What are the benefits of moringa?
5 minute read
You may not have heard of Moringa but once you get to know this amazing plant, you’ll soon want to reap its many healthful benefits. Read on to learn more about the “miracle plant” Moringa.
What is Moringa?
Moringa is a superfood which takes its name from the plant it is derived from, the Moringa Tree (Moringa Oleifera). Also known as the “miracle tree” and “drumstick tree”, Moringa is a plant native to India, Africa and Asia but now grown worldwide in dry tropics.
Moringa takes its name as the miracle tree thanks to its amazing ability to grow in a variety of soils and even nutrient-depleted soil. For thousands of years people have been fascinated by this plant, which doesn’t just survive but thrives in the most testing environmental conditions.
Once planted you can harvest Moringa leaves within 6-8 weeks, and they’ll magically replenish ready for harvest again in another 6-8 weeks! That’s good news for us, as these humble green leaves are home to some incredible health-optimising nutrients.
Miracle Moringa: A Nutritional Powerhouse
Moringa has been praised by locals of its native countries for thousands of years as a folk medicine and natural remedy. More recently, as science has been able to evidence just why Moringa is so good for us, it has gained popularity in the wider world.
Moringa leaves and pods are rarely consumed fresh and so are usually made into oils or dried to create powdered extracts and supplements. We use dried and powdered moringa leaves in our Clean Greens and Green Plant Protein superfood blends.
Like all superfood plants, Moringa provides many different nutrients in every tiny leaf. Studies have shown that gram for gram, Moringa is a lot more nutrient-dense than many other nutritious plants.
Moringa has an impressive nutritional profile - worthy of its superfood crown:
- 25% Protein
- 24% Fibre
- Provides all 9 essential amino acids - a complete source of protein
- Antioxidants
- Vitamins & minerals
Gram for gram, Moringa also contains:
- 7 times more Vitamin C than oranges
- 4 times more Vitamin A than carrots
- 4 times more Calcium than milk
- 3 times more Potassium than bananas
- A rich source of Iron
What are the Health Benefits of Moringa?
The health benefits of the Moringa tree come mainly from its green leaves, which harness powerful antioxidants and bioactive plant compounds.
In comparison, Moringa pods are generally lower in most vitamins and minerals compared to the leaves, but still contain a huge amount of Vitamin C.
As most moringa powders and supplements are derived from the leaves of the plant, here are 9 amazing health benefits they can provide.
1. Boosting Energy
Moringa is a great source of iron, helping to reduce the risk of iron deficiency which is common with plant-based diets. Getting enough iron helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue by optimising energy metabolism.
Moringa is also a source of Vitamin A, which helps to increase the uptake of iron and enhance its absorption. So, Moringa is a great superfood for anyone looking to increase their iron intake and feel more energised.
2. Skin Health
As well as Vitamin A, Moringa also contains a potent dose of Vitamin E, with both vitamins being known for their beautifying benefits – especially for skin health.
Moringa provides Vitamin A in the form of carotenoids, including beta-carotene, which helps to protect the skin from UV damage and maintain skin health and appearance.
It’s also a rich source of Vitamin E, whose antioxidant activity works to help protect skin from environmental toxins and so reduce the visible signs of ageing.
3. Immune Support
Like most green plants, Moringa helps to boost the immune system. Moringa leaves have antioxidant properties which are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-toxic properties.
These all work in synergy to protect the body from damaging free radicals, whilst supporting the immune system to reduce inflammation and flush out toxins.
Including Moringa in your diet can help to enhance your body’s natural immune response. Not only is this good news for protection against the common cold and flu, but regular consumption of moringa in the long-term could help to reduce the risk of chronic conditions and illness.
4. Helps to Manage Stress
Leaves from the Moringa tree have been recognised and approved as a powerful adaptogen. This means that they help to enhance the body’s natural stress response, minimising the harmful effects of stress such as anxiety, brain fog and mental fatigue.
As well as helping us to manage stress, adaptogens have also been shown to improve general health and wellbeing by maintaining normal physiological function throughout the body.
Amongst the thousands of species of edible plants, only a handful have been well researched and recognised as powerful adaptogens. So enjoying moringa in your daily diet is pretty special for your body.
5. Promotes Healthy Vision
The Vitamin A found in Moringa is not only great for skin health, it is also good for our eyes. Carotenoids in Moringa leaves are converted into Vitamin A which helps to filter harmful blue light before it reaches the eye, helping to prevent eye disorders such as myopia and cataracts.
10g of Moringa powder provides around 20% of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin A, so it’s an easy addition to your diet to help protect your eyes from daily damage associated with high screen time and our digital lifestyles.
6. Aids Digestion
Moringa is a rich source of fibre, comprising around one quarter of its composition. This helps to feed good bacteria in the gut and promote normal digestive health.
Studies have also shown that Moringa has anti-inflammatory properties which can help to reduce symptoms of digestive discomfort such as bloating, wind and constipation.
7. Increases Your Calcium Intake
10g of powdered Moringa leaves provides around 25% of your daily recommended intake for Calcium, which is essential for maintaining strong and healthy bones.
It is also a good source of iron, which support the synthesis of collagen – a key structural component in joints and bones.
8. Controls Blood Sugars
High blood glucose levels are a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and Metabolic Syndrome. Studies have shown that Moringa can help to reduce blood sugars by as much as 20%.
This is thought to be attributed to powerful plant compounds found in Moringa known as "isothiocyanates", which reduce insulin resistance and so help to metabolise glucose, allowing it to leave the bloodstream more efficiently.
Consuming moringa regularly can help to lower blood sugar levels and prevent the onset of Metabolic Syndrome and its associated conditions.
9. Can Improve Cholesterol Levels
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is carried around the body in the blood.
Total cholesterol is a reading of the good (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). High cholesterol is well known a risk factor for heart and cardiovascular disease.
Studies have shown that moringa contains bioactive plant compounds which inhibit the production of LDL, the bad cholesterol. This means that moringa can help to lower circulating levels of cholesterol and in turn reduce the risk of heart disease.
Moringa is a perfect example of a superfood, providing a whole spectrum of healthful benefits in a tiny package. Adding Moringa to your daily routine is a great way to optimise health and support overall wellbeing.
Get Your Daily Dose of Miracle Moringa 🌱
You can find Moringa in our Clean Greens and Green Plant Protein blends. We chose to add this amazing ingredient for its immune boosting, energising and digestive health promoting properties.
Getting your daily dose of Moringa from our superfood blends means that you’ll also enjoy the amazing benefits of many more incredible superfoods in every scoop.
Simply add to smoothies, juices, plant-based milk and even soups and meals for your daily Moringa superfood boost. Or check out our recipes below for some inspiration.
References:
Nutritional Composition of Moringa - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2679503/
Effect of Antioxidant Activity of Moringa - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13197-012-0859-9
Iron Content of Moringa - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814610003663
Moringa, Vitamin A and Carotenoids - https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/moringa-leaves-have-more-beta-carotene-than-carrots/articleshow/9227329.cms?from=mdr
Anti-inflammatory Activity or Moringa Leaves - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20435128/
Adaptogenic Function or Moringa - https://rjppd.org/HTMLPaper.aspx?Journal=Research+Journal+of+Pharmacology+and+Pharmacodynamics%3BPID%3D2010-2-3-16
Vitamin A in Moringa Supports Normal Vision - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300362
Role of Iron in the Synthesis of Collagen - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Role-of-iron-in-the-collagen-synthesis_fig3_274889014
Effect of Plants Compounds on Blood Sugar Levels - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09637489309017439
Cholesterol-lowering effects -
