Moringa (Malunggay) Nutritional Facts

What is moringa? 

Moringa, also known as the Miracle Tree, is a multipurpose plant, as the leaves, pods, fruits, flowers, roots and bark of the tree can be utilized. It is also referred to as Drumstick Tree by the Britishers.  In the Philippines, they are referred to as malunggay or malungay.  Others refer to moringa ashorseradish tree, benzolive tree, kelor, marango, mlonge, moonga, nébéday, saijhan, sajna or Ben oil tree.  

What are the health benefits of moringa? 
Scientific research confirms that these humble leaves are a powerhouse of nutritional value. Gram for gram, moringa leaves contain: SEVEN times the vitamin C in oranges, FOUR times the Calcium in milk, FOUR times the vitamin A in carrots, TWO times the protein in milk and THREE times the Potassium in bananas.

There are many benefits of the moringa tree, but the health benefits are the most important. Research has shown that various parts of the moringa tree can be effective in a significant number of health concerns. Here’s a quick look at a few of them:

  Moringa is rich in Vitamin A. It contains four times more Vitamin A or beta-carotene than carrots. Hence, it is a weapon against blindness.

 It is also a rich source of Vitamin C many times more than oranges.

 Normally milk is said to be a rich source of calcium but the amount of calcium present in moringa leaves is way higher than in milk.

The moringa leaves are said to contain two times the protein present in milk.

 Bananas are a rich source of potassium. But moringa leaves contain several times more potassium than bananas.

  Along with potassium, zinc is also found in large quantities in moringa.

 If moringa leaves were to be eaten by one and all, the world will be free of anemia as it contains three times more iron than spinach.

With all the junk food eaten these days, many people face problems of high cholesterol. Moringa helps in balancing the cholesterol levels in the body.

 Essential Amino acids are also found in moringa.

•    Moringa is also said to balance sugar levels, hence it is helpful in the fight against diabetes.
•   The body's natural defense mechanism increases with the consumption of moringa in the daily diet pattern. Since it is an immunity-stimulant, it is prescribed for AIDS afflicted patients.
• Moringa leaves can be consumed to stimulate metabolism.
•   It is also said to have digestive powers.
•  It is a nutrition booster and is known to promote a feeling of well-being in people.
•   If you are looking for non-sugar based energy, then moringa leaves is the answer. Thus, it will also help in the weight loss process.
•  The cell structure of the body is stimulated by the moringa leaves.
•   It is especially useful for lactating mothers. The consumption of moringa has shown dramatic increase in the quantity of breast milk.
•  It is also famous for its anti-bacterial properties.
•  The paste of the moringa leaves is said to beautify the skin and is hence applied by women regularly.
•   It protects the liver and kidneys.
•   It can also be used as a water purifier.

Moringa contains more than 90 nutrients and 46 types of antioxidants. With all the health benefits of moringa, it can easily be termed as the most nutritious plant on the face of the earth. There are no side-effects of moringa tree leaves which have been proved till date. At the same time it can be consumed by small children and adults alike. Therefore, many people have started using it in porridge, pastas, breads, etc., to reap the everlasting health benefits of the extraordinary 'moringa'.According to Dr. Monica G. Marcu, researcher and clinical pharmacologist, Moringa is unique because, even in small amounts, it can supply daily a wide gamut of vital nutrients with few calories.

Vitamin and mineral content are just the beginning. Moringa has 18 amino acids, including the eight essentials – the ones your body can not survive without but can not manufacture on its own; they must be supplied through diet.

Moringa is as good a source of roughage as carrots but has quadruple the beta carotene content.  It also has plenty of omega-3 oils and chlorophyll, plus 45 compounds with antioxidant properties and 36 with anti-inflammatory properties.

To the average Joe, Moringa is a simple way to manage many health problems.  It can help reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, control blood sugar, and offer anti-aging and anti-inflammatory substances, many of which have anti-cancer properties.

Moringa is widely found in tropical and sub-tropical belts. It is a medicinal plant used in Central and South America, Mexico, Malaysia, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and Africa.

A Review of the Medical Evidence for Its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties. Part 1. Jed W. Fahey, Sc.D. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Cancer Chemoprotection Center, 725 N. Wolfe Street, 406 WBSB, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 21205-2185.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Why is moringa called the “Miracle Tree”?
Moringa leaves and pods when taken in regularly, will nourish the body with necessary vitamins and minerals. All parts of the moringa tree including leaves, pods, bark, seed, fruits and root has medicinal value. Hence, it was called the ‘Miracle Tree.’

Does moringa have anti-ageing properties?
Moringa is one of the richest sources of antioxidants, with high contents of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and bioflavonoid. Active oxygen radicals steal electrons from normal, healthy biological molecules. This electron theft by active oxygen oxidizes tissue and can cause disease. By supplying the body with these nutrients we can find an effective method to block the oxidation of healthy tissue by active oxygen, then we can attempt to delay the ageing process.

What are known side effects of moringa?Dr. Lowell Fuglie, based in Senegal and considered as one of the experts about moringa says that to date there has not been any known negative side effect even in the daily consumption of moringa.

What are the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds present in moringa?

Antioxidants:
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B (Choline), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) , Vitamin B2 (Rivoflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6, Alanine, Alpha-Carotene, Arginine, Beta-Carotene, Beta-Sitosterol, Caffeoylquinic Acid, Campesterol, Carotenoids, Chlorophyll, Chromium, Delta 5- Avenasterol, Delta 7 Avenasterol, Glutathione, Histidine, Indole Acetic Acid, Indoleacetonitrile, Kaempferal, Leucine, Lutein, Methionine, Myristic-Acid, Palmitic Acid, Prolamine, Proline, Quercitin, Rutin, Selenium, Threonine, Tryptophan, Xanthins, Xanthopyll, Zeatin, Zeaxanthin, Zinc.

Anti- Inflammatory Compounds:
Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Arginine, Beta-Sistosterol, Caffeoylquinic Acid, Calcium, Chlorophyll, Copper, Cystine, Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9, Fiber, Glutathione, Histidine, Indole Acetic Acid, Indoleacetonitrile, Isoleucine, Kaempferal, leucine, Magnesium, Oleic-Acid, Phenylalanine, Potassium, Quercitin, Rutin, Selenium, Stigmasterol, Sulfur, Tryptophan, Tyrosine, Zeatin, Zinc.

There are over 46 antioxidants and 36 anti-inflammatory compounds all naturally occurring in the moringa plant. That is why it is referred to as the best natural source of anti-oxidants.

What are the vitamins and minerals present in moringa?

VITAMINS:
Vitamin A (Alpha and Beta Carotene), B,B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, D, E, K, Folate (Folic Acid), Biotin and much more.

MINERALS:
Calcium, Chloride, Chromium, Copper, Fluorine, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Molydenum, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Selenium, Sulfur, Zinc.

AMINO ACIDS:
Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Valine, Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Cystine, Glutamine, Glycine, Histidine, Proline, Serine, Tyrosine.

OTHER NUTRIENTS:
Chlorophyll, Carotenoids, Cytokins, Flavonoids, Omega 3,6 9 oils, Plant Sterols, Polyphenols, Lutein, Xanthins, Rutin and many more.

How does moringa act as detoxifier?Moringa seeds are well known for its use to purify dirty water. Moringa seeds when mixed with impure water will absorb all the impurities. In the similar process, moringa attracts the toxins from the blood and removes and excrete toxic build up.

How effective is moringa?A lot of research has been done about moringa and has been part of the daily diet of people around the world because of it’s nutritional and medicinal properties. Moringa has saved millions of lives in poor countries where malnutrition is prevalent because of its high nutritive value. John Hopkins has released a scientific paper regarding some of the medicinal properties of moringa.
How is moringa better than other nutritional supplements available in the market?Most of the multivitamin and calcium supplements available in the market are made using synthetic ingredients. The human body absorbs very minimal nutrients supplied through the synthetic supplements. However, moringa leaves and pods are natural sources of calcium and multivitamins and their processing method also enhances the bioavailability of the nutrients.

Bioavailability of Whole Plant Minerals: Calcium - Up to 8.79 times more bioavailable; Chromium - Up to 25 times more bioavailable; Copper - 1.85 time more retained in the liver; Iron - 1.77 times more absorbed into blood; Magnesium - Up to 2.20 times more bioavailable;
Manganese - 1.63 times more retained in the liver; Molybdenum - 16.49 times more absorbed into blood; Selenium - Up to 17.60 times the antioxidant effect; Zinc - 6.46 times more absorbed into blood.

Source: http://edlagman.com/moringa/moringa-health-benefits.htm/