Many refer to it as a magical, cure all plant. Some even go as far as to refer to it as “the tree of life”. But what is it? These lovely descriptions are to describe the Moringa plant. But why do people make it sound so amazing? Well, it is because it is special. This magical plant has been around for many centuries and is best known for the countless benefits to our health it can provide.
Many do not even know of the existence of the Moringa plant, but after doing some research, it is truly amazing how highly people speak of it. The Moringa plant is said to be very therapeutic and is believed to be able to help treat many diseases, from high blood pressure to diabetes to cancer.
And that is only naming a few. After doing some digging, the amount of evidence that actually proves how amazing, magical and beneficial this lovely plant is, there is no wonder it gets so much praise from those who get to see it's true wonder.
The Moringa plant is actually a large tree found in North India. This tree has many names. Some call it the horse radish tree, other's call it the drumstick tree, and some refer it to the ben oil tree. It's interesting how this lovely plant goes by so many names.
Nearly every part of the Moringa plant is consumable, which is even more incredible. These parts are then used to make both herbal and traditional medicines. In parts of Africa and India, the leaves are a delicacy. This is mainly due to the fact that Moringa has a lot of antioxidants and contains many bioactive plant compounds.
Scientists have been spending many years researching and studying the benefits of Moringa plant and they have since uncovered many health benefits. The botanical name for this plan is Moringa oleifera, and extensive research has been carried out to see just how many of the benefits are really because of the Moringa oleifera, and surprisingly, this beautiful tree really is an accent the human kind.
The Moringa Plant is Rich in Antioxidants
Free radicals are dangerous to our bodies because they can cause oxidative stress, which can lead to many chronic and fatal diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Antioxidants are the compounds that sweep these free radicals away. This leads us to the next reason that the Moringa plant is so amazing. Due to the various antioxidants that can be found in the Moringa leaves, such as Quercetin,e Chlorognic acid, and both vitamin C and vitamin A, which is a beta-carotene.
Chlorogenic acid is also found in coffee and it is so beneficial because it has been linked with managing blood sugar levels after you eat. Quercetin is another important antioxidant because it can help lower your blood pressure. What's even more amazing is that Moringa leaf extract can be used to reduce oxidation in meat, which makes it a great natural preservative.
The Moringa Plant is Rich in Necessary Nutrients
As we stated above, the leaves of the Moringa plant are rich in many nutrients, including vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin C, many proteins, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, manganese, calcium, and magnesium. Due to the amount of iron found in the Moringa plant leaves, it has been proven to help improve anemia and can even alleviate the symptoms completely. Zinc is crucial for hair growth, skin health and spermatogenesis. Calcium is essential to healthy bones.
In countries such as the United States, you can find the dried Moringa leaves in powder or pill form as a dietary supplement. A 100 gram dosage contains almost 18 percent of the daily amount of protein. That same 100 gram dosage contains over 250 percent of the daily amount of vitamin A. The dried leaves also prove to be a great source of amino acids.
If you would rather consume the pods, you are in luck. Though they are not as rich in minerals and vitamins as the leaves are, the pods contain a large amount of vitamin C. We all know that vitamin C is a great way to boost your immune system. 100 grams of the pods contain almost 160 percent of your daily amount of vitamin C.
In countries that are currently under developed, many people lack the necessary nutrients. That is exactly why the Moringa plant is so important to these countries. This wonderful plan is a great way to supplement and make up for those missing proteins, vitamins and minerals.
But there is one downfall. Moringa leaves have substances that make it harder to absorb these nutrients. That means there is a difference between taking Moringa as a food item or using it as a dietary supplement.
The Moringa Plant May Be Linked With a Reduction of Inflammation
When you are injured or have an infection, your body naturally responds by becoming inflamed. This of when you twist your ankle. Your ankle swells up to protect it from any further damage. However, if the inflammation lasts for a long time, it can become quite a large health problem. Research suggests that having inflammation for a long period of time may be in correlation with several dangerous diseases, such as diabetes, certain forms of cancer, and heart disease.
While there are many ways to get anti-inflammatory properties naturally, such as through spices, vegetables and fruits, you can also get these anti-inflammatory properties from Moringa. Another way is through pomegranate and turmeric.
The leaves, seeds, and pods of the Moringa plant are all great sources of the isothicyanate compounds, which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
Do not get too excited just yet though, the research on this one is ongoing. Right now, there has not been any evidence in humans, but there is still a likely chance that the Moringa plant can help with inflammation in humans, seeing as it has been proven to help improve inflammation in animals.
The Moringa Plant Can Aid in Lowering Blood Sugar Levels – Beneficial For Diabetics
Since high blood sugar levels is such a huge problem, especially to diabetics, we are always looking for ways to manage our blood sugar levels. High sugar levels can lead to many diseases and health problems including heart disease, stroke, and diabetic shock.
Recent research has shown that Moringa may be linked with lowered blood sugar levels. This is because Moringa leaves have isothiocyanates and other compounds that are commonly liked to lower blood sugar levels.
Not only is this good news for diabetics, but it is also good news for people who are at risk for diabetes, such as obesity.
The Moringa Plant Can Help Lower Cholesterol
Seeing as many plant based foods, such as oats, almonds and flaxseeds have been linked to lowering cholesterol, it is no surprise that Moringa makes that list as well. If you have high levels of bad cholesterol, you are at a higher risk for getting heart disease. By lowering the bad cholesterol in your blood, you are therefore lowering your chances of getting heart disease.
Just like other natural ways to lower your cholesterol, the Moringa plant has been proven to contain the same effects. While the studies are limited, it is safe to say that it is very similar to its other plant counterparts.
Can the Moringa Plant Can Protect Against Arsenic Toxicity?
In many countries, the risk of arsenic contaminating the food and water sources has a huge effect on the health of the people living there. Arsenic contamination is very, very dangerous.
While you may not even know you have been exposed to arsenic contamination due to the fact that the symptoms of arsenic toxicity do not normally show up right away, if you are exposed to arsenic on a regular basis, it is very harmful to your overall health.
Studies prove that after being exposed to arsenic for long periods of time at high levels, you are at a greater risk of having heart disease and cancer.
What is truly amazing about the Moringa plant is that it may be able to help protect you from some of the harmful effects of arsenic toxicity. While we still do not know everything about this unbelievable ability, scientists are working hard to uncover just what that may mean for those who are exposed to arsenic contamination on a regular basis.
Moringa Benefits Summary
While there is still a lot of research surrounding just what the Moringa plant has to offer, so far, we can really see just how amazing it may be. Not only is it rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, it contains other nutrients that are necessary for a healthy life.
The Moringa plant is also capable of helping with several diseases and can be linked to many health benefits. Scientists are continuously uncovering more and more things that this lovely plant is capable of.
You can purchase Moringa as a supplement in several forms, such as teas, extract, oil, pills, and powders at many organic health food stores. While you should definitely contact your doctor before supplementing with any form of Moringa, I am sure we will be hearing more about this truly magical plant in the near future as more and more research is done!
