital.

7. Induces Death of Cancer Cells

Dr. Ahuja says, "Moringa seeds are well known for their anti-carcinogenic effects. They can stop the growth and development of cancer cells by accelerating their death count."

8. Promotes Heart Health

"Scientists have proved that moringa seeds can reduce the amount of oxidised lipids in our body and take care of our cardiac health by safeguarding the heart tissues from constructional damages," says Dr. Choudhary.

9. Powerhouse of Antioxidants

"The oil extracted from moringa seeds contains almost 30 antioxidants. It contains vitamins A, B-complex, C and other free radical busters that save our body from severe oxidative damage. In other words, these antioxidant properties of moringa seeds can take care of our overall health", says Dr. Choudhary.

10. Promotes Healthy Skin

"Moringa seeds are packed with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and are thus, very beneficial for skincare. The oil obtained from moringa seeds can be used as a moisturizer or used to treat skin problems like skin rashes and sunburn," says Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, Baidyanath.



Benefits of moringa

By Donovan Grant

The moringa plant (moringa oleifera) is considered by many to be the most nutritious plant ever discovered. Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant plant native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas in North Western India. However, it is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas of the world.

The leaves are said to be the most nutritious part of the plant. When infused, the leaves will release an abundance of nutrients and antioxidants, as well as vitamins A, C, calcium, potassium, iron, and proteins. According to research from the Johns Hopkins University, each ounce of moringa provides more vitamin A than an ounce of carrot, more iron than an ounce of spinach, more calcium than an ounce of milk, more potassium than an ounce of banana, and more vitamin C than an orange.

The same study also found that the moringa plant contains protein quality at similar levels to whole milk without the fat and calories. Moringa tea is known to boost energy and mental clarity. It has also been shown to reduce bad cholesterol and may even help with arthritis pains. In addition, the leaves have been alleged to help with weight loss, although I have not seen any robust scientific study to totally prove this fact.

However, the moringa’s role in weight loss may be mostly attributed to the plant’s low-fat and low-calorie content. Hence, the moringa tea could be used as a low calorie, nutritious substitute for many other foods.

The moringa plant is also high in vitamins B-1, B-2 and B-3 which the body needs to convert food to energy. The B vitamins in the moringa plant may also increase the metabolism, promoting weight loss. In a nutshell, the moringa tea can provide a healthy alternative without the unhealthy fats and carbohydrates. Therefore, consuming the moringa tea, as well as reducing the intake of food, and exercising, will help in weight loss.

Other teas that can help with detoxing and cleaning the body are cerasee, senna pods, milk tissue, and dandelion. The detox process can also help to increase the metabolic rate and help the body to digest and also convert the food to energy faster. However, before using these teas for weight loss and detoxing, I would suggest that you speak with a professional.


Top 10 Moringa Benefits You Didn’t Know About

(CureJoy Editorial)

All the edible parts of moringa, from the roots to the leaves and seeds are packed with vitamins, calcium and good quality protein. It is rich in antioxidants and is a cancer fighter. From better brain health and supple skin, to regulating blood insulin, protecting liver and being a lactating mother’s best friend, there are plenty of benefits to including moringa in your diet. Just remember to have it in moderation.

Health Benefits Of Moringa
• Improves Brain Health
• Acts As A Natural Mild Laxative
• Protects From Several Terminal Illnesses Like Cancer
• Fights Diabetics
• Enhances Liver Health

Moringa is not just about the sweet-smelling body butter at the beauty store that promises supple skin. All of its components–from the flowers and leaves to the seeds and bark–are used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.1

This is simply because the plant is highly nutritious.

• Moringa is found to hold in its various parts 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, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times more iron than spinach. 2
• Its leaves contain beta-carotene, protein, vitamin C, calcium, amino acids, antioxidants, and potassium.
• Because of its high score of natural antioxidant compounds like phenolics, carotenoids, ascorbid acid and flavonoids, it enhances the shelf-life of foods that have fat in it.3

Moringa or moringa oleifera, also known as drumstick tree or benzoil tree, grows extensively in the sub-Himalayan regions of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. It also grows in several tropical countries. Moringa leaf powder, moringa extracts, moringa capsules, teas supplemented with moringa… the ingredient is everywhere and promises a whole lot of perks for a good health.

You can consume it by adding the leaf powder to a smoothie or by brewing a cup of moringa tea. But first, let’s dig a little deeper to find out the prominent health benefits of moringa.

1. Get Smart With Better Brain Health

Surprise, surprise! Who knew moringa could make your brain function better? Recent studies reveal that moringa leaf extract helps enhance memory. The high antioxidant content from vitamins C and E help combat oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s disease.4

2. Natural Mild Laxative

Having trouble in the bathroom? Fret not when moringa is here! Supplementing your diet with moringa leaf extract can ease your constipation problems. According to a study on mice, it was found that moringa reduced the defecation time, helped increases the pellets of feces and added to the weight of the feces as well. Just don’t overdo it, else you’ll spend a much longer time than necessary in loo.5

3. Anti-Cancer Properties

Moringa leaf extract is shown to have very high antioxidant activity. It is loaded with phenolics, flavonoids and ascorbic acid. So moringa is adept at fighting free radical damage. Studies have shown that it can even inhibit oxidative DNA damage. What does that mean for you? A fitter, more energetic and ‘ageless’ body with high immunity and protection from several terminal illnesses like cancer!6

4. Smooth, Supple Skin

Due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties, moringa has made its way into many skin care products. It protects skin from bacterial and fungal infections. Studies reveal that moringa can revitalize the skin and erase signs of skin ageing. Its vitamin B content acts as a humectant and draws water to the skin when used topically.7

5. From Conception To Lactation

A kilogram of moringa leaves alone can meet the daily zinc requirement in your diet (about 25.5–31.03 mg). Zinc is essential for the proper growth of sperm cells and is also necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. In Philippines, moringa is dubbed “mothers’ best friend” for its many benefits during pregnancy and lactation. A pregnant woman’s daily iron and calcium requirements can be met in 6 spoonfuls of moringa leaf powder. Moringa is rich in phytosterols, the compounds that increase the estrogen production that helps mammary gland ducts to produce milk.8

6. A Cool Protein Source For Vegetarians

Moringa is rich in a large number of amino acids which are vital to our well-being. It contains as many as 22 amino acids, 10 of which cannot be produced naturally by the human body. It is therefore a smart choice for vegetarians to fulfill their protein requirements.9

7. An All-Natural Water Purifier!

Moringa’s aqueous seed extract has been a time-tested water purifying agent in African and South Asian countries. It can treat muddy water and make it fit for drinking and other uses. It reduces 99.9 per cent of bacteria within one to two hours of treatment. Studies have shown low toxicity of this water extract and this is immensely helpful for developing countries in reducing the cost of water purification.10

8. Sexual Health Benefits for Men

One of the many perks of moringa is its natural aphrodisiac effect. It has been used as a traditional sexual function enhancing medicine. Moringa has been shown to increase sexual activity and erectile function of rats, when given its seed extract. It boosts the fertility and reproductive system in adult male rats and can be a great alternate remedy for sexual disorders.11

Studies conducted on rats exposed to stress showed that moringa improved male sexual function under stressful circumstances.12

9. A Friend For Diabetics

When you are a diabetic, refreshing drinks and beverages always come with an asterix. You mostly need to opt for the sugarless versions. Moringa tea is one such choice that is not only sugar-free, it is also beneficial for controlling blood sugar. According to a study that examines the effects of moringa tea on human blood sugar levels, it was found that while non-diabetics didn’t benefit much from it, diabetics showed good results. A mean drop of 28.15 mg/dl in blood sugar was observed two hours after drinking the moringa-infused tea. Moringa definitely has a lot of diabetes management potential and it wouldn’t hurt to incorporate a cuppa or two in your daily routine.13

10. Great For The Liver

The liver is a vital organ and does so much for us. From blood purifying to fat metabolism, it pretty much runs the show. You can show some love to this hard working organ by adding moringa into your diet. It protects the liver from damage and even reduces it. Moringa seed extract was used on rats with liver fibrosis in a study. The extract, owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, was able to reduce the spread of fibrosis in liver cells.14

In another study, rats with hepatitis were administered moringa seed oil for 21 days on a daily basis. It was observed that the liver enzyme levels returned to normal levels after the end of the trial.15

Mind The Side Effects

While moringa is a warehouse of nutrients, it needs to be consumed with caution. Here are some of the commonly known side effects of moringa.

• Too much of it can upset your digestion. Moringa is a natural mild laxative used for the treatment of constipation, but endless cuppas will keep you in the loo– endlessly.16
• It is considered an abortive medicine. It is ironical that in male rats, moringa boosts fertility and in females, it shows abortive and contraceptive activity!17
• Moringa does not work well with blood thinning medications. Ask your doctor if you are prescribed any such drugs.18

A daily dose of moringa is essential to keep you healthy. As anything in excess is bad, have this green too in moderation.


Moringa Seeds; A Must Have Superfood To Treat These Health Disorders!

(Bold Sky)

Moringa seeds are a possibly unbelievable find, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cholesterol lowering effects listed among a few of their benefits. That is only scratching the surface of the proposed advantages of moringa seeds. If the research pans out, it is possible that the tree and its seeds can be a brand new superfood. In Ayurveda, moringa leaves are considered to prevent over three hundred disorders and are used all of the time in conventional healing. Moringa comes from Moringa oleifera, a quick growing tree present in South Asia and through the tropics.

Moringa oil also called ben oil due to the high degrees of behenic acid in it, is pressed from the seeds. Traditional medicinal practices use the roots, leaves, and seeds. The health benefits of Moringa are several in number. Moringa can benefit the body in several ways including increased energy levels, proper sleep, controlled blood pressure level, controlled blood glucose level, healthy hair, and skin, to mention a few.

1. Lower Cholesterol Level: Regular consumption of Moringa seeds have been found to lower cholesterol levels. Some plants have already been known to lower low-density lipoprotein and research is just showing that moringa is just one among them.

2. Treat Sleep Disorders: Moringa leaves have also been found to be great in treating sleep disorders. For a good night’s rest, steep moringa leaves in warm water for fifteen minutes and after that drink before going to bed. Moringa seeds have been found to be very nutritious. A single serving of moringa has almost three times the amount of iron as spinach. Moringa is a nutrient dense plant, full of calcium, iron, supplements and important amino acids which are present in other complete proteins like quinoa and meat.

3. Helps Treat Constipation: Moringa is saturated in fibre, and consequently, it may do an excellent job of moving food, along with improving your digestion. Hence, those who suffer from constipation and digestion problems can give this a try.

4. Lowers Blood Pressure: While research shows that moringa can lower blood pressure level, it is better to consult your physician before you go for it.

5. Lowers Blood Sugar Level: A 2014 study revealed in Acta Histochemica documented that Moringa seeds may lower levels of blood sugar, that would provide therapeutic management of diabetes. In traditional Thai medicine, Moringa is utilized as a cardiotonic.


Do Not Try Moringa Oleifera Until You Read the Facts About It

(Ideal Bite)

Have you recently been hearing about the mystical miracle tree, or the tree of life?

These are terms that have been offered to describe an incredible supplement called Moringa Oleifera, and it has a number of amazing health benefits. Would you believe us if we told you that it has been around for hundreds of years, helping people to hold on to their good health, to recover from medical problems, and to jump start their energy levels?

And even better, it grows naturally all around the world, it is safe to consume, and is a medically proven health supplement.

Moringa Oleifera is an energizing product that helps with healing and medical prevention as well. It is used for many reasons, skin disorder treatment, diabetes, sleep improvement, relief for anxiety and depression. It can give you a huge boost in energy, it has the ability to even out your blood sugar levels, and it can even help you recover more quickly after a workout.

The product is created from the Moringa tree, which is also often referred to as the drumstick tree because of the way it looks. This is because it is long and thin, with triangular pods of seeds. The trees grow best in areas where it is dry and sandy. These kinds of trees grow quickly and they are not easily killed by a lack of water or poor soil. Distributors are working on growing it in Hawaii currently, because the climate is perfect for cultivating the product.

Right now, most Moringa comes from India, but it is also found in Thailand, the Philippines, Africa, and Taiwan. It resembles horseradish, and is often compared to it for the taste. It has a spicy taste to it if you taste the wood directly, which has led it to have a nickname of “Horseradish tree”.

This product is great for people who need a boost in their nutrition. As an example, carrots only have 25% of the vitamin A that you can get in the same amount of Moringa Oleifera. Shocked? It also has four times as much calcium as you get from milk, three times the amount of potassium as you get from bananas. Traditionally these are the foods where you think you get the MOST bang for your buck, but instead, this supplement crushed the numbers in every category.

In one serving of Moringa Oleifera leaves, you can find:

22% daily value of Vitamin C
41% daily value of Potassium
61% daily value of Magnesium
71% daily value of Iron
125% daily value of Calcium
272% daily value of Vitamin A

And:

92 Nutrients
46 Antioxidants
36 Anti-Inflammatories
18 Amino Acids, 9 Essential Amino Acids

Moringa Oleifera superfood is a complete health product that will not only provide you with the vitamins you need, but also improve your overall health as well.

Here are more Moringa Oleifera benefits:

Boosts energy levels
Improved digestion
Improved immune system function
Improved mood
Lower blood pressure
Protects the stomach lining
Treats stomach ulcers
Plus many more!

Want to know more? Moringa is a tree, and various parts of the plants are edible. Some people use the pods in cooking, while others eat the leaves. You can additionally press oil from the seeds, or eat the roots. The plant also has flowers, which are comparable to mushrooms.

Traditional medicine uses the roots, leaves and seeds in their medicinal recipes. There isn’t much this plant can’t do! The leaves are the best part of the plant though, because that is where you get high levels of vitamins, like C, A, and B. The leaves can be cooked like spinach, or they can be dried and used in soups or other recipes.

The pods can be eaten like nuts, and the roots can be diced up and used as a sauce similar to our use for horseradish.

Many underdeveloped countries rely on the Moringa to help with their malnutrition problems. Some humanitarian aid organizations use it to help keep people’s nutrition levels up and to keep people from starving.

So you’re probably wondering why you haven’t heard of this product, because who would ignore these incredible results? Unfortunately, the medical community hasn’t committed to let the public know about it yet.

While more studies are currently happening to fully understand the medicinal values of Moringa, obviously we can’t go out to a Moringa tree and pick leaves, or hope to pick it up at the local supermarket. Luckily, more and more distributors are creating supplements in pill and powder form so that the average American can have access to Moringa’s valuable effects.

Luckily, the word is out! Partly due to Dr. Oz featuring Moringa Oleifera on his successful afternoon talk show. He referred to it as an energy blaster, and he’s right! People who have taken Moringa Oleifera report that they’ve seen a boost in their energy levels and feel better than ever! The best part is that after taking the supplement, you’ll feel an increase in your energy levels, but you won’t feel that lull or ‘down’ feeling after it wears off.

Now, you can purchase Moringa Oleifera in capsules right online to be shipped to your home. They are inexpensive, and can help you with a multitude of medical conditions that you may be having trouble with. Moringa capsules are safe, and you can find some that are produced at FDA inspected and GMP approved facilities in America.

Patients take two capsules twice per day, or about one bottle per month. This can replace traditional vitamins, and can help you eliminate worry from your life if you are trying to get the right vitamins and minerals into your diet through eating food alone.

You can also purchase Moringa in tea bags, which makes it quite convenient to get your daily dose of the supplement simply by steeping a tea bag during your morning routine.

You may want to speak with your doctor before adding Moringa Oleifera to your diet, to be sure that it will be best for you and your specific needs.

As Dr. Oz reports, these techniques have been used for centuries to give people an energy boost and to improve the health of human beings. Just because we don’t use them currently doesn’t mean we shouldn’t revisit them to see if they can be a benefit to our health.

If you are looking for a way to get all the vitamins and minerals into your diet that you need, or if you simply want a boost in your daily energy level to help you tackle all of the many things you have to do each day, try out Moringa Oleifera now.


Moringa: Protect Your Heart Health With This Miracle Tree

By Francois Lubbe

Moringa oleifera – a fast-growing tree native to South Asia – has been used as part of Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and it is associated with the treatment and prevention of nearly 300 diseases.

Sometimes described as the “miracle tree,” moringa has small, rounded leaves that are packed with an incredible amount of nutrition: protein, calcium, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium ?¦ you name it, moringa’s got it.

Since the moringa tree grows exceptionally fast, it is a great source for boosting nutrition in impoverished areas like Malawi, Senegal, and India. In these areas, moringa may be the most nutritious food locally available.

One of moringa’s key benefits is its ability to reduce inflammation. This anti-inflammatory action is due to the fact that it is rich in powerful anti-inflammatory compounds like isothiocyanates, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.

Its potent anti-inflammatory action is the reason why moringa is traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers. The sweet tasting moringa oil, derived from pressing the leaves, pods and seeds (sometimes called Ben oil) has also been shown to protect the liver from chronic inflammation.

In 2012, the discovery that inflammation in artery walls is the real cause of heart disease led to many mainstream experts, like world-renowned heart surgeon Dr. Dwight Lundell, speaking out against the current measures used to prevent heart disease: such as prescribing side effect-ridden statin drugs to everyone that is over the age of 40 – even those with no heart disease risk factors.

The fact is, without inflammation present in the body, there is no way that cholesterol would accumulate in artery walls, causing heart disease and strokes. Without inflammation, cholesterol can move freely throughout the body as nature intended. It is inflammation that causes cholesterol to become trapped.

We’ve been saying for years: Cholesterol is not the villain it is made out to be and instead of lowering this essential compound in our bodies to ridiculously low levels, what we should be doing is fighting inflammation (without drugs) and maintaining a healthy balance between HDL and LDL cholesterol levels – both of these serve essential functions in our bodies.

In both instances, using moringa oil or incorporating the consumption of moringa leaves into your diet can benefit your heart health tremendously.

Apart from its potent anti-inflammatory properties, moringa has also been found to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. In fact, in Thai traditional medicine moringa is used as a cardio-tonic.

Recent studies have demonstrated its benefits for those suffering with hereditary hypocholesterolaemia – extremely high cholesterol levels that can pose other health risks like the calcification of arteries.

In these studies, consuming moringa outperformed one of the most prescribed statin drugs, simvastatin, by bringing high cholesterol levels back to healthy levels and reducing atherosclerotic plaque formation (responsible for the calcification of arteries) by 50 and 86 per cent, respectively.

If you live in the UK or the US, getting your hands on a moringa tree can be tricky, and growing one in your back garden may not be a feasible option either. However, if you have access to a moringa tree, you can use the fresh leaves, similar in flavour to radish, in your meals. Toss them like a salad, blend them into smoothies, or steam them like spinach.

Another option is to use moringa powder (found at specialist alternative health food stores), either in supplement form or added to smoothies, soups, and other foods for extra nutrition. Moringa powder has a distinctive “green” flavour, so you may want to start out slowly when adding it to your meals.

Finally, organic, cold-pressed moringa oil (or Ben Oil), can also be used in salad dressings and topically to treat antifungal problems and arthritis… it is also an excellent skin moisturiser.

Moringa oil is expensive – about 15 times more than olive oil – but considering the heart health benefits you’ll get from taking moringa it seems like a small price to pay.


6 Science-Based Health Benefits of Moringa oleifera

By Dr. Atli Arnarson

Moringa oleifera is a plant that has been praised for its health benefits for thousands of years.

It is very rich in healthy antioxidants and bioactive plant compounds.

So far, scientists have only investigated a fraction of the many reputed health benefits.

Here are 6 health benefits of Moringa oleifera that are supported by scientific research.

1. Moringa oleifera is very nutritious

Moringa oleifera is a fairly large tree that is native to North India.

It goes by a variety of names, such as drumstick tree, horse radish tree, or ben oil tree.

Almost all parts of the Moringa oleifera tree can be eaten or used as ingredients in traditional herbal medicines.

The leaves and pods are commonly eaten in parts of India and Africa.

The leaves are an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals. One cup of fresh, chopped leaves (21 grams) contains the following:

• Protein: 2 grams.
• Vitamin B6: 19% of the RDA.
• Vitamin C: 12% of the RDA.
• Iron: 11% of the RDA.
• Riboflavin (B2): 11% of the RDA.
• Vitamin A (from beta-carotene): 9% of the RDA.
• Magnesium: 8% of the RDA.

In Western countries, dried leaves are sold as dietary supplements, in either powder or capsule form.

Compared to the leaves, the pods are generally lower in vitamins and minerals. However, they are exceptionally rich in vitamin C. One cup of fresh, sliced pods (100 grams) contains 157% of your daily requirement for vitamin C.

The diets of people in developing nations sometimes lack vitamins, minerals and protein. In these countries, Moringa oleifera can be an important source of many essential nutrients.

However, there is one downside. Moringa leaves may also contain high levels of antinutrients, which can reduce the absorption of minerals and protein.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you’re taking Moringa oleifera as a supplement, taking it in capsules won’t supply large amounts of nutrients.

The amounts are negligible compared to what you are already getting if you eat a balanced, real food-based diet.

Bottom line: Moringa leaves are rich in many important nutrients, including protein, vitamin B6, vitamin C, riboflavin and iron.

2. Moringa oleifera is rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants are compounds that act against free radicals in our bodies.

High levels of free radicals cause oxidative stress, which may contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Several antioxidant plant compounds have been found in the leaves of Moringa oleifera.

In addition to vitamin C and beta-carotene, these include:

• Quercetin: This powerful antioxidant may help lower blood pressure.
• Chlorogenic acid: Also found in high amounts in coffee, chlorogenic acid may help moderate blood sugar levels after meals.

In fact, one study in women found that taking seven grams (1.5 teaspoons) of moringa leaf powder every day for three months significantly increased blood antioxidant levels (16).

Moringa leaf extract may also be used as a food preservative. It increases the shelf life of meat by reducing oxidation.

Bottom line: Moringa oleifera is rich in various antioxidants, including quercetin and cholorogenic acid. Moringa leaf powder can increase blood antioxidant levels.

3. Moringa oleifera may lower blood sugar levels

High blood sugar can be a serious health problem. In fact, it is the main characteristic of diabetes.

Over time, high blood sugar raises the risk of many serious health problems, including heart disease. For this reason, it is important to keep blood sugar within healthy limits.

Interestingly, several studies have shown that Moringa oleifera may help lower blood sugar levels.

However, most of the evidence is based on animal studies. The human studies are few, and generally of low quality.

In one study, 30 women took seven grams of moringa leaf powder every day for three months. This reduced fasting blood sugar levels by 13.5%).

Additionally, a small study in six diabetic patients found that adding 50 grams of Moringa leaves to a meal reduced the rise in blood sugar by 21%.

These effects are caused by plant compounds found in Moringa leaves, such as isothiocyanates.

Bottom line: Moringa leaves may lead to reduced blood sugar levels, but more research is needed before any solid recommendations can be made.

4. Moringa oleifera may reduce inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection or injury.

It is essential as a protective mechanism, but may become a major health issue when it goes on for a long time.

Sustained inflammation is believed to be involved in many chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer (23, 24).

Many fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices have known anti-inflammatory effects. These include turmeric and pomegranates.

Moringa leaves, pods and seeds have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties as well, which may also be due to isothiocyanates.

However, the research so far has been limited to test tube and animal studies. It remains to be seen if Moringa oleifera has similar anti-inflammatory effects in humans.

Bottom line: In animal and test tube studies, Moringa oleifera has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. This has not been studied in humans.

5. Moringa oleifera can lower cholesterol

High amounts of cholesterol in the blood have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

Many plant foods can effectively reduce cholesterol. These include flaxseeds, oats and almonds.

Both animal and human studies have shown that Moringa oleifera may have similar cholesterol-lowering effects.

Bottom line: Moringa oleifera can lower cholesterol levels in the blood, which should lead to reduced risk of heart disease.

6. Moringa oleifera may protect against arsenic toxicity

Arsenic contamination of food and water is a problem in many parts of the world.

Rice may contain particularly high levels.

Although arsenic in food or water does not cause symptoms of toxicity right away, long-term exposure may lead to health problems over time.

Observational studies indicate that long-term exposure to arsenic may increase the risk of cancer and heart disease.

Several studies of mice and rats show that the leaves and seeds of Moringa oleifera may protect against some effects of arsenic toxicity.

These studies are promising, but it is not yet known whether this also applies to humans.

Bottom line: Animal studies suggest that Moringa oleifera may protect against arsenic toxicity. However, this has not yet been studied in humans.

Take home message

To sum up, Moringa oleifera is an Indian tree that has been used in traditional medicine for a very long time.

It has been used to treat various different conditions and diseases, but only a few of the health claims have been studied scientifically.

So far, studies have shown that Moringa oleifera may lead to modest reductions in blood sugar and cholesterol. It may also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and protect against arsenic toxicity.

Moringa leaves are also highly nutritious, and should be particularly beneficial for people who are lacking in essential nutrients.


What's Up With That Food: Moringa

By Carrie Havranek

Add another superfood to your radar. Moringa, which sounds like a dance but isn’t, wants to boost your health with its antioxidant powers.

Type of food: Tree

Name: Moringa Oleifera, aka horseradish tree, ben tree and/or drumstick tree because it’s long and thin with triangular seed pods. It also goes by other local names, depending on where it’s grown.

Origins: This tree is native to parts of Africa and South Asia, namely India, Pakistan and Nepal. This particular genus is native to the foothills of northwestern India and it’s cultivated throughout the tropics. Historically, it’s been used to combat malnutrition in parts of the world where it grows.

Why/how did we start eating it: The tree grows rapidly and easily, and is drought-tolerant, which accounts for easy growth in hot, sandy and dry climates. However, the leaves are small—and so you need to harvest a lot of them; about seven pounds of moringa leaves will yield one pound of leaf powder. The leaves are placed away from direct sunlight to dry, after which they are crushed to create a power. Historically, the leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds and root are all used to made medicine, says Tehzeeb Lalani, a nutritionist with Scale Beyond Scale, based in Mumbai, India.

The story of Kuli Kuli helps exemplify the tree’s potential. While she was a volunteer in Niger for the Peace Corps, Lisa Curtis was feeling sluggish from her vegetarian diet, and so locals suggested she try moringa leaves. They offered them to her in a local snack mixed with peanuts called kuli kuli. She felt “a lot more energized. I believe I was particularly lacking in iron and protein,” she says. After Curtis returned, she and three other folks launched Kuli Kuli in 2013 and since then, the company has been sourcing moringa from small, women-led farms in Africa, the Caribbean and South America, helping these women earn a sustainable wage by selling some of the harvest to her company.

Her company’s products, which consist of bars, powders, teas and green energy shots (all highly palatable, by the way), are available in 3,000 stores nationwide. Her company advertises that one scoop of moringa powder is the nutritional equivalent of two cups of leafy greens, prompting many news outlets to claim that moringa is more nutritious than kale.

Like other powders, moringa is most often used as an add-on to smoothies and shakes, but you can also add to juice, salad dressing or make a tea out of it. Start with a teaspoon. The folks at Nuts.com, which has been directly importing moringa since 2012, advise against cooking it—the heat can reduce the nutritional power. You can, however, add moringa powder to any other recipe or hot food after it’s finished cooking.

Lalani reports that her clients in India have easy access to it moringa—it’s part of their diet. “Moringa is a common vegetable consumed with potatoes, peas and a tomato-based curry.” As for the rest of the plant? “The immature green pods (drumsticks) are prepared similarly to green beans, while the seeds are removed from more mature pods and cooked like peas or roasted like nuts,” she says

Julia Gometz of Venus NY Body Shaping in New York City includes moringa in the welcome package for all new clients. “It has many benefits including hunger suppressant and anti-inflammatory,” she says. They implement moringa in a variety of ways—tea, capsule, powder, drink mixes—and keep at it until they find the right combination, she says. “We did our own research which included speaking to several weight loss centers and it was clear from experience. And now we have experienced it firsthand. It may have been one of the effects that emerged from consistent use of moringa in people who were dieting,” she says.

Sensory experience: The leaf powder has been described as rich and nutty, but it smells decidedly grassy, similar to green tea, with a bit of a radish, or peppery bite—accounting for its nickname the horseradish tree.

Nutrition and other benefits: Moringa is loaded with antioxidants, in particular vitamins A and C, and a wide range of B vitamins. It’s an immune system booster, an inflammation fighter, and it also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties. It’s also considered a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids. Curtis was drawn to it for all of these reasons, and because of its iron and calcium stores, too.

A 2006 study conducted by researchers at Tokyo University concluded that moringa powder helped to lower blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. Elizabeth Trattner, an acupuncturist and doctor of Oriental Medicine in Miami Beach, Florida, says that moringa is often used to increase breast milk. “However, it does take time. One study has demonstrated that moringa is equivalent to medications that boost lactation.” She cautions that you should make sure the supplement contains no elements of seeds because of their toxicity, and that the “active plant compound and country of origin is listed.”

Christopher Calapai, D.O., an osteopath based in New York who specializes in nutritional guidance and anti-aging medicine, concurs with the assertion that many of its benefits include “more energy, better sleep, improved mood, stable blood sugar and blood pressure, better digestion, pain relief due to decreased inflammation, more milk production for nursing mothers, and weight loss. However, there’s another benefit. He notes that moringa seed oil has been used for its ability to regenerate skin cells. “Many of the major skin companies now have moringa seed oil in their high-quality skin products like anti-aging cream. It is used for all types of skin issues and conditions, such as dry skin, cuts, burns, scars, wind burn, chicken pocks, shingles, psoriasis, eczema, scar tissue, diaper rash, athlete’s foot, gum disease, vaginal dryness, all kinds of rash, even to clear eyes from burning,” he says.

Trivia: Curtis says that it’s not uncommon for the seed cake, the residue that’s left after the oil is extracted, can be used for water purification. She says she’d put it in her water bottle. “It doesn’t remove all the bacteria, but most of it,” she says.


Moringa Is Going To Be Your New Favorite Superfood

By Jeanne Pouget

Moringa is not a spice, but a tree, or a plant that includes a dozen or so species of trees, rather. The most popular is Moringa oleifera, whose dried leaves are ground into a powder and used in many traditional dishes across the globe, whether it's in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, India, or Southeast Asia.

Moringa powder is used in both food and in traditional medicines, as the plant has many properties that can improve your health. And of course, if Moringa is expected to be the superfood trend of 2017, it's also because of its nutritional value, which has been recognized for centuries by civilizations all over the world.

Some say it's the most nutritious plant known to this day. And in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, they say Moringa can be used to treat 300 different diseases.

Did someone say superfood?

And apparently it's true, nutritional analyses have shown the leaves of the Moringa oleifera to be richer in vitamins, minerals and proteins than most other vegetables.

It contains twice as much protein as yogurt, three times more potassium than bananas, four times more calcium than milk, seven times more vitamin C than oranges, and four times more vitamin A than carrots. It also contains eight essential amino acids. Holy moly!

As for its medicinal properties, Moringa has more than we can even list here, but here are a few: it's an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and energy booster; it increases your cognitive ability, has detoxifying properties, is good for your hair, libido, and vision, and it helps prevent aging....

In short, Moringa is good for just about everything. It's the perfect superfood because it fits into any diet and gives us a break from spirulina, which was starting to get a bit old. Goodbye blue, Hello green!

You can find Moringa in health food stores including Whole Foods, and even in some Target stores. And it's easy to mix into your dishes. One teaspoon is a great addition to curry, and you can sprinkle it on salad or in your juices and smoothies. The possibilities are endless.



What Are the Benefits of Moringa?

By Erica Kannall

Moringa earned the name "miracle tree" because it's packed with essential nutrients and medicinal properties to keep you healthy. It's certainty a live-saver in remote parts of the world because its seeds help purify dirty drinking water. The leaves are useful too, providing important protein, vitamins and phytochemicals. You'll mostly find moringa in powder form in the U.S., so try adding it to your smoothies, soups, casseroles and stews as a supplement. If you want to eat raw leaves, you'll have to move to a tropical climate where the trees grow.

Essential Nutrients

If you're tired of the same old protein powder shakes, try moringa leaves in a smoothie instead -- moringa provides all nine essential amino acids. You'll also get vitamin C, beta-carotene, iron, calcium and potassium from moringa. These keep your bones, skin, teeth, muscles and immune system healthy. After hitting the gym, moringa can help your muscles recover quickly from a tough workout and may prevent injuries and reduce inflammation. Moringa was called an "ideal dietary supplement" by writers of scientific study published in the journal "Phytotherapy Research."

Boosting Your Immune System

If you're worried about catching a cold or feel your immune system needs a boost, moringa provides vitamin C and can help fight off bacterial and fungal infections. The journal "Ancient Science of Life" published research showing that moringa leaves have a powerful effect against bacteria responsible for staphylococcus and E. coli infections. Moringa's antifungal abilities also combat annoying yeast infections and athlete's foot. The combination of vitamin C and iron is especially helpful for new cell growth needed to heal wounds and repair broken bones.

Antioxidants

Not only are the leaves of the morgina tree useful, the seeds, flowers and stems all have powerful antioxidant activity thanks to their phytochemicals. Flavonoids, carotenoids and tocopherols help prevent cancer and diabetes, and reduce inflammation in your body. A study published in the "Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention" in 2003 found that moringa slows cancer tumor growth. As an added bonus, your skin may have fewer wrinkles because of the anti-aging power of its phytochemicals.

Preventing Heart Disease

Taking moringa may ease your mind about heart disease. It has a slight diuretic effect, which helps to reduce water retention -- preventing bloating and even lowering blood pressure. Supplementing with moringa also helps you control both cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Obese people who ate high-fat diets had lower cholesterol levels after being given moringa supplements, according to the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." Lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels all mean less risk of heart disease for you.


The Moringa Species

(San Francisco Gate)

Although 13 species of Moringa exist in tropical and subtropical habitats around the globe, Moringa oleifera has proven to be the most valuable cultivated member of the Moringaceae family. Also known as horseradish tree for the taste of its roots, Moringa oleifera seeds and plants are commercially available in California, Hawaii and Florida. The plant is easy to grow and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11.

Description

Moringa oleifera is a small tree with broad, spreading branches and fragrant, cream-colored or white flowers that bloom on long, drooping panicles. The umbrella-shaped canopy is open and sometimes appears sparse, making the tree less useful for shade. Moringa has a straight trunk with cork-like bark. The seeds start out light green, maturing to dark green pods with hard shells and a trio of papery "wings." Depending on the species and climate, Moringa trees may be evergreen or semi-deciduous.

Cultivation

Plant Moringa trees 8 to 10 feet apart in a part of the yard that receives full sun. To make a hedgerow of Moringa trees, you can plant them as close as 6 inches apart. Moringa trees require soil acidity of between 6.1 and 7.5. Moringa trees grow easily from cuttings or from seeds. Rooted cuttings often bloom within a few months, and may set fruit the first year. Plant mature seeds any time of year. Keep the planting bed moist but not wet until the seedlings or cuttings are old enough to become well established in the garden. Moringa adapts easily to life in a container and can be pruned to control height and shape.

Uses

Almost all parts of the tree are edible, from the roots, which taste like horseradish, to the leaves, flowers, buds and tender shoots. Moringa leaves supply Vitamins C and A, potassium, protein and calcium and are often cooked as a vegetable or steeped for tea. Scientists are still studying the leaves' value as both a traditional and modern medicine. Moringa leaves make good feed for cattle and other livestock. Ground pods are used in curries and oil extracted from the seeds can be used for cooking or in perfumes and soaps.

Problems

Overwatering Moringa trees can lead to root rots. The tree may be subject to fruitfly and aphid infestations. Cercospora leafspot and rust diseases cause leaf mottling. Moringas have deep tap roots so water thoroughly using drip irrigation, if available, when the surface of the soil is dry. Infrequent, deep watering is better than frequent, shallow watering.

Other Moringa Species

Of the 13 known species of Moringa, few are cultivated outside their native habitats. Moringa arborea, M. borziana, M. longituba, M. pygmaea, M. rivae and M. ruspoliana are endemic to certain areas of Africa, and exist nowhere else in the world. M. drouhardii and M. hildebrandtii are native to Madagascar. These two, along with M. ovalifolia and M. stenopetala, both native to parts of Africa, are called "bottle trees." Their lower trunks swell to impressive size to hoard water in their arid native lands.



Superfood Spotlight: Moringa Oleifera

By Katie Horwitch

What You Need To Know: The moringa oleifera tree is considered nature’s true multivitamin. With its edible flowers, leaves and seed pods, just about all of the tree can be used for medicinal or culinary purposes. A popular ayurvedic ingredient, it’s a real-life “giving tree!”

Why You Should Try It: With more vitamin A than a carrot, more vitamin C than an orange, and more potassium than a banana, the benefits of moringa oleifera are mind boggling. It supports healthy digestion, mental clarity, provides an immediate energy boost and lowers both cholesterol and blood sugar levels? How, you ask? Moringa oleifera’s plethora of benefits can be attributed to the fact that it contains – brace yourself – 18 different amino acids, 15 different minerals, all vitamins A through K, 46 antioxidants and all three omegas. Whew!

Let’s Get Together: When a jar of this slightly carob-tasting miracle superfood came across our desk, we knew we couldn’t refuse. We’re currently addicted to Moringa Delight’s brand of 100% moringa oleifera raw leaf powder, which can be thrown into everything from smoothies to tea! Look out: we predict this “giving tree” is about to be the next hot trend in the heath-conscious world!


Moringa Is Going To Be Your New Favorite Superfood

By Jeanne Pouget

Moringa is not a spice, but a tree, or a plant that includes a dozen or so species of trees, rather. The most popular is Moringa oleifera, whose dried leaves are ground into a powder and used in many traditional dishes across the globe, whether it's in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, India, or Southeast Asia.

Moringa powder is used in both food and in traditional medicines, as the plant has many properties that can improve your health. And of course, if Moringa is expected to be the superfood trend of 2017, it's also because of its nutritional value, which has been recognized for centuries by civilizations all over the world.

Some say it's the most nutritious plant known to this day. And in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, they say Moringa can be used to treat 300 different diseases.

Did someone say superfood?

And apparently it's true, nutritional analyses have shown the leaves of the Moringa oleifera to be richer in vitamins, minerals and proteins than most other vegetables.

It contains twice as much protein as yogurt, three times more potassium than bananas, four times more calcium than milk, seven times more vitamin C than oranges, and four times more vitamin A than carrots. It also contains eight essential amino acids. Holy moly!

As for its medicinal properties, Moringa has more than we can even list here, but here are a few: it's an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and energy booster; it increases your cognitive ability, has detoxifying properties, is good for your hair, libido, and vision, and it helps prevent aging....

In short, Moringa is good for just about everything. It's the perfect superfood because it fits into any diet and gives us a break from spirulina, which was starting to get a bit old. Goodbye blue, Hello green!

You can find Moringa in health food stores including Whole Foods, and even in some Target stores. And it's easy to mix into your dishes. One teaspoon is a great addition to curry, and you can sprinkle it on salad or in your juices and smoothies. The possibilities are endless.


What's Up With That Food: Moringa

By Carrie Havranek

Add another superfood to your radar. Moringa, which sounds like a dance but isn’t, wants to boost your health with its antioxidant powers.

Type of food: Tree

Name: Moringa Oleifera, aka horseradish tree, ben tree and/or drumstick tree because it’s long and thin with triangular seed pods. It also goes by other local names, depending on where it’s grown.

Origins: This tree is native to parts of Africa and South Asia, namely India, Pakistan and Nepal. This particular genus is native to the foothills of northwestern India and it’s cultivated throughout the tropics. Historically, it’s been used to combat malnutrition in parts of the world where it grows.

Why/how did we start eating it: The tree grows rapidly and easily, and is drought-tolerant, which accounts for easy growth in hot, sandy and dry climates. However, the leaves are small—and so you need to harvest a lot of them; about seven pounds of moringa leaves will yield one pound of leaf powder. The leaves are placed away from direct sunlight to dry, after which they are crushed to create a power. Historically, the leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds and root are all used to made medicine, says Tehzeeb Lalani, a nutritionist with Scale Beyond Scale, based in Mumbai, India.

The story of Kuli Kuli helps exemplify the tree’s potential. While she was a volunteer in Niger for the Peace Corps, Lisa Curtis was feeling sluggish from her vegetarian diet, and so locals suggested she try moringa leaves. They offered them to her in a local snack mixed with peanuts called kuli kuli. She felt “a lot more energized. I believe I was particularly lacking in iron and protein,” she says. After Curtis returned, she and three other folks launched Kuli Kuli in 2013 and since then, the company has been sourcing moringa from small, women-led farms in Africa, the Caribbean and South America, helping these women earn a sustainable wage by selling some of the harvest to her company.

Her company’s products, which consist of bars, powders, teas and green energy shots (all highly palatable, by the way), are available in 3,000 stores nationwide. Her company advertises that one scoop of moringa powder is the nutritional equivalent of two cups of leafy greens, prompting many news outlets to claim that moringa is more nutritious than kale.

Like other powders, moringa is most often used as an add-on to smoothies and shakes, but you can also add to juice, salad dressing or make a tea out of it. Start with a teaspoon. The folks at Nuts.com, which has been directly importing moringa since 2012, advise against cooking it—the heat can reduce the nutritional power. You can, however, add moringa powder to any other recipe or hot food after it’s finished cooking.

Lalani reports that her clients in India have easy access to it moringa—it’s part of their diet. “Moringa is a common vegetable consumed with potatoes, peas and a tomato-based curry.” As for the rest of the plant? “The immature green pods (drumsticks) are prepared similarly to green beans, while the seeds are removed from more mature pods and cooked like peas or roasted like nuts,” she says

Julia Gometz of Venus NY Body Shaping in New York City includes moringa in the welcome package for all new clients. “It has many benefits including hunger suppressant and anti-inflammatory,” she says. They implement moringa in a variety of ways—tea, capsule, powder, drink mixes—and keep at it until they find the right combination, she says. “We did our own research which included speaking to several weight loss centers and it was clear from experience. And now we have experienced it firsthand. It may have been one of the effects that emerged from consistent use of moringa in people who were dieting,” she says.

Sensory experience: The leaf powder has been described as rich and nutty, but it smells decidedly grassy, similar to green tea, with a bit of a radish, or peppery bite—accounting for its nickname the horseradish tree.

Nutrition and other benefits: Moringa is loaded with antioxidants, in particular vitamins A and C, and a wide range of B vitamins. It’s an immune system booster, an inflammation fighter, and it also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties. It’s also considered a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids. Curtis was drawn to it for all of these reasons, and because of its iron and calcium stores, too.

A 2006 study conducted by researchers at Tokyo University concluded that moringa powder helped to lower blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. Elizabeth Trattner, an acupuncturist and doctor of Oriental Medicine in Miami Beach, Florida, says that moringa is often used to increase breast milk. “However, it does take time. One study has demonstrated that moringa is equivalent to medications that boost lactation.” She cautions that you should make sure the supplement contains no elements of seeds because of their toxicity, and that the “active plant compound and country of origin is listed.”

Christopher Calapai, D.O., an osteopath based in New York who specializes in nutritional guidance and anti-aging medicine, concurs with the assertion that many of its benefits include “more energy, better sleep, improved mood, stable blood sugar and blood pressure, better digestion, pain relief due to decreased inflammation, more milk production for nursing mothers, and weight loss. However, there’s another benefit. He notes that moringa seed oil has been used for its ability to regenerate skin cells. “Many of the major skin companies now have moringa seed oil in their high-quality skin products like anti-aging cream. It is used for all types of skin issues and conditions, such as dry skin, cuts, burns, scars, wind burn, chicken pocks, shingles, psoriasis, eczema, scar tissue, diaper rash, athlete’s foot, gum disease, vaginal dryness, all kinds of rash, even to clear eyes from burning,” he says.

Trivia: Curtis says that it’s not uncommon for the seed cake, the residue that’s left after the oil is extracted, can be used for water purification. She says she’d put it in her water bottle. “It doesn’t remove all the bacteria, but most of it,” she says.


Which Zones to Grow Moringa Oleifera In

By Joanne Marie

If you're looking for an unusual tropical tree that blooms nonstop, don't overlook the horseradish tree (Moringa oleifera). Native to parts of India, the tree has roots with a horseradish flavor and attractive, fragrant flowers. Used as a health aid in traditional medicine, its leaves are also tasty in salads and vegetable dishes. The tree is tropical, however, and needs a warm climate to do well.

Cold Tolerance

The horseradish tree grows in tropical areas of Asia and is best suited to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and 10. Since minimum winter temperatures in zone 9 can be as low 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, occasional, short-lived frost might develop in this region. The tree can withstand a brief period of sub-freezing temperature, but benefits from planting in a site that is relatively warm and protected, such as near the south- or west-facing wall of a building. You could also plant the horseradish tree near the top of a sloping area, where cold winter air can drain away to the lower portion of the slope.

Heat

The horseradish tree flowers best when planted in full sun. However, although it's a tropical native, the tree could be damaged by excessive heat, especially in full sun that might scorch its leaves. In areas subject to high heat during the summer months, locate this tree in a spot that receives shade during the hottest afternoon hours. Under these conditions, horseradish trees can withstand temperatures as high as about 120 degrees Fahrenheit without significant damage. Keeping a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch on a tree can also help protect it from excessive heat by keeping its roots cool.

Other Conditions

The horseradish tree is tolerant of many types of soil, but prefers a sandy loam that is slightly acidic, with a pH of 6.3 to 7. The tree needs an average amount of water and has a long taproot that can access deep water in the soil, making it quite tolerant of dry spells. However, this tree does not do well in constantly wet or soggy conditions, which can cause root rot. If you live in a wet area or one that receives abundant rain, planting a horseradish tree on a hillside can help encourage runoff of rain and prevent excess wetness around the tree's roots.

Fertilizing and Problems

Horseradish trees usually reach a height of about 35 feet at maturity. They need little fertilizer once established, although adding compost to the soil at planting can help add nutrients to the soil and get a tree off to a good start. You might also feed a young tree once or twice during its first two years, working a balanced formula such as 10-10-10 into the soil under the tree's canopy. The tree is generally resistant to most pests and diseases, although scale or caterpillars may become a problem. Scale can be controlled by applying dormant oil, while caterpillars can be hand picked or controlled with insecticidal sprays as needed.


The Moringa Species

By Audrey Lynn

Although 13 species of Moringa exist in tropical and subtropical habitats around the globe, Moringa oleifera has proven to be the most valuable cultivated member of the Moringaceae family. Also known as horseradish tree for the taste of its roots, Moringa oleifera seeds and plants are commercially available in California, Hawaii and Florida. The plant is easy to grow and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11.

Description

Moringa oleifera is a small tree with broad, spreading branches and fragrant, cream-colored or white flowers that bloom on long, drooping panicles. The umbrella-shaped canopy is open and sometimes appears sparse, making the tree less useful for shade. Moringa has a straight trunk with cork-like bark. The seeds start out light green, maturing to dark green pods with hard shells and a trio of papery "wings." Depending on the species and climate, Moringa trees may be evergreen or semi-deciduous.

Cultivation

Plant Moringa trees 8 to 10 feet apart in a part of the yard that receives full sun. To make a hedgerow of Moringa trees, you can plant them as close as 6 inches apart. Moringa trees require soil acidity of between 6.1 and 7.5. Moringa trees grow easily from cuttings or from seeds. Rooted cuttings often bloom within a few months, and may set fruit the first year. Plant mature seeds any time of year. Keep the planting bed moist but not wet until the seedlings or cuttings are old enough to become well established in the garden. Moringa adapts easily to life in a container and can be pruned to control height and shape.

Uses

Almost all parts of the tree are edible, from the roots, which taste like horseradish, to the leaves, flowers, buds and tender shoots. Moringa leaves supply Vitamins C and A, potassium, protein and calcium and are often cooked as a vegetable or steeped for tea. Scientists are still studying the leaves' value as both a traditional and modern medicine. Moringa leaves make good feed for cattle and other livestock. Ground pods are used in curries and oil extracted from the seeds can be used for cooking or in perfumes and soaps.

Problems

Overwatering Moringa trees can lead to root rots. The tree may be subject to fruitfly and aphid infestations. Cercospora leafspot and rust diseases cause leaf mottling. Moringas have deep tap roots so water thoroughly using drip irrigation, if available, when the surface of the soil is dry. Infrequent, deep watering is better than frequent, shallow watering. Other Moringa Species

Of the 13 known species of Moringa, few are cultivated outside their native habitats. Moringa arborea, M. borziana, M. longituba, M. pygmaea, M. rivae and M. ruspoliana are endemic to certain areas of Africa, and exist nowhere else in the world. M. drouhardii and M. hildebrandtii are native to Madagascar. These two, along with M. ovalifolia and M. stenopetala, both native to parts of Africa, are called "bottle trees." Their lower trunks swell to impressive size to hoard water in their arid native lands.


What Are the Benefits of Moringa?

By Tracey Roizman (DC)

Moringa oleifera, a fast-growing and highly useful tree native to India and grown in tropical climates throughout the world, produces edible leaves -- similar to spinach -- that may be eaten as a vegetable. Moringa seeds are also edible and used like peanuts, and the roots can stand in for horseradish. A variety of health benefits are attributed to moringa, some of which have been proven through scientific studies.

Heart Health

A laboratory animal study published in the February 2009 issue of the "Journal of Medicinal Food" found that moringa leaf prevented heart damage and provided antioxidant benefits. In the study, doses of 200 milligrams per kilogram body weight daily for 30 days resulted in lower levels of oxidized lipids and protected heart tissue from structural damage. Researchers concluded that moringa may offer significant benefits for heart health. More studies are needed to determine whether these benefits extend to humans.

Anticancer

Anticancer benefits of moringa leaf extract were demonstrated in a tissue culture study of human cervical cancer cells published in the June 2011 issue of the journal "Food and Chemical Toxicology." Moringa extract promoted early cell death and prevented growth and reproduction of the cancer cells, leading researchers to conclude that moringa leaf shows potential as a natural cancer preventive. A study on laboratory animals published in the 2011 issue of the "Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention" found that diets supplemented with moringa seed pod extract for three weeks inhibited colon cancer.

Antidiabetic

Antidiabetic properties of moringa come from its high levels of zinc, a mineral required for production of insulin, according to the University of Wiconsin LaCrosse. Traditional healers in South Africa rely on moringa as one of about two dozen plants for the treatment of diabetes, report researchers of a study published in the May 2012 issue of the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology." The researchers concluded that the healers showed an accurate working knowledge of the causes of diabetes and basic approach required to treat the disease. In a laboratory animal study published in the June 2012 issue of the "Journal of Diabetes," doses of 150 milligrams per kilogram body weight of moringa for 21 days exerted significant antidiabetic benefits.

Arthritis Relief

Moringa may help reduce inflammation and pain of some forms of arthritis, according to a study that appeared in the February 2011 issue of the "Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine." In the laboratory animal study, moringa root and leaf extracts reduced sensitivity to painful stimuli and improved function in arthritic joints. Researchers also noted that a combination of root and leaf extracts had a "synergistic effect" at reducing pain.


Fight diabetes and high cholesterol with drumstick leaves

By Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti

If you are diabetic or are at risk of heart disease, include drumstick leaves in your diet without fail!

Drumstick leaves render a unique taste and flavour to curries and dals/sambhars, and it is the reason why these dark green leafy vegetables are an integral part of South Indian cuisine. But what’s interesting is the fact that just like a drumstick, these leaves are also packed with antioxidants and other essential nutrients which help you keep your blood sugar and cholesterol under control.

How does it help?

According to a study published in the Journal European review for medical and pharmacological sciences, leaf extract of moringa oleifera (drumstick leaves), have a significant effect on the inhibition of enzymes, alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic alpha-amylase, which increase when a person suffers from diabetes. In addition to the anti-hyperglycemia activity, these leaves improve glucose tolerance and hence, play a key role in controlling the rapid surges in your blood glucose level. Also, there was a significant reduction in the nitric acid and serum glucose and an increase in the serum insulin and protein levels, further improving your blood glucose control.

Moreover, drumstick leaves not only inhibit cholesterol micellisation (aggregation) but also the activity of enzymes, which help in the synthesis of cholesterol. These leaves also reduce the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels and also prevent absorption of cholesterol in intestine, thereby maintaining cholesterol levels within control. Also, the presence of phytochemicals and antioxidants lower your risk of atherosclerosis, hypertension and other diseases caused due to excess blood glucose and cholesterol level in the body.

How to use drumstick leaves

You can add drumstick leaves to dals and curries along with other vegetables. Even adding these leaves to wheat flours to make parathas is not a bad idea. Here’s a diet plan diabetics can use for better blood sugar control.


Drumstick flowers — natural route to a healthy sex life

By Pavitra Sampath

Here is an easy tip to help spice up your sex life and beat infertility.

The drumstick plant is extremely healthy and has a number of health benefits. But it is not only its leaves that are useful. The plant’s flowers serve as a perfect tonic for the reproductive system and helps beat a number of related ailments like oligospermia (less sperms), infertility, and erectile dysfunction.

How does drumstick help?

This property of drumstick is mainly due to a compound called terigospermin that helps strengthen and increase the number (sperm count) and motility of sperm. Also, a study published in the American Journal Of Neuroscience [1] found the the plant worked by inhibiting the production of a particular compound and helped improve libido and performance. Also known as ‘Indian Viagra’, drumstick flowers are extremely effective when it comes to resolving common problems like erectile dysfunction and infertility.

How to use drumstick flowers?

All you need is some drumstick flowers, milk, cardamom and sugar. Boil one glass of milk and add one fist full of drumstick flowers to this milk. Allow it to cook in the milk as you stir it continuously. As it is cooking add some freshly crushed cardamom to it. Once it is boiled add the sugar (to taste), mix it well and allow it to boil. Once it becomes thick, remove it from the gas and drink everyday. If you are on a diet, add some jaggery to the mix instead of sugar.


‘Malunggay’ capsules address diabetes; now how to tell if they’re the right ones

By Anne A. Jambora (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Study confirms that this local wonder plant can lower blood sugar levels and risks of stroke and heart attack

A recent study has confirmed that diabetic patients may benefit from regular intake of capsules containing Moringa oleifera (malunggay) leaves. The study says that malunggay not only reduces blood sugar levels, but also lowers the risks of stroke and heart attack.

High blood sugar reading is just the tip of the “metabolic syndrome” iceberg associated with diabetes.

Less attention has been given to the diabetic’s chronic inflammatory state. That’s why even with controlled sugar, many diabetic patients suffer the high risks of stroke and heart attack. Almost every modern disease is caused or affected by inflammation. It is the normal response of the immune system to infection and trauma. In diabetic patients, this defense system becomes impaired and, if left untreated, can compromise the integrity of the blood vessels, dramatically increasing the risks of stroke and heart attack.

12-week study

In the first cohort study of M. oleifera on humans performed by Dr. Rainier Nery Mozo, with Dr. Imelda Caole-Ang as adviser, the leaves of this wispy tree were studied specifically for their properties affecting the hs-CRP (high specific C-reactive protein), a strong predictor of cardiovascular risks and death produced by the liver when there is inflammation, and hemoglobin A1c, the standard test that determines the past three months’ blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

The 12-week study, conducted November last year and peer-reviewed by the Philippine Internal Medicine Journal, supervised 52 selected subjects, all diagnosed with diabetes mellitus Type I or II. Patients with existing conditions related to inflammation other than diabetes were excluded.

“According to our study, even with controlled blood sugar levels, our patients still showed inflammation above the normal level. This increases their risk of getting a stroke or heart attack. They rely only on hemoglobin A1c tests. They haven’t had their hs-CRP checked,” Mozo told Inquirer Lifestyle.

The study, titled “The Effects of Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) leaves capsule supplements on High Specificity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) and Hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) Levels of Diabetic Patients,” does not just introduce malunggay capsule as supplement, but also suggests the need for hs-CRP to become a standard test.

Among diabetes’ deadly comorbidities are hypertension, dysregulation or build-up of cholesterol, and impairment in fibrinolysis that leads to blood thickening.

The study was funded in part by the Philippine College of Physicians-Manila Chapter and Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsule, which provided the supplements. Mozo also spent his own money on the study.

For three weeks, all 52 patients took the supplements three times a day alongside their maintenance medicine.

Dubbed “the wonder gulay,” malunggay leaves have been characterized by Trees for Life, the charity that works to restore the forest, to “contain more vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more vitamin C than oranges and more potassium than bananas.” It also noted that the quality of its protein rivals that of milk and egg.

“Why leaves? According to a phytochemical screening, the leaves have the most active ingredients compared to any other part of the plant such as the bark or root. The leaf extract as medicinal component appears to have the most level of all bioactives of interest,” Mozo said.

According to the American Heart Association, hs-CRP of less than 1 milligram per liter poses a low risk for stroke and heart attack. Moderate risk is involved for readings of 1-3, and high risk for 3-10.

Dropped

While all patients, on their first day, already showed controlled blood sugar, averaging a hemoglobin A1c count at 6.96 (a diabetic patient must aim for 7, Mozo said, while the norm for a nondiabetic is 6.5), they also showed a high risk of stroke and heart attack. Their hs-CRP averaged at 3.38.

After 12 weeks, the average hemoglobin A1c dropped to 6.06, and the hs-CRP down to 1.69 or moderate risk.

“The .6-percent drop in hemoglobin A1c might look insignificant to the layman, but for a doctor, a 1-percent drop reduces the risk of microvascular complications such as stroke, eye blindness and heart attack by 40 percent, and death by 21 percent,” Mozo said.

Patients can, of course, opt for another brand, he noted.

What’s important is for the capsule to contain the same quality of leaves. This means they should be processed in a way approved by the Department of Science and Technology (dry-air processed), and containing the same dosage (500 mg), he said. Check that the leaves inside the capsule are still green.

“Processing of leaves keeps most of the nutrients intact. It’s easy to say it contains 500 mg of leaves, but you wouldn’t know if there are still nutrients left in there. DOST made a protocol for how to process malunggay leaves. They should still be green, not brown,” he said.

A 500-mg capsule contains an equivalent of two-and-a-half cups of malunggay leaves. Consumption of the supplement is relatively safe and has no known side effects. But since it contains a high amount of potassium, Mozo advises that patients with kidney problems must consult with their physicians first.

“This is just the beginning. What we should do next is conduct a randomized control study with bigger population size to further demonstrate the effect of malunggay capsules on hs-CRP and hemoglobin A1c,” Mozo said.

Mozo will present his study in Hong Kong this September. He has also been invited to present it in Austria, Japan and Korea, but may have to forego those due to budget constraints.


Moringa’s Health Benefits In Lowering Inflammation

By Amy R. Beaudreault, PhD

Moringa is known throughout the world as a miracle tree. But, what exactly is moringa and why is research buzzing about the possible health benefits of this hearty plant?

Moringa is a tree that is an important crop native to India and currently grown throughout the world in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa. The entire tree is edible, from its roots, flowers, leaves, seeds, gum, fruits and bark. Generally, moringa is consumed by cooking the leaves or immature fruits and more recently as a dried leaf powder used as tea or sprinkled into food.

Although 13 species exist in the moringa family, the most common is the drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera). The tree grows rapidly, is drought-tolerant and thrives in poor sandy soils. Moringa can be grown in almost any semiarid, tropical and subtropical areas, as long as temperatures remain above 40°F.

From a nutritional lens, moringa leaves are 27 percent protein (containing all essential amino acids) and have seven times the amount of vitamin C compared to oranges, four times the vitamin A of carrots, and four times the calcium of milk by dry weight. Moringa packs more nutrition than spinach and is used to treat a plethora of conditions, such as malnutrition, acute and chronic inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal and hepatorenal disorders and compromised immunity.

Moringa’s proposed anti-inflammatory properties being studied are important because of the growing overweight and obese global population. Malnutrition (both under- and overnutrition) is a major risk factor for noncommunicable chronic diseases, which include four core groups: diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, all of which are closely linked with low-grade chronic inflammation. According to the 2016 Global Nutrition Report, nearly 2 billion of the 5 billion adults worldwide are overweight or obese and one in 12 has type 2 diabetes.

Carrie Waterman, PhD, a National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Career Development Grant recipient at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), has studied the possible anti-inflammatory effects of moringa for the past five years, beginning at Rutgers University with Ilya Raskin, PhD. Her research took her to West Africa, the International Moringa Germplasm Collection in Mexico and Kenya to study the tree in collaboration with the World Agroforestry Centre and its African Orphan Crop Consortium, Kenya Medical Research Institute and the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology.

In a three-month study, mice were fed a very high fat diet supplemented with 5 percent moringa concentrate, which delivers 66/mg/kg/d of moringa isothiocyanates (the sulfur containing compounds). Results showed the moringa-fed mice had a reduction in weight gain, hepatic obesity, gluconeogenesis, insulin, cholesterol and inflammatory markers. An increase in insulin-signaling sensitivity and lipolysis (the breakdown of fats) also occurred. These results provide evidence that moringa intake may reduce weight in obese individuals and be a useful tool in managing risk factors for metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase the likelihood of developing heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Their previous research demonstrated that moringa possesses anti-inflammatory properties and direct and indirect antioxidant activity, because of the presence of isothiocyanates, comparable to those found in broccoli, and polyphenols, like those found in berries and other fruits. Additionally, moringa will be tested in the UC Davis type-2 diabetes rat model—one that closely mimics the diabetes in humans—to determine whether intake reduces chronic inflammation and ultimately delays the onset of type 2 diabetes. Waterman hopes results from these studies will fuel interest and funding for future human clinical trials.

Waterman returns to Kenya this month to research the development of a cost-effective moringa supplement concentrated with nutrients and phytoactives. To create a supplement, researchers will test different drying and extraction methods, including techniques and tools for crushing and the use of chimney solar dryers.

Despite more research is necessary to validate the anti-inflammatory effects of moringa on humans, the outlook is promising. Waterman and Raskin, co-inventors on the patented processing of moringa to harness isothiocyanates, are working closely with Estée Lauder to develop anti-inflammatory skincare products. The expectation is that profits gained from such products will help fund future research on moringa’s health and agricultural uses in the developing world.


More plants for cancer treatment validated

By Chukwuma Muanya (Assistant Editor)

The search for more plants that could be used to treat cancers has intensified and is yielding positive results.A study published in International Research Journal of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics has validated anti-cancer properties of some plants used in traditional medicine in Nigeria.

The plants, according to the researchers led by Taye T. Alawode from the Department of Chemical Sciences, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, include:Allium ascalonicum (Shallot, Spring Onion)

Mohammadi-Motlagh H. et. al (2011) evaluated the effects of the aqueous extract of A. ascalonicum on viability of the three cancer cell lines including K562, Wehi164 and Jurkat, and normal cell line (HUVEC) using Trypan blue and LDH assays evaluation.

On the basis of obtained results, after 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation, the extract significantly reduced the viability of three cell lines at different concentrations compared with the control group, and these effects were stronger as time increased. The cytotoxic effects of A. ascalonicum for Wehi164 cell line were considerably lower than those on K562 and Jurkat cell lines. Treatment of HUVECs as normal cell lines with the aqueous extract of the A. ascalonicum bulbs up to 1000 μg/ml or even higher concentrations for 72 hours showed no considerable cytotoxic effect on the HUVECs.

At 1000 μg/ml, there was no significant difference in viability between the test and control wells. The Coulter counter determined the antiproliferative activity of the A. ascalonicum extract on the cancer cell lines. After treatment with 25-200 μg/ml and higher concentrations of the extract for 72 hours, the proliferation ratio of K562 and Jurkat cell lines decreased gradually as compared with controls.

However, the extract could not inhibit the proliferation of Wehi164 cell line significantly at similar concentrations, unless they are higher than 400 μg/ml. These results showed that A. ascalonicum inhibited the proliferation of all cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. K562 and Jurkat cells showed the highest susceptibility (GI50: 100μg/ml), and Wehi164 cells displayed the lowest susceptibility to A. ascalonicum with GI50 at 400μg/ml.

Allium cepa (Onion)

Ethanol (95 per cent) extract of onion, administered to cats and rats at dose of 50mg/kg, produced weak activity on Sarcoma III (MKT). Essential oil applied externally on female mice at a dose of 1mg/animal has been reported to be effective against carcinoma induced by twice weekly 12-O tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate promotion for two weeks, followed by mezerein promotion for 18 weeks (Fulda, 2008 cited in Nath, 2010). The dose, when given with a second promoter, produced a 32 per cent decrease in incidence of papiloma in 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene(DMBA)-induced carcinogenesis. Hot water extract of fresh bulb applied externally on mice was active against DMBA-induced carcinogenesis.

Epidemiological data both support and refute, the concept that higher intake of onions is positively related to lower risk for carcinoma. It has been noted that persons in the highest consumption category versus the lowest has a 50 per cent reduced risk of cancers of the stomach, alimentary and respiratory tracts. Onion is one of the richest sources of organosulphur compounds. Organosulphur compounds such as diallyldisulphide, S-allylcysteine and S-methylcysteine have been shown to inhibit colon and renal carcinogenesis.

Also, Nigerian researchers led by a professor of pharmacognosy at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Chief Executive Officer of Bioresources Development Group (BDG), and former Chairman of the Independent Election Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, have validated local foods such as bitter kola (Garcinia kola), coconut oil, Zobo (Hibiscus sabdariffa), bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), Moringa oleifera, tomato, Sour sop, African bush mango (Ogbono), among others as medicines.

Iwu told journalists that his team has developed dietary supplements based on these local foods for managing chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), among others. Iwu told journalists in Lagos last week that his team at BDG has formulated local food items into scientifically validated medicines, dietary supplements.

BDG is comprised of Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme, Bioresources Institute of Nigeria, Intercedd Health Products (IHP), Intercedd Laboratories (IL), BioTrade Global Agency and Nature’s Emporium.

The foods that can be used as medicines or rather dietary supplements include among others: Moringa Tea, Moringa Leaf Tea, Moringa Whole Seed, which have been shown by research to cure over 300 diseases; Bissap Tea from Zobo (Hibiscus sabdariffa) for hypertension; Vernonia Ocimum Tea from bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) for control of blood sugar and weight management; Garcinia-IHP from bitter kola (Garcinia kola) and used as antimicrobial and detoxifier; IHP Virgin Coconut Oil from coconut as stress buster and immune system booster; Erovit-IHP, which combines the anti-ageing properties of the mushroom, Cordyceps, the high-potency antioxidant effects of Punica granatum fruits and the life enhancing Korean ginseng; and Immunovit-IHP from Reishi mushroom, Punica granatum and Korean ginseng to boost immunity against diseases.

Iwu said the products have been validated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); the Nigerian Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja; the Nigerian Export Promotion Council; the Raw Material Council; and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Lagos, for prevention and management chronic diseases.

Allium sativum (Garlic)

The bulb is used in ethnomedicine to treat fever, coughs, asthma, dilated bronchi, and flatulence, as an anthelmintic, antibiotic, diuretic, antimicrobials, blood tonic, and emmenagogue. When garlic oil was topically applied during the initiation phase of benzo (a) pyrene (BP) induced carcinogenesis in mice, a decline was noted in the incidence and multiplicity of tumours. Oral administration of fresh water extract of garlic was shown to result in reduction of chemically induced cervical carcinomas in mice. Garlic treatment inhibited development of murine transitional cell carcinomas significantly. Sengupta et. al (2002) observed that fresh garlic juice administered orally can prevent development of azoxymethane (AOM) induced aberrant crypt foci and adenocarcinoma in rat colon.

Epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggest that allium vegetables and garlic constituents have antitumor effects. Garlic contains several potentially important agents that possess antitumor and anticarcinogenic properties. Several compounds are involved in garlics possible anticancer effects. Garlic contains allyl sulphur and other compounds that slow or prevent the growth of tumor cells. Many have investigated the efficacy of various garlic-derived compounds in inhibiting experimental carcinogenesis. It was demonstrated that diallylsulfide (DAS), diallyltrisulphide (DAT), allylmethyldisulphide (AMD) and allylmethyltrisulphide (AMT) inhibit gastric malignancy induced by BP in mice.

Fukushima et al. (1997) analysed the potential of several organosulphur compounds present in garlic and onion and observed inhibitory effect of DAS on renal and colon carcinogenesis in rat induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN).

Bryophyllum pinnata (Resurrection plant, Life plant, Never-die plant) Mahata et al. in 2012 characterized chloroform fractions of B. pinnata for phytochemical compounds by TLC, HPTLC and NMR and biological activity of the fractions were examined based by MTT-based cell viability assay, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay, Northern blotting and assay of apoptosis related proteins by immune-blotting in human cervical cancer cells.

The results showed presence of growth inhibitory activity in the crude leaf extracts with IC50 at 552μg/ml, which resolved to fraction F4 (Petroleum Ether: Ethylacetate 50:50) and showed IC50 at 91μg/ml. Investigations of anti-viral activity of the extract and its fraction revealed a specific anti-HPV activity on cervical cancer cells as evidenced by down-regulation of constitutively active AP1 specific DNA binding activity and suppression of oncogenic c-Fos and c-Jun expression, which was accompanied by inhibition of HPV18 transcription. In addition to inhibiting growth, fraction F4 strongly induced apoptosis as evidenced by an increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, suppression of the anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2, and activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP-1.

Phytochemical analysis of fraction F4 by HPTLC and NMR indicated presence of activity that resembled Bryophyllin A. The study demonstrates presence of anticancer and anti-HPV activity in B. pinnata leaves that can be further exploited as potential anticancer, anti-HPV therapeutic for treatment of HPV infection and cervical cancer.

Vernonia amygdalina (Bitter leaf)

Yedjou et. Al (2008) assessed the therapeutic efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaf extracts as anti-cancer agent against human breast cancer in vitro using the MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assays, respectively. In this experiment, human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells were treated with different doses of VA leaf extracts for 48 hours.

Data obtained from the MTT assay showed that VA significantly ((P < 0.05) reduced the viability of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner upon 48 hours of exposure. Data generated from the comet assay also indicated a slight dose-dependent increase in DNA damage in MCF-7 cells associated with VA treatment. A slight increase in comet tail-length, tail arm and tail moment, as well as in percentages of DNA cleavage at all doses tested, showed an evidence that VA-induced minimal genotoxic damage in MCF-7 cells. Taken together, this suggests that VA treatment moderately (P < 0.05) reduces cellular viability and induces minimal DNA damage in MCF-7 cells. These findings provide evidence that VA extracts represent a DNA-damaging anti-cancer agent against breast cancer and its mechanisms of action functions, at least in part, through minimal DNA damage and moderate toxicity in tumors cells.

Annona muricata (Soursop)

Hamizah et. Al (2012) evaluated the chemopreventive effects of ethanolic extracts of leaves of A. muricata (AMLE) in six to seven week old ICR mouse given a single topical application of 7,1 2-dimethylbenza (α) anthracene (DMBA 100μg/100μl acetone) and promotion by repeated application of croton oil (1 per cent in acetone/twice a week) for 10 weeks.

Morphological tumor incidence burden and volume were measured, with histological evaluation of skin tissue. Topical application of AMLE at 30, 100 and 300mg/kg significantly reduced DMBA/croton oil induced mice skin papilloma genesis in (i) peri-initiation protocol (AMLE from seven days prior to days after DMBA), (ii) promotion protocol (AMLE 30 minutes after croton oil), or (iii) both peri-initiation and promotion protocol (AMLE seven days prior to seven day after DMBA and AMLE 30 minutes after croton oil throughout the experimental period), in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05) as compared to carcinogen–treated control. Furthermore, the average latent period was significantly increased in the AMLE-treated group.

Interestingly, at 100 and 300-mg/ kg, AMLE completely inhibited the tumor development in all stages.

Histopathological study revealed that tumor growth from the AMLE-treated groups showed only slight hyperplasia and absence of keratin pearls and rete ridges. The results, thus suggest that the

A. muricata leaves extract was able to suppress tumor initiation as well as tumor promotion even at lower dosage. Rachmani et. al (2012) determined the cytotoxic effects of extracts of leaves of A. muricata and its fractions in cancer cells T47D.

Extraction was carried out with ethanol and fractionation by column chromatography method, n-hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and methanol were used. Cytotoxicity was determined using MTT assay and apoptosis tests were performed by Double Staining method.

The results showed that ethanol extracts has an IC50 value of 17.149μg/mL. Fraction F3 has the best cytotoxic activity with IC50 value of 30.112μg/mL. Apoptosis assay results showed that the fraction F3 was able to induce apoptosis of cells.

Kigelia Africana (Sausage tree)

The root bark is recommended for the treatment of cancer of the uterus. The extract has been tested against melanoma cells (a tumour of pigmented skin cells, which can develop into malignant melanoma-the potentially fatal form of skin cancer). The extract inhibited the growth of cultured melanoma cells to a significant degree. The extract of stem bark and fruit are reported for their cytotoxic activities and showed promising results in treating melanoma and renal carcinoma.

Mangifera indica (Mango tree)

Noratto et al. (2010) compared the anticancer properties of polyphenolic extracts from several mango varieties (Francis, Kent, Ataulfo, Tommy Atkins and Hadin) in cancer lines, including Molt-4 leukemia, A-549 lung, MDA-MB-231 breast, LnCap prostate, and SW-480 colon cancer cells and non-cancer colon cell line CCD-18Co.

The efficacy of extracts from all mango varieties in the inhibition of cell growth was tested in SW-480 colon carcinoma cells, where Ataulfo and Haden demonstrated superior efficacy, followed by Kent, Francis, and Tommy Atkins. At 5 mg of GAE/L, Ataulfo inhibited the growth of colon SW-480 cancer cells by approximately 72 per cent.

while the growth of noncancerous colonic myofibroblast CCD-18Co cells was not inhibited. The growth inhibition exerted by Ataulfo and Haden polyphenols in SW-480 was associated with an increased mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic biomarkers and cell cycle regulators, cell cycle arrest, and a decrease in the generation of reactive oxygen species. Overall, polyphenols from several mango varieties exerted anticancer effects, where compounds from Haden and Ataulfo mango varieties possessed superior chemo preventive activity.

Percival S. et al. screened whole mango juice and juice extracts for antioxidant and anticancer activity. They measured anticancer activity by examining the effect on cell cycle kinetics and the ability to inhibit chemically induced neoplastic transformation of mammalian cell lines. Incubation of HL-60 cells with whole mango juice and mango juice fractions resulted in an inhibition of the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. A fraction of the eluted mango juice with low proxy radical scavenging ability was most effective in arresting cells in the G0/G1 phase.

Whole mango juice was effective in reducing the number of transformed foci in the neoplastic transformation assay in a dose-dependent manner. The chemo preventive effects of mangiferin for both the initiation and post-initiation phases of azoxymethane (AOM; alkylant, 15 mg/kg body weight, s.c. once a week for three weeks) – induced colon carcinogenesis were examined in rats by Yoshimi et al. (2001).

In a short-term assay (five weeks, development of AOM-induced preneoplastic lesions), mangiferin (0.1 per cent in the basal diet for five weeks) significantly inhibited the aberrant crypt foci development in AOM-treated rats (~40 per cent less).In a long-term assay (40 weeks), the group treated with mangiferin during the AOM initiation phase had significantly lower and multiplicity of intestinal neoplasms (greater than 40 per cent reduction) with reduced colonic mucosa cell proliferation (65 to 85 per cent decrease).


The Incredible Moringa Tree

By Conan Milner (Epoch Times)

It’s difficult to discuss moringa without feeling like you’re bragging. Some call it the miracle tree, and the number of gifts it offers makes clear why.

Ounce for ounce, moringa leaf has twice as much protein and calcium as milk, and similarly impressive amounts of beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, iron and other beneficial nutrients. Moringa has also demonstrated some promise in treating or preventing hundreds of diseases.

There are several types of moringa that have been used for both food and medicine for at least 4,000 years. The variety that gets the most attention is moringa oleifera—a fast growing, draught tolerant tree native to India and Pakistan.

Today, this tree grows in some of the world’s most punishing climates, thriving in conditions that would kill off most other plant life. Some of its many names translate to, “the only thing that grows in the dry season,” and “never dies.”

Super Nutrition

The small, round leaves taste radishy with a spinach-like texture, and can be eaten fresh in a salad, or dried, powdered, and sprinkled on food like a condiment. Moringa has long pods that, when young, are eaten like fat green beans or okra. The seeds are eaten like peas or crushed into a nutritious oil. Even the flowers and roots are edible.

Only about a decade ago, moringa was virtually unknown to the world at large. Even many people living in the tropical and subtropical climates where it grows paid little attention to it. But researchers have been on a moringa kick lately, and it has prompted everyone else to take a closer look. The National Science Foundation and National Geographic Society are supporting moringa research, and it was recognized by the National Institutes of Health as the Botanical of the Year for 2007.

In the marketing language of the industrial world, Moringa is considered a superfood, but its potential is greater than the next health fad. International aid agencies have been promoting it as a strategy to combat malnutrition in impoverished countries.

Moringa offers high quality, locally sourced nourishment that’s easy to grow. It is used extensively by the Peace Corps, and poor nations in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean have all begun embracing it. Where meals largely consist of starch or grains, just a spoonful of added moringa powder can make a big nutritional difference.

Moringa’s high vitamin A content is probably its biggest selling point in this regard. An estimated 670,000 children a year die from vitamin A deficiency, and many believe that if poor communities grow and consume more moringa the death toll can be dramatically lowered.

Tree of Life

Ancient doctors of Ayurvedic medicine gave moringa credit for effectively treating hundreds of diseases. Over the past few years, modern research has been validating the folk remedy claims. The tree has shown promise treating diabetes, high blood pressure, constipation, cancer, anemia, ulcers, kidney problems, and liver inflammation.

It’s easy to see how such a nutritious tree could improve energy, boost immune system function, and stimulate breast milk production. All that vitamin A makes it good for skin diseases and heart problems. Other moringa nutrients are used to treat rickets in Senegal and Mali. Moringa is rich in antioxidants and is the best plant source of the amino acid tryptophan, which makes it good for anxiety and insomnia.

Moringa has other attributes—such as an ability to regulate thyroid hormones—that reveals a plant just as much medicine as food.

The tree’s strong anti-inflammatory action is traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers. Moringa oil (sometimes called Ben oil) has been shown to protect the liver from chronic inflammation.

The oil is unique in that, unlike most vegetable oils, moringa resists rancidity. This quality makes it a good preservative for foods that can spoil quickly. This sweet oil is used for both frying or in a salad dressing. It is also used topically to treat antifungal problems, arthritis, and is an excellent skin moisturizer.

If all that wasn’t enough, the moringa seeds can be used to purify water. Researchers have been able to demonstrate effective methods for the last 40 years.

How to Use

Even if you don’t live in the tropics, moringa is still easy to find. Much of the U.S. moringa supply comes from Hawaii, but some is imported from India.

If you can’t get access to the fresh leaf, don’t fret: the powder is a fine substitute. Add it to soups, smoothies or other foods that could use an extra boost of nutrition. Organic moringa powder is often less expensive than other green powders on the market.

Unlike the fresh leaves, moringa powder doesn’t taste very radishy, but it can have a pervasive green flavor that is not easy to hide. Start with a teaspoon and slowly build up to a tablespoon or more of moringa per day. If you still can’t stand the taste, moringa is also available in capsules.

The oil is also easy to find, but be warned, it can cost up to 15 times as much as olive oil per ounce. Cold pressed, organic oil is available over the internet or in health food stores. Quality can vary widely.


Tropical plant called moringa shows promise in health, anti-aging products

(PHYS.ORG)

Ilya Raskin is seeking cures and treatments for ailments afflicting hundreds of millions of people.

And he's trying to find them – along with anti-aging and other beneficial compounds – in myriad plants in 20 countries on four continents.

Raskin's laboratory at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences studies the health benefits of crops and medicinal plants. A major focus is on revealing the molecular effects of chemical compounds in plants, vegetables and fruits on chronic diseases, including inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and gut problems.

The lab, headquarters of the Global Institute for BioExploration, is also developing botanical therapeutics that promote health, wellness and beauty. The lab's research led to the creation of Nutrasorb LLC, a company that develops and markets enhanced botanical ingredients and crops.

Moringa oleifera, or moringa for short, is a small, fast-growing, tropical tree with edible leaves that have been used to fight diabetes for centuries and other edible parts used as nutritious food and in traditional medicine. Rutgers Today asked Raskin about his pioneering research on moringa, also known as the horseradish tree.

Rutgers Today: What is Moringa oleifera seed extract and where does it come from?

The extract comes from a tropical plant that is called moringa, which we have studied for at least four years in the lab. It's an edible plant that has an incredibly high content of many nutrients, vitamins and micronutrients, but it's also very high in protein. On top of that, it has some bioactive components that are beneficial to human health, and this is really where our interest is. Morigina is used as food throughout the world, particularly in tropical regions, and is nutritionally related to broccoli.

Rutgers Today: Where is moringa found?

The plant originates in Southeast Asia, but it's widely grown now in Africa. Some of it is grown in South America, and it's also grown in Cuba, so now it's all over the world just because of its nutritional properties and health and wellness benefits. But there isn't much of it in the United States since Florida is a bit too cold. The only state where it can grow with success is Hawaii, which is really the only tropical state we have.

Rutgers Today: What are the known or potential benefits of ingesting moringa or putting it on your skin?

Moringa may provide strong health benefits when it is eaten and we are actively working to develop moringa applications for functional foods, beverages and dietary supplements. When it comes to skin, moringa compounds have powerful anti-aging and inflammatory effects, and they work to protect skin cells from environmental stresses, such as UV radiation. Moringa is particularly useful for skin because our skin cells are always under assault from the environment. The compounds in moringa mobilize natural cell resources to fight those stresses.

Rutgers Today: Do you have plans to share your moringa research with the beauty industry?

We are excited to partner with Estée Lauder this year. They were particularly interested in our moringa as we have managed to maintain the activity of a special molecule within the extract to help deliver exceptional benefits to skin. I'm glad Rutgers and Estée Lauder are coming together because our work on this ingredient will lead to skincare products that will benefit consumers.

Rutgers Today: What are the next steps for moringa?

The next step is to develop an oral or dietary supplement, or possibly a food product, that will help fight diseases like diabetes and arthritis. When taken orally, we believe that moringa's powerful anti-inflammatory effect on our systems can prevent or help to cure some of the chronic diseases based on inflammation.


5 health benefits of drumstick leaves

By Poorva Chavan

Do you throw away drumstick leaves? Here's why you should include it in your diet.

Drumsticks are in season, and you probably are making the most of it. They have many health benefits such as strengthening your bones, boosts your immunity, boost libido and treat erectile dysfunction. But did you know drumstick leaves are equally healthy? Drumstick leaves have been a part of Indian cuisine for a long time. They taste excellent and are widely used to make soups, chutneys, poriyals, etc.

1. Control blood glucose levels– Drumstick leaves are known for their antihyperglycaemic effects, which makes it effective for controlling diabetes. Drumstick leaves are known to improve glucose tolerance and hence prevents your blood glucose level from fluctuating.

2. Control blood cholesterol levels–Drumstick leaves are also effective in reducing total cholesterol (TC) levels and Triglyceride (TG) levels. These leaves prevent absorption of cholesterol from the intestine and hence help in regulating cholesterol levels and protect you from diseases like atherosclerosis and hypertension.

3. Prevents constipation– Drumstick leaves are rich in fibre and helps in emptying the bowel, and hence improve bowel movements. Drumstick leaf powder, especially, is rich in fibre and can prevent constipation.

4. Rich in antioxidants– Drumstick leaves contain phytochemicals like flavonoids and quercetin, which helps in reducing oxidative stress and prevent diseases like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

5. Has anti-inflammatory properties– These leaves possess anti-inflammatory properties which modulate the immune system and prevent inflammation. This property is believed to be effective against diabetes and diseases like atherosclerosis.

6. Can relieve you from menstrual pain– Drumstick leaves help in regulating blood flow to the abdomen and reduce pain during menstruation and relieve you from menstrual cramps.


15 Best Benefits Of Moringa Seeds For Skin, Hair And Health

By Nilankeeta Roy Chowdhury

Moringa seeds are obtained from the pods of the moringa tree (Moringa Oleifera) or the drumstick tree. Fresh and raw moringa seeds are quite tender, but as soon as they get dried, they become hard and start resembling small beans. The grayish-white seeds with unique wing-like structures can be steamed, boiled or roasted for various purposes.

•15 Best Moringa Seeds Benefits

Here we will discuss the awesome health, skin and hair benefits of the wonderful moringa oleifera seeds.

Health Benefits

1. Like many other herbs, moringa seeds also offer great antioxidant benefits. They contain lots of vitamins A, C, B-complex and other free radical busters that save our body from severe oxidative damages. In other words, the antioxidant properties of the seeds can help us take care of our overall health.

2. Scientists have proved that the moringa seeds can reduce the amount of oxidized lipids in our body and take care of our cardiac health by safeguarding the heart tissues from constructional damages.

3. The anti-carcinogenic effects of moringa seeds are also quite well known. They can stop the growth and development of cancer cells by accelerating their death count. According to researchers, the intake of moringa seed powder for 3 consecutive weeks can successfully restrain colon cancer.

4. Moringa seeds contain plenty of zinc, which is essential for regulating the secretion of insulin hormone. As the production of insulin becomes normal, the levels of sugar also remain normal in our bloodstream. Hence, the extract of these seeds can be used as an effective anti-diabetic agent .

5. The anti-inflammatory properties of moringa seeds can curb down inflammation, reduce soreness and perk up the function of our physical joints in case of severe bone disorders like arthritis .

6. Being an excellent source of vitamin A, moringa seeds can strengthen our immune system, repair our mucus membrane and take optimal care of our eyes by keeping the vision intact.

7. Protein is one of the most essential nutrients that we need for proper functioning of our body. Moringa seeds are loaded with protein and hence, we can easily fulfil our daily requirement of amino acids by including the seeds in the powdered form in our diet.

8. Moringa seeds contain oleic acid, a monosaturated fatty acid that is highly beneficial for our health. Being a healthy source of fat, moringa seeds can easily replace the high saturated animal fats found in our food items. They work as ‘good cholesterol’ and keep our cholesterol levels down. Moreover, they prevent blood clots and keep severe cardiovascular diseases at bay.

9. The vitamin C content present in the moringa seeds makes them amazing immunity boosters. From eliminating harmful free radicals to developing protection against infectious agents, they can do everything successfully.

10. Not only vitamins, but these seeds are also rich in vital minerals such as zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, and so on. Each of these play a unique role in ensuring our complete wellness. Iron reduces the risk of anemia, calcium keeps our teeth and bones strong, while zinc facilitates the process of sperm production (spermatogenesis).

Skin Benefits

11. Vitamin A present in the moringa seeds is extremely helpful in maintaining the integrity of our skin. Being an effective antioxidant, it saves our skin cells from the harmful effects of the free radicals and keeps them healthy. Vitamin A also promotes the collagen formation and enhances the firmness of our skin, so that we can fight against premature aging (wrinkles, sagging, etc.).

12. The oil extracted from the moringa seeds can be used as natural moisturizer. It nourishes our skin and makes it healthy as well as glowing.

13. Moringa seeds are widely used to make skin care products. The oil extracted from them can help us make our face free from acne, pimples, blackheads, black spots, etc. Consequently, we get clearer and brighter skin.

Hair Benefits

14. The antioxidant properties of the moringa seeds benefit our hair too, as they can keep our internal system healthy and take care of the overall health of our tresses. The antioxidant vitamin C can improve the circulation of blood throughout our scalp, which stimulates our hair follicles and helps them absorb more nutrients. As a result, our hair becomes nourished and strong.

15. Vitamin A and zinc present in the moringa seeds are known to promote hair growth considerably. Vitamin A takes care of our scalp and hair tissues by nourishing, repairing and maintaining them in a proper way, while zinc boosts our immune system and keeps the sebaceous glands on our scalp unclogged. Thus, both of these nutrients can accelerate the growth of our hair effectively.


10 Healthy Reasons You Should Be Eating Moringa Leaves

By Amy R. Beaudreault, PhD

It’s scientific name is Moringa oleifera, but this plant that is native to North India is also called Moringa, ben oil tree, radish tree, or drumstrick tree. This is a plant that has thousands of years’ worth of praise due to the many health benefits that it provides. Through the years, scientists have really only investigated a portion of the reported health benefits provided by this miracle plant.

Here are just ten reasons you should add Moringa leaves to your diet:

1. Moringa is rich in antioxidants

Antioxidants are the compounds that are responsible for ridding the body of free radicals. When free radicals are present in high numbers, this can lead to such chronic diseases as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Moringa provides antioxidants like beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Chlorogenic acid, and Quercetin. One study found that just seven grams of Moringa leaf powder each day for 90 days can increase antioxidant levels in blood.

2. Moringa improves overall gut health

Ulcers, gastritis, and gastric cancer are all byproducts of H. pylori—a bacteria that can be fought with the anti-bacterial properties of Moringa.

3. Moringa is loaded with nutrients

Moringa leaves can be consumed in a variety of ways, like through capsules, powder, or whole and raw. One cup of chopped fresh leaves provide a plethora of vitamins and minerals. In just this amount of leaves, you are served with two grams of protein, 19 percent of the recommended amount of Vitamin B6, 12 percent of your Vitamin C, 11 percent of your Iron, eight percent of your Magnesium, nine percent of your Vitamin A, and 11 percent of your B2 (Riboflavin). Individuals in developing countries tend to suffer from a lack of vitamins and minerals, and Moringa steps in to provide these essential nutrients.

4. Moringa may reduce inflammation

The body’s natural response to an injury or infection is inflammation. This is an essential protective mechanism, but when it goes on for long periods of time, it can lead to major health issues like heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. Thanks to the isothiocyanates, Moringa seeds, pods, and leaves provide these anti-inflammatory effects. Consume Moringa in tea or powder form—there is no harm in the delivery method.

5. Moringa helps digestion

The high fiber content of Moringa works in a way that will basically clear out all of the extra stuff that is left over from a diet that is high in grease.

6. Moringa has the ability to lower blood sugar levels

High blood sugar levels is a gateway to not only diabetes, but other problems like heart disease, so prevention is key. Animal studies have shown that Moringa helps lower blood sugar levels. One study showed that 30 women reduced their blood sugar levels by 13.5 percent after consuming seven grams of powdered Moringa leaves each day for three months. This is all thanks to the compounds found in Moringa called isothiocyanates.

7. Moringa helps protect against arsenic toxicity

Many parts of the world deal with contamination of their food and water, rice particularly. Though symptoms of toxicity won’t be shown right away, long-term exposure will lead to health problems like cancer or heart disease. The leaves of Moringa have been shown to protect against arsenic toxicity in mice and rats, and it is believed to have the same effect on humans.

8. Moringa can lower your cholesterol

High cholesterol has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease. Moringa has been shown to reduce cholesterol in a way that is similar to almonds, oats, and flax seeds.

9. Moringa protects against tumors and cancer

Thanks in part to a compound called niazimicin, studies have shown that Moringa leaves possess properties that can prevent tumor and cancer activity in the body.

10. Moringa can purify water

A protein that is found in the Moringa plant has the ability to bind with impurities found in water, which causes them to congeal so that these clusterings may be separated from the water. Just the sheer knowledge of this will revolutionize access to water that is safe to drink. If it has the ability to do this, imagine what it can do for your body.


Move Over Kale! Why Moringa Is The New Superfood You Need To Know About

By George Driver

2015 has officially been the year of our kale obsession, but we've found something better. It's called Moringa, it's a total health game changer and the health benefits are endless. Here's everything you need to know about it...

Moringa who wha?

Moringa oleifera actually, but simply moringa to it's fans.

And it is….what exactly?

A tree native to India and the Himalayas but also now cultivated in South America and Africa, moringa has been an important food source for centuries. Seriously, in the Philippines they call it 'mother's best friend' and in Senegal it's the 'never die tree'. So yeah, safe to say, people are big fans.

Moringa benefits: What's so good about it?

It's pretty much the most nutritious plant we've ever come across. Just don't eat the bark, it's all about, well, every other part. The pods taste like runner beans, the leaves are sort of like spinach, Moringa seeds reminds us of peanuts and the roots are something like horseradish. A whole meal of moringa? Don't mind if we do!

Packing in over 90 different nutrients including protein, fibre, calcium, potassium, iron, vitamin C and vitamin A, it's the holy grail of health foods and you can eat almost all of it. Nice.

That morning orange you have? Swap it for moringa leaves - they've got seven times the amount of vitamin C. A glass of milk? Sack it off, moringa has four times the calcium. Shall we go on?

The best bit? It contains all the antioxidants you could ever ask for - 46 different kinds to be specific. Now that's a whole lot of goodness.

We've heard it's a super food…

Well if you count being ultra fast growing even in climates other plants die in and having the ability to purify water, super, then yeah, it's pretty super.

How do you eat it though?

Oh, all kinds of ways! Grab your moringa supplements to take everyday, add the powder to your pre-work green juice or visit South America and cook up some fresh leaves.


Malunggay revisited

(Malaya Business Insight)

FOR years to the end of his life, Dr. Juan Flavier had been saying that malunggay is the healthiest green vegetable in the world. Malunggay will grow in any soil making it thrive everywhere, and ready to harvest in a few weeks. It is cheap, and free for the asking in most rural areas. Healthier, and with less negatives than spinach, broccoli, other greens. Not a secret, perhaps only to nutrition graduates.

Malunggay leaves are now processed and exported as the whole world has recognized their value. Per serving, it contains the calcium equivalent of four glasses of milk, the vitamin C of seven oranges, the potassium of three bananas, three times the iron of spinach, four times the vitamin A in carrots and two times the protein in milk. This is according to the Bureau of Plant Industry.

Sadly, malnourished Filipinos are unaware of the magnificent health virtues of malunggay. Nutritionists fail to inform them. It is evident to most nutritionists who fail to push this affordable, marvelously nutritious food. It took the socially conscious Senator Loren Legarda to do the necessary.

It was Legarda who challenged Universal Robina (URC), Nestle Philippines, Monde Nissin and Uni-President Philippines--the country’s leading producers of instant noodles, to find ways to build up their products with malunggay.

Poverty is now at a level when the poor would have for a meal one P11-package of noodles, boil this in a liter of water and the flavoring of monosodium glutamate. This over white rice. A new staple of many Filipinos for its affordability.

Citing a report by the Department of Agriculture’s Biotechnology Program, she said:

“Reinforcing instant noodles with malunggay is an inexpensive way for us to enrich the Filipino household diet and put in check widespread micronutrient deficiency,” the senator added.

Legarda has been batting for the aggressive cultivation of malunggay, which she said, is “one practical way to fight malnutrition.” She has also been pushing the use of malunggay in the government’s feeding program for school children. Lugaw for the hungry should be loaded with malunggay, but is not.”

Filipinos now spend an estimated P13 billion every year on instant noodles. There are proposals to include instant noodles in the same category as other “basic necessities” such as rice; corn; bread; fresh, dried and canned fish and other marine products; fresh pork, beef and poultry; fresh eggs; fresh and processed milk; fresh vegetables; root crops; coffee; sugar; cooking oil; salt; laundry soap; detergents; firewood; charcoal; candles; and essential drugs.

Products classified as “basic necessities” under The Price Act, also known as Republic Act 7581, are protected against hoarding, profiteering and cartelization.

Prices of “basic necessities” are also automatically frozen at their prevailing prices or put under automatic price control whenever a locality is declared a disaster area, under a state of calamity, under an emergency, or under martial law, or declared in state or rebellion or war.

Under The Price Act, the President, upon the recommendation of the National Price Coordinating Council, may impose a ceiling on any basic necessity under certain conditions.

Also under the law, government, using a special buffer fund, may procure, purchase, import or stockpile any basic necessity and devise ways of distributing them for sale at reasonable prices in areas where there is a supply shortage, or a need to effect changes in its prevailing prices.


The many benefits of malunggay

(ABS-CBN News)

MANILA, Philippines - The lowly malunggay may not be top of mind when it comes to vegetables, but this leafy green veggie boasts of many health and medicinal benefits.

“Malunggay’s young leaves are edible and are commonly cooked and eaten like spinach or used to make soups and salads. They are an exceptionally good source of provitamin A, vitamins B and C, minerals (in particular iron), and the sulphur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine," said Senator Loren Legarda.

Filipinos use malunggay (Moringa oleifera) in making halaan or clam soup or a vegetable dish called ginataang malunggay.

But adventurous cooks and chefs have started adding malunggay to pasta dishes, as well as to muffins, bread and polvoron.

According to Legarda, even malunggay seeds can be used for seasoning. “The dry seeds can be ground to a powder and used for seasoning sauces," she said.

And the roots and flowers have uses too. "The roots from young plants can also be dried and ground for use as a hot seasoning base with a flavor similar to that of horseradish. The flowers can be eaten after being lightly blanched or raw as a tasty addition to salads," added Legarda.

The senator revealed that malunggay can also be used as a vegetable cooking oil.

Malunggay as medicine

Studies have shown that malunggay can be used to treat a number of illnesses.

“Malunggay leaves are good for headache, bleeding from a shallow cut, bacterial and fungal skin complaints, anti-inflammatory gastric ulcers, diarrhea, and malnutrition,” said Legarda.

This is one reason why the government has used malunggay in its feeding and nutrition programs.

Internal organs are said to benefit from the vegetable. “Malunggay pods are dewormers, good for treating liver and spleen problems, pain of the joints, and malnutrition. Likewise, malunggay seeds treat arthritis, rheumatism, gout, cramp, STD, boils and urinary problems, and is a relaxant for epilepsy,” the senator added.

According to philippineherbalmedicine.org, the plant is anti-diabetic and anti-tumor: "There have been claims that malunggay can be used to lower blood pressure ... as well as its being an anti-tumor plant."

Legislation filed

For these reasons, Legarda filed a bill at the Senate pushing for the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of malunggay to maximize the benefits of the underutilized tropical crop.

Under the proposed Senate Bill No. 1349, the Department of Agriculture (DA), in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), farmer’s groups, local government units, and the private sector, will be tasked to formulate a five-year Framework for Development focusing on developing malunggay for food, medicinal, health, and commercial needs.

Legarda explained, “Malunggay is one of the most useful tropical trees. The relative ease with which it propagates through both sexual and asexual means and its low demand for soil nutrients and water after being planted makes its production and management easy. “

She added that malunggay has agricultural and industrial benefits as well: its oil can be used as lubricant for fine machinery such as timepieces and can be used for stabilizing scents of perfumes.

Even the process of purifying drinking water can stand to gain something with malunggay. “The protein from the extracted malunggay oil is a natural polypeptide for sedimenting mineral particles and organics in the purification of drinking water, for cleaning vegetable oil, or for sedimenting fibers in the juice and beer industries," Legarda said.

The senator cited studies conducted by Biomasa, a technical university in Nicaragua, which showed that malunggay seeds can be used for the final treatment of waste water.

And for the agriculture industry, the plant may be used as a form of foliar spray to help accelerate the growth of young plants and make them more resistant to pests and diseases.

“We need to activate more malunggay nurseries and repositories all over the country," said Legarda. Her bill calls on the DA, in coordination with the DENR and municipalities, to identify areas suitable for the planting and propagation of malunggay.

Legarda also said efforts to link growers with markets through contract to buy arrangements should be pursued.

“Malunggay can be the solution to many of our country’s problems. Malunggay feeds, oils, fertilizes, heals, purifies and can generate income. Let’s take malunggay seriously, “ Legarda concluded.


Meet the Mighty, Mighty Moringa Tree

By Natalie Beach

At first glance, gangly Moringa oleifera, with its thin stems and long seedpods, doesn’t look all that impressive. But looks can be deceiving: Ounce for ounce, the leaves contain three times the iron of spinach, four times the calcium of milk, and more protein than sardines.

Farmed in its native India for centuries, M. oleifera is just now catching on in the United States. “It’s easy to grow and loves the heat,” says Fred Dixon of The Orchid, in Goleta, California, one of a handful of American farms cultivating the tree. Dixon started last year with 800 seeds and now has more than a thousand 13-footers. While the leaves can be prepared like spinach, Dixon also dries and crushes them into a powder that’s gaining popularity among smoothie-lovers.

Moringa’s myriad applications go far beyond health shakes, however. Its roots have anti-inflammatory benefits; the seed cake (what’s left after oil extraction) can purify drinking water, fight bacteria, and act as fertilizer. In addition, growing M. oleifera combats erosion. Since 2010, Zambia’s Imagine Rural Development Initiative has used the plant to lift families out of poverty, helping locals start and manage their own moringa plantations. Today, 60 Zambian farmers tend some six million trees, feeding malnourished communities and boosting regional economies. Superfood, indeed.


Why Moringa is Known as ‘The Miracle Tree’

By Diane MacEachern

A small serving of moringa’s tiny leaves has seven times the amount of vitamin C in an orange, four times the calcium of milk, and four times the beta-carotene of carrots. Pow! Talk about a nutritional punch. It also has all the “super” qualities of a typical superfood:

• It’s high in protein but low in fat.

• It’s gluten-free.

• It’s chock full of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, folate and fiber.

• Many parts of the plant can be consumed, not just what might be considered the fruit or the vegetable.

• It grows fast and can tolerate dry heat and other harsh conditions, requiring little in the way of fertilizer or water, so it can be grown in places suffering from drought.

Moringa is actually a tree (Moringa oleifera) that’s native to northern India but now being grown as far away as Senegal and the Philippines. You can eat almost every part of it. The pods taste like string beans, but only sweeter. The leaves can be used in place of spinach. The seeds, when dried, crunch like peanuts. Dry and grate the roots and voila—a substitute for horseradish.

It’s a boon to the planet, too.

• It’s one of the fastest growing plants in the world, reaching between 9 and 15 feet the first year after the seed is planted in the ground.

• Amazingly, the seeds can purify water. This research in Uganda showed that “moringa seeds powder can remove 80-90 percent of dirtiness in water,” an important discovery for a country where 40 percent of the population does not have access to clean water.

• Beyond the food it produces and its water purification properties, the moringa can be turned into wood, paper and liquid fuel. Oil extracted from its seeds won’t spoil or turn rancid, so it can be used in cooking, cosmetics, as a preservative and as a machinery lubricant.

• Plus, it is becoming a source of people’s livelihoods in Africa, where farmers, particularly women, are receiving microloans to plant, harvest and sell moringa trees.

Reportedly, moringa leaves have many medicinal benefits as well.

• Juice from the leaves is used to treat anxiety and may be able to help control glucose levels for people suffering from diabetes.

• It may be able to remedy diarrhea, dysentery and colitis.

• Some people who suffer from headache rub the leaves and buds on their temples to soothe the pain.

• The juice of the leaves is used as a skin antiseptic.

No wonder the moringa tree is often called “the miracle tree” or “the tree of life!”

If you want to give it a try, search for it online or at vitamin stores and natural foods markets. It’s available in tea bags, a powder you can add to a recipe, a capsule you can take like a vitamin, skin and hair oil and body butter. As with any product, read the label before you buy to make sure you’re getting real moringa and not a synthetic version.


High school research seeks to fight cancer, reaps int’l recognition

By Carmel Loise Matus

High school student Arianwen Ledesma-Rollan saw how her grandmother waged, and lost, a costly and painful battle against pancreatic cancer.

The pain of losing a loved one fueled her search for an inexpensive cure for cancer.

She started looking at her own backyard and focused on Moringa oleifera (malunggay) seeds, which have been reported to contain natural agents that could fight cancer.

Her research, which she also conducted as an investigatory project to fulfill a requirement for her Life Science subject in school, was cited during the 2016 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair at Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America from May 8 to 13.

Rollan, 17, was the only Filipino among the 10 awardees who received the Special Award from the Qatar Foundation for Research and Development during the fair.

“Wala ko mag-expect nga makadaog kay (I did not expect to win because) I was in the infraction list and I was afraid that I would never get to display my project,” she recalled.

“Being in the infraction list means that the Scientific Review Committee had concerns about my project,” she added.

Being one of the special awardees is not a small feat for this incoming Grade 11 student at the Cebu City National Science High School.

The 2016 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is a program of Society for Science and the Public that invites high school students around the globe to share their original ideas, showcase cutting-edge research and compete for more than $4 million in awards and scholarships.

At least 1,700 young innovators from 419 affiliate fairs in 77 countries, regions and territories participated in the science showcase.

Rollan, who plans to become an obstetrician, said she was inspired by her grandmother, Amada Ledesma, 75, who died of pancreatic cancer five years ago.

She said her grandmother suffered for 10 months. Her medicines and treatment were very expensive.

“I saw that Moringa (malunggay) is very common in Cebu. There are claims that the plant can help fight certain illnesses but it doesn’t have any study to back it. That’s why I chose to do this project,” she said.

Rollan said she took an extract from the crushed malunggay seeds and injected it in a chick embryo. Then she observed it for 36 hours.

She said she noticed that the tumor did not spread after the malunggay seed extract stopped the development of the blood vessel.

She explained that tumors are often developed due to angiogenesis or the development of new blood vessels in pre-existing vessels.

Based on her research, malunggay seeds have potential anti-tumor agent.

Her project won first prize in their school fair, besting 50 other investigatory projects in their school.

After she won at the science fair at both division and regional levels, she competed in the National Science and Technology Fair sponsored by the Department of Education (DepEd) in Tagaytay City.

Her victory at the national level gave her the golden ticket to be a part of the Philippine delegation to compete in the 2016 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix.

She ended as the only Filipino to receive a special award which went with a certificate and a cash prize of $1,000.

Rollan said she planned to use her prize money to continue her research because it was still in the preliminary stages.

But she was hoping that her achievement would inspire other young innovators not to stop what they were doing despite the lack of government support.

“We were the only ones who were not sponsored by their own government but still we were selected,” she said.

“I just hope the Philippine government would further this research so that it can help those who are in need of medicines to help fight tumor,” she said.


Moringa Health Benefits: 7 Nutritional Reasons To Add It To Your Diet

By Inemesit Udodiong

Check out twenty medical uses and benefits of the latest food trend, Moringa as the health benefits are tantalizing and every part of the Moringa tree can be used in medical science.


Moringa oleifera has an impressive range of medicinal uses with high nutritional value and medicinal benefits as different parts of Moringa contain a profile of important minerals and are a good source of protein, vitamins, beta-carotene, amino acids and various phenolics.

Moringa provides a rich and rare combination of zeatin, quercetin, beta-sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol.

It can act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants, possess antitumor, antipyretic, antiepileptic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihypertensive, cholesterol lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal activities, and are being employed for the treatment of different ailments in the indigenous system of medicine.

Traditional cultures in various parts of the world have long used Moringa in their herbal medicine repertoire for ailments ranging from gout to various inflammations and fevers.

Here are some of the traditional, medical uses and health benefits of moringa:

1. Normalizes blood sugar.
2. Appetite supplement.
3. Heals wounds and injuries- There is an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effect when applied to wounds, thereby aiding the fast healing of wounds.
4. Detoxification.
5. Eliminates constipation.
6. Reduces risk of ulcer- Moringa tea treats gastric ulcers and prevents.
7. Improves digestion.
8. Serves as nutrition for infants- six months and older, pregnant and nursing mothers, flower juice improves the quality and flow of mothers’ milk when breast feeding.
9. Increases mental clarity.
10. Stimulates hair growth.
11. Enhances skin health.
12. Reduces wrinkles and age lines.
13. Prevents tumor.
14. Increases energy and endurance.
15. Improves eyesight.
16. Normalizes blood pressure.
17. Acts as anti- depressant.
18. Strengthens immune system- In Haiti, villagers boil Moringa flowers in water and drink the tea as a powerful cold remedy.
19. Can be used as an aphrodisiac and promoter of libido- The drumstick seeds are used as a sexual virility drug for treating erectile dysfunction in men and also in women for prolonging sexual activity.
20. Prevents fungal diseases.
21. Moringa leaves treat fevers, bronchitis, eye and ear infections, inflammation of the mucus membrane
22. The powder ground from the seeds is also used in the treatment of scurvy skin diseases (common bacterial infections of the skin).

Every single part of the Moringa Tree is useful, this is why it is considered one of the most valuable and useful plants.


Meet the New Kale of 2016: Moringa

By Lizzie Fuhr (Additional reporting by Michele Foley)

Moringa has been revered among Ayurvedic circles for hundreds of years, but it's currently poised to become the hot superfood of 2016. Nearly every part of the moringa oleifera, or drumstick tree, is edible and packed with vitamin C, protein, iron, and calcium. If you can't get your hands on the fresh greens yet — not to worry — you can readily take a supplement or toss a powdered version into a smoothie to reap its benefits. Here's why it's worth a try:

It's a nutritional powerhouse: Moringa has been named a superfood for good reason. It has three times the potassium of a banana, three times the calcium of milk, and two times the protein of yoghurt — three grams per tablespoon! Any vegan eaters who have a tough time getting enough protein can benefit from the introduction of moringa into their diet.

It supports breastfeeding: In one study, researchers found mothers of premature babies increase their volume of breast milk after ingesting moringa capsules. While the study was small, the results are promising.

It may be used to fight cancer: In addition to being potent in antioxidants, one study found that both the leaf and bark of the moringa plant have antimalignant properties that could be beneficial when developing new cancer drugs.


The many unknown benefits of moringa leaf

By Chioma Obinna

Moringa is called the Miracle Tree for good reason. Moringa oleifera tree has been called the tree of life in many cultures around the world, including Nigeria. It has many names based on its many uses: clarifier tree, horseradish tree and drumstick tree (referring to the large drumstick shaped pods) and in East Africa moringa is known as “mother’s best friend”.

Here in the Nigeria, its names include Ewe Igbale in Yoruba, Zogelle in Hasusa and Idagbo monoye in Igbo.

It is estimated that at least 300 diseases can be cured by taking this supplement along with hundreds of other health benefits, thanks to its more than 90 nutrients, 46 different antioxidants, and all eight essential amino acids. Here is a more in-depth look at the health benefits of Moringa leaves and seeds.

Scientific studies have shown that it contains specific antioxidants and health promoting ingredients that offer palliatives to malnutrition, hunger and diseases.

Moringa is rich in many vitamins, including Vitamin A, several forms of Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Vitamin E. In fact, it has more of these vitamins than a variety of foods that all claim to be excellent sources of them, such as carrots, oranges and milk. These vitamins provide a number of recognized health benefits. Moringa leaves have a few specific benefits that must be touched on as well. Protein is a vital nutrient found in the leaves of this tree.

There is twice as much calcium in Moringa leaves than in milk. Iron is found in large quantities in Moringa leaves as well. In fact, there is three times as much iron in this plant than in spinach. Along with these specific nutrients, the leaves can be consumed to stimulate your metabolism, thus aiding in weight loss. This is possible because Moringa provides energy without sugar. The leaves can also be used to beautify your skin, thus they are commonly taken as supplement by women looking for healthier skin.Moringa seeds have a number of benefits specific to them as well.

They contain iron, just like the leaves, and they also contain amino acids along with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. That means if you have minor injuries like bruises, cuts or burns, you will heal faster when you take Moringa supplements.

Along with these specific health benefits, you can even put its seeds in dirty water and they will attract the impurities and make the water drinkable. As far as science is concerned, Moringa is an all time find.


‘Malunggay’ pushed for survivors of ‘Yolanda’

By Tonette Orejas (Inquirer Central Luzon, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Eat their leaves raw for hydration. Mix them with other meals for better nutrition. Inexpensive and readily available even in the worst of times.

“Malunggay” (Moringa oleifera), according to a group promoting its consumption for better health, offers answers to the nutrition needs of the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the Visayas.

“It’s going to be a big help to the victims of the disaster,” said Bernadette Estrella-Arellano, founder of Moringaling Philippines Foundation Inc. (MPFI), which promotes the consumption of malunggay.

She said people could eat malunggay leaves raw to hydrate their bodies. These could also be mixed with any meal to improve nutrition.

“It was the answer to malnutrition in poor countries,” she said.

Arellano said the fifth congress of MPFI would set aside time to discuss how the network of malunggay advocates could help in the nutrition programs of the national government.

Some 500 consumers, producers, educators and community organizers are expected to attend the congress set at Clark Freeport Zone on Nov. 21-22.

Arellano said reports she received showed that the typhoon spared a farm planted with a million malunggay trees in Negros Occidental province.

The typhoon, described to be the strongest in the world this year, ravaged provinces in the Visayas.

Arellano said staving off widespread hunger in these disaster-torn areas and keeping people’s nutrition level up were seen to be among the major challenges of the government in the rebuilding process.

In Negros Occidental, a foundation combines mongo, rice and malunggay in a small pack and sells each for only P4. This can be eaten by adding a little amount of water to it, Arellano said.

Survivors, whether in government-built shelters or in their villages, can plant more malunggay through stem cuttings, she said.

MPFI, started in 2009, has lobbied for a law declaring moringa as a national vegetable and November as Moringa Month.

Arellano said several MPFI members export about 3 tons of moringa powder every year.


Moringa oleifera – said to be a wondrous plant

(New Era Staff Reporter)

This superfood is rich in vitamin C and protein and is loaded with free-radical-fighting antioxidants. Add moringa powder to smoothies or oatmeal and reap the amazing health benefits

Elizabeth Hilger might have missed the grand prize at this year’s 9th Bank Windhoek Women Summit last week but for this focused, down-to-earth businesswoman coming to Windhoek was not about winning but her aim was something different.

As the owner of one of the finest lodges in Kavango East, Hilger already has cupboards filled with awards bestowed on her by the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN). She’s also won various international accolades as her business, Tambuti Lodge, on the banks of the Kavango River, was on numerous occasions chosen as the best in client service, and as one of the places where local and foreign tourists find tranquillity during their stay.

Hilger was not an unknown person when she entered the room of the summit, whose slogan read, “Women Embracing Change for Prosperity.” In line with the theme Hilger tours the regions when time allows to inspire other women not to let their head down but always to look at the brighter side of life.

During breaks at the summit from behind her exhibition desk she talked to and enlightened other women about a specific tree that “gave life” to about 110 orphans and poor children. She is also the founder of the Theresia’s Orphans and Vulnerable Children Foundation located about 20 kilometres outside Rundu at a small village called Mavanze.

She has been running this orphanage from her own pocket and with some donations from a few donors. She also uses part of the income she generated from Moringa oleifera powder to care for the children who are less privileged.

The Moringa oleifera is classified as a super food. The tree grows naturally in some parts of Namibia and parts of the plant are said to be safe for human consumption.

However a check of a medical site on the internet issues a warning: “Moringa is possibly safe when taken by mouth and used appropriately. The leaves, fruit, and seeds might be safe when eaten as food. However, it’s important to avoid eating the root and its extracts. These parts of the plant may contain a toxic substance that can cause paralysis and death. Moringa has been used safely in doses up to 6 grams daily for up to 3 weeks.

There isn’t enough information to know if moringa is safe when used in medicinal amounts.”

Another internet site says do not try Moringa oleifera until you know all the facts.

But according to her the plant is an energizing product that is said to help with healing and is said to be used to treat skin disorders, allegedly also diabetes, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression. It supposedly gives one a huge boost in energy and it is said to even out blood sugar levels, and allegedly helps one recover more quickly after a workout.The children benefit from the orchard where they look after 482 trees that produce “a highly nutritious powder”.

“At the foundation we cut and clean the leaves than let them dry before we pound some into powder and sell the rest to our customers who use it,” she said.

She said Mavanze village is surrounded with Moringa whose pods they utilise for various medicinal uses but an important use is to purify dirty water for drinking and washing as it contains all the chemical compounds necessary.

Villagers harvest the leaves, seeds and pods and sell them to the foundation to be utilised for animal fodder or for own use.

Hilger said that students from the Polytechnic of Namibia are currently doing research on the water purification effects of the pods.

She claims the children under her care are more healthier than any other kid at school or at any home as they daily take Moringa oleifera in their daily meals.

Hilger sat behind her table where she displayed the Moringa oleifeira leaves and containers filled with the powder and the pods.

Also on the table were two bottles – one filled with dirty water and the other with clear water. In front stood many curious summit goers as the excitement grew among them to obtain all the information about the plant’s supposedly amazing health benefits.

As she spoke about the product on the first day of the summit women took out their money to buy her consignment from the exhibition table within half an hour.

At last she had time for the reporter and was free to talk without any interruptions. “Have you recently been hearing about the mystical miracle tree, or the tree of life?” she asked.

These are terms that have been offered to describe Moringa oleifera. It has a number of amazing health benefits, according to thousands of scientists from around the world, she claimed.

“Would you believe me if I told you that it has been around for hundreds of years, helping people to hold onto their good health, to recover from medical problems, and to jump start their energy levels?” Hilger excitedly asked. “No!” I replied.

“Moringa is a tree and various parts of the plants are edible,” she said. She said some people use the pods in cooking, while others eat the leaves.

“You can additionally press oil from the seeds, or eat the roots. The plant also has flowers, which are comparable to mushrooms.” But internet sites warned that the roots should not be eaten.

Traditional medicine uses the roots, leaves and seeds in their medicinal recipes.

“The leaves can be cooked like spinach, or they can be dried and used in soups or other recipes. The pods can be eaten like nuts, and the roots can be diced up and used as a sauce similar to our use for relish. Even better it grows naturally all around the world, it is safe to consume, and is a medically proven health supplement.”

The tree grows even in dry and sandy areas because the climate in Kavango is perfect for cultivating the product. It grows quickly and does not easily wilt because of the lack of water or poor soil.

Moringa oleifera is said to have four times as much calcium as you get from milk, three times the amount of potassium you get from bananas.

Traditionally these are the foods where you think you get the most bang for your bucks, but instead, this supplement crushed the numbers in every category, according to Hilger.

The leaves are said to have 22 percent the daily value of Vitamin C, 41 percent the daily value of potassium, 61 percent the daily value of magnesium, 71 percent the daily value of iron, 125 percent the daily value of calcium and 272 percent the daily value of Vitamin A. It also has 92 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, 36 anti-inflammatory agents, 18 amino acids and nine essential amino acids, according to some literature.

Hilger said there is no value addition to her products as she is still awaiting a response from international investors on the proposals she presented to them to process the plant as a super food and a complete health product that will not only provide people with the vitamins they need, but also improve their overall health as well.



Moringa could be ‘Tree of Life’ for developing countries

(NewsNetNebraska)

A prolific plant that grows in Nicaraga may be the answer to helping the poor country and others like it develop.

Moringa Oleifera grows to be a 20-foot tree if it is not pruned. In Nicaragua, it grows in plantations, along the streets and in backyards. The leaves are protein-packed and offer vitamins C, A and E, calcium, potassium, iron and all necessary amino acids.

When mashed into a cake, the seeds can purify water. Nicaragua’s water is poorly sanitized and waterborne illnesses are vast.

Every part of the plant is beneficial — even the stems, which are used to feed livestock.

People who are aware of moringa’s nutrition benefits use the leaves in their tea; moringa powder can be mixed into any kind of food.

But aside from the health benefits, moringa production can provide an economic boost. Workers are needed in moringa plantations and the factories that produce moringa oil and capsules.

Most people, however, are uneducated about moringa’s benefits. The diet of Nicaraguans consists of heavily fried fatty foods and soda pop.

Despite that, Marvin Ramirez, an agriculturist and moringa expert, is optimistic about the plant.

“This plant could be the answer for Third World countries to help them to develop,” he said. “God created everything perfect, and in the Good Book was talked about ‘The Tree of Life.’ Perhaps this could be it.”



The healing powers of moringa

By Chris Kilham

In a remote valley of Congo, on a farm with splendid views of lush green mountains, I stand amidst a plantation of young moringa trees. The green leaves glisten in the African sun, the seed pods hang in curls. I pull a tender young leaf and chew on it, enjoying the fresh, pleasing taste. The Belgian couple growing this crop plans to cash in on an up-and-coming trend and their timing appears to be just right.

Over the past few years, a botanical new to the U.S. and European markets has been making impressive gains in popularity, due to its broad traditional benefits and emerging supportive science. That plant, moringa oleifera, is native to northern India, Pakistan, the Himalayan region, Africa and Arabia, but is now cultivated more widely throughout the tropics. The young plantation I have visited in Congo is one such cultivation project.

Also known as drumstick tree or horseradish tree, moringa trees grow quickly, reaching a height of between 15 and 30 feet within just a few years. The leaves, fruit flowers and immature pods of the tree are eaten as nutritious foods. The leaves in particular are consumed either raw in salads, tossed into blender drinks, or steamed like spinach. Rich in protein, beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium and calcium, the leaves make an excellent green vegetable, and are pleasing in flavor.

But beyond the flavor and nutrition, moringa offers healing benefits. Virtually all parts of the plant are used to treat inflammation, infectious disorders, and various problems of the cardiovascular and digestive organs, while improving liver function and enhancing milk flow in nursing mothers. The uses of moringa are well documented in both the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of traditional medicine, among the most ancient healing systems in the world.

Moringa is rich in a variety of health-enhancing compounds, including moringine, moringinine, the potent antioxidants quercetin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, and various polyphenols. The leaves seem to be getting the most market attention, notably for their use in reducing high blood pressure, eliminating water weight, and lowering cholesterol.

Studies show that moringa leaves possess anti-tumor and anti-cancer activities, due in part to a compound called niaziminin. Preliminary experimentation also shows activity against the Epstein-Barr virus. Compounds in the leaf appear to help regulate thyroid function, especially in cases of over-active thyroid. Further research points to anti-viral activity in cases of Herpes simplex 1.

Now that moringa is emerging as a popular supplement for health enhancement, the science on this plant is accelerating. The glucose-modifying, anti-diabetic effects of moringa may prove of great use amidst a virtual epidemic of Type 2 diabetes and obesity. The liver-protective activities of the leaf and its extracts could make it a staple component of bitters formulas and various cleansing preparations. And ongoing work on the anti-cancer properties of moringa may at some point earn this plant a role in chemotherapy.

In the traditional medicinal systems of many cultures, plants with long uses and benefits remain to be discovered. Moringa oleifera, unknown in the market just ten years ago, is surging into greater popularity due to its multiple health benefits and nutritious value as a food. Also known colloquially as “miracle tree,” moringa is a valuable plant medicine, and deserves a place in the home pharmacy.


‘Malunggay’ studied as water filter

By Annelle Tayao-Juego (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The humble “malunggay” (Moringa oleifera) could make waves when it comes to the Philippines’ water purification industry, thanks to a research initiative headed by a Manila university in partnership with a Canada-based Filipino educator.

Malunggay’s potential as a water filter is being tapped by a joint research project of De La Salle University (DLSU) on Taft Avenue in Manila, University of Waterloo in Canada and George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

The researchers hope to come up with a cheap and easy-to-use water filtration system that could provide water even to remote rural communities in the Philippines.

The Barangay Water Project uses malunggay seeds packed with an adsorbent, such as sand, carbonized rice husk or activated carbon, to create a “point-of-use biofilter that can either be used at home or in small communities, like a school, for purifying drinking water,” Canada-based Sheree Pagsuyoin, the project’s lead investigator, said in an e-mail interview.

Pagsuyoin is also an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Waterloo.

Canadian grant

The project is funded by a grant from Grand Challenges Canada, a government program that aids research on global health issues in Canada and developing countries.

Pagsuyoin, who secured the grant, got in touch with Raymond Tan, DLSU vice chancellor for innovation and research, to form and head the Philippine team that would work on the project.

Pagsuyoin said the team chose to develop a water biofilter because “water treatment technologies are much needed in many low-income regions, especially in rural areas.”

“But we also recognize that these technologies should be environmentally, economically and socially sustainable for them to be effective over the long term,” she added.

Filtering properties

“We chose moringa because it is already widely known in the Philippines for its many other uses. Thus it will be easier to introduce the concept,” said Pagsuyoin, who has worked on other water and sanitation projects in rural areas in the Philippines and South Africa.

Previous studies on the use of malunggay seeds for water purification showed that these had proteins containing antimicrobial and coagulant properties that can kill coliform and remove turbidity in water, she said.

The seeds, however, also produce other organic elements that affect long-term storage of the treated water.

“Our goal with the biofilter is to harness the [seeds’] proteins’ antimicrobial properties while eliminating these organics,” Pagsuyoin said.

She said she had yet to complete lab experiments and the filter’s final design in Canada with the help of a DLSU graduate student, engineer John Barajas.

Luis F. Razon, director of the DLSU Food and Water Institute and a member of the research team, likened the expected final product design to that of a Brita filter, which is small and cylindrical.

Test set

The filter, Razon said, would be packed with malunggay seeds and adsorbents. One would just need to pour the contaminated water through the filter to remove the impurities.

Razon said the DLSU team would test the malunggay biofilter in July or August in Mulanay, a small seaside municipality in the Bondoc Peninsula in Quezon province, where the university previously worked in other projects.

In August 2014, Razon headed focus group discussions with 150 to 200 Mulanay residents to find out their main concerns about drinking water.

“What stood out to me was how they described the taste of the water they fetched from local wells—matabsing, which means an acrid and sort of salty taste. They were also aware that there were harmful bacteria in the water and that they could get sick from drinking it,” Razon said.

“So aside from creating a biofilter [that] can take out the impurities, we have to make sure that the water will also taste good,” he added.

Mulanay’s water supply comes from a mountain spring that Razon said tested positive for E. coli bacteria. So far, the team has been unable to determine why the water source is contaminated, Razon said.

If all goes well with the product testing in Mulanay, Razon said, the team hoped to bring the filter to more rural communities in the country that need potable water.

Commercial production

Razon said the researchers were also studying the biofilter’s marketability. Joost Santos, an assistant professor at George Washington University, is heading the feasibility study on the commercial production of the malunggay biofilter, Razon said.

“Personally, if the biofilter would be commercialized, I think it would be better for quality control. But, of course, we won’t limit it to that. Another option would be for someone to make his own biofilter and use it to treat water, which he could then sell,” Razon said.

“There are other possible uses, say, during a storm, when people are in need of clean water, they can use the biofilter,” he said.

Community attitude

The success of the Barangay Water Project, however, won’t just depend on the filter’s effectiveness, but on the community’s attitude toward using the filter, Razon said. For one, the community would need to have a steady supply of malunggay, which Mulanay has.

“[From past experiences], I’ve come to recognize that intervention technologies designed to improve the water and health status of low-income communities must be integrated into the locals’ daily activities,” Pagsuyoin said.

“Moringa has many other uses and livelihood can stem from encouraging its cultivation,” she added.

“It’s easy to work with Mulanay [residents] because they have become so used to consultative work. They’re good at organizing themselves. It is easy to instruct them to form groups, work in teams,” Razon said.

“It’s important that the community is organized, ready to receive the technology and willing to provide information. The local government has to be receptive,” he said.



Why We Should Learn More About Moringa

By Darryle Pollack

As a 20-year cancer survivor, I thought that I had heard of everything possible to promote good health. Then again, I also believe that the more you know, the more there is to learn. And moringa is proof of that.

Though I initially thought it might be a new Latin dance, I learned that moringa oleifera actually is a plant found in locales from the Caribbean to Asia to Africa, where it's been used in folk remedies for centuries. Almost unknown in the United States, its popularity is growing worldwide thanks to what many believe are its health benefits---ranging from boosting immunity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, increasing breast milk, even headache relief.

Moringa is so versatile that the entire plant can be used from root to seeds to tiny leaves; people fry, crush, boil, grind, blanch, even chew its various parts. Less creative or daring types who want its benefits can just take moringa as a supplement in its powder form.

I learned about Moringa thanks to Grace O., author of The Aging Gracefully Cookbook, featuring her collection of recipes to promote health, wellness and longevity. Moringa and 25 other intriguing ingredients form the foundation for her program called FoodTrients . As you might deduce, Foodtrients is a marriage of healthy nutrients and food, a philosophy inspired by the marriage of her parents. Grace's father was a medical doctor who believed foods could help his patients heal; her mother ran a cooking school in Southeast Asia where Grace was raised, and where people have been been eating indigenous plants known for health properties for thousands of years.

In addition to operating skilled nursing facilities in California, Grace O's mission is to share her knowledge and experience. Here's how she describes Foodtrients:

The nutrients in our food lead to our overall wellness...I start creating a recipe only after I find a fruit or grain or spice that has something beneficial to offer my body...To create my recipes, I scoured scientific studies, dug into long-established knowledge of medicinal herbs, sought out natural ingredients from cultures all over the world and drew on memories of my mother's culinary wisdom.

At her recent cookbook launch in Beverly Hills, featuring a Foodtrient buffet, moringa showed up as a dip paired with artichokes. I wasn't the only one at the event mystified by unfamiliar ingredients. Celebrity chef and Los Angeles restauranteur Eric Greenspan commented:

There were a lot of ingredients I didn't recognize.... Grace works them into everyday dishes, things like moringa, a plant with super nutritious leaves that she adds to vegetable soup. ..I was impressed by how well the flavors work together. What I love about Grace's book is that her recipes are very accessible and easy for the average home cook to execute. I'm already thinking about how to work moringa into my grilled cheese sandwiches!

In addition to chefs, scientists are also interested in learning more about moringa. It's the focus of current scientific studies seeking to prove its effectiveness as used in folk remedies. With a boost from Grace O's culinary creativity, moringa could soon become a household word. Remember you heard it here first.



  • Malunggay garnering recognition as 'superfood' rich in antioxidants

If you have a backyard garden with a meter or two of space to spare, best plant malunggay seeds. This is what Dr. Raffy Barrozo, organic agriculture expert and board member of the Moringaling Phlippines Foundation, Inc. (MPFI), advises. Malunggay, or moringa, is a well-known backyard plant in the Philippines and has been garnering international attention for being a "superfood" rich in nutrients and minerals. For every pound, malunggay has seven times more Vitamin C than oranges, three times more potassium that bananas, four times more Vitamin A than carrots, two times more protein and four times more calcium than milk, according to the MPFI. Malunggay is rich in antioxidants that can prevent several lifestyle-related ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, heart problems, high blood pressure, and cancer. »»» Read More