MORING - tree of longevity. Healing properties and application of moringa
Author: Monika Majewska
Moringa is a plant that has unique nutritional values, and hence - healing properties. Moringa contains four times more vitamin A than carrots, seven times more vitamin C than oranges, 17 times more protein than milk and 25 times more iron than spinach. No wonder that moringa is called a "wonderful tree" or "tree of a long life" and belongs to the group of superfoods, or the healthiest food in the world. Check what other moringa properties it has and what application it has found.
Moringa oleodajna (Latin: Moringa oleifera) is a plant with exceptional nutritional properties, thanks to which it found itself in the group of superfoods, or the healthiest products in the world. This plant originating from India found application not only in natural medicine, but also in cosmetics and cooking. All parts of the tree can be used in many ways.
Flowers, leaves and bark provide a valuable raw material for medicines, as well as roots that resemble horseradish in taste (hence the other name of the plant "horseradish tree"). In turn, moringa oil is obtained from grains, which can be used for food and skin care. Grains - incl. due to their antibacterial properties - they have also been used in water purification. In turn, ropes and paper can be made from the bark. The whole plant also serves as biomass for producing alternative energy (eg. biofuels), and its "waste" is an ideal ecological fertilizer.
Moringa - nutritional values. Moringa with a vitamin bomb
Moringa contains twice as much protein as soy, four times more vitamin E than wheat germ, four times more vitamin A than carrots, seven times more vitamin C than oranges, 15 times more potassium than bananas, 17 times more protein than milk and 25 times more iron than spinach.
Moringa is known in some countries as a horseradish tree, stick tree or ben tree.
Moringa also has a high content of manganese, chromium and boron. Manganese is important for bone and joint health, and chromium is important in metabolism and stress. Boron plays a dominant role in the economy of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It is also a micronutrient important for brain work. Moringa is the plant with the highest boron content (31 mg / 100 g). Spore (but not so large) amounts of organic boron compounds contain quince (about 10 mg / 100 g), almonds (3.4 mg / 100 g) and beets (2.1 mg / 100g).
Moringa - a wealth of antioxidants and more
Moringa also contains all essential amino acids, 26 substances that inhibit inflammatory processes and omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids. Moringa also has a high content of up to 46 antioxidants (antioxidants).
Thanks to this, moringa is one of the products with the highest antioxidant capacity (ORAC for short - Oxygen Radical Capacity Absorbance), i.e. the ability to capture and neutralize free radicals, and thus - the ability to protect body cells from oxidative stress, which can lead to development many diseases, including cancer, heart disease and vascular system or diabetes.
The ORAC index for the moringa tree powder was shown to be 157 600 and is higher than for acai berries (102 700), green tea (1 253), berries (9 621), dark chocolate (20 816), garlic (5,708 ), goji berries (3,290) and red wine (3,607) ², so food that is considered a treasure trove of antioxidants. The larger ORAC index has only dried carnations (314 446), dried cinnamon (267 536) and dried oregano (200 129).
Moringa is a treasury of antioxidants - substances that protect against the development of cancer, circulatory diseases and delaying the aging process.
Of the 46 antioxidants that contain moringa, it is worth paying attention to zeatin, salvesterol and chlorophyll. Zeatin is a substance that is responsible for ensuring that all vitamins, minerals, micronutrients and amino acids are accepted by the body. In turn, salvesterol belongs to a group of substances called phytoalexins.
They are produced by plants in response to infections caused by plant pathogens. Researchers have found that salvesterol also has anticancer properties - it transforms into a toxic substance in cancer tissue, which leads to tumor destruction.
In addition, it has been shown that moringa has the highest concentration of chlorophyll among all plants tested so far. Chlorophyll is a green dye that promotes the body's cleansing processes - it creates strong connections with some of the toxic compounds (including some carcinogens) - thanks to that less amount of harmful compounds reaches the body's tissues.
important
Moringa – contraindications
It is not recommended to use roots, bark and moringa flowers during pregnancy. The substances contained in these parts of the plant can cause uterine contractions and miscarriage. In addition, there is not enough information on the safety of using other parts of the moringa during pregnancy. Therefore, women expecting a baby should not reach for this plant.
Moringa - use in the kitchen
Moringa is widely used in the kitchen. Fruit and young shoots are eaten after cooking. Young cress-like leaves can be eaten like spinach. After drying and grinding, they are an addition to soups, salads, cocktails, yoghurts or milk and fruit shakes.
Powdered moringa leaves should be consumed max. 3 x daily after 1 teaspoon (1.5 g) with food or in the form of tea or cocktails.
You can also use them to brew tea, which has a sweet note. Moring oil can also be used for food purposes.
Moringa - use in cosmetics
Moringa oil is recommended for skin and hair care. Thanks to it, they will become soft and intensely moisturized. The oil is easily absorbed, and the fat film does not stay on the skin for a long time. It can also be used to make a relaxing massage.
Good to know
Moringa - where to buy? What is the price?
Moringa can be bought in stores in the form of powdered leaves (price is about 30 PLN for 50 g), as well as tablets or capsules (prices range from 50 to even over 100 PLN, depending on the number of capsules and the producer). Moringa tea is also sold (about PLN 50 for 100 g).