Moringa: Health Benefits and How to Use It
By: Barb Biagioli
Move over matcha. It’s time to meet moringa.
Moringa is sweeping the wellness world. Loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients, this health boasting leafy green plant is an antifungal, antiviral, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory wonder.
Moringa olefeira comes from a plant, known as the “miracle tree” or the “drumstick tree”, native to the Himalayan Mountains of India and known for its medicinal properties and health benefits. The leaves of the plant have been used in preventative and traditional Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, even hailed as a cure for disease.
With the ability to boost energy and metabolism, detoxify the body, promote healthy radiant skin and improve mental clarity, moringa powder is one of nature’s most nutritious superfoods.
What are the Health Benefits of Moringa Powder?
Moringa’s superfood status comes from its rich nutrition profile, providing more nutrients per gram than many other plant foods. Although the nutrient density of moringa powder can vary depending on how it’s grown, prepared and stored, moringa is ranked more nutritionally potent than its counterparts. Gram for gram, moringa has:
7x the Vitamin C in oranges
4x the Beta Carotene in carrots
3x the Iron in spinach
4x the calcium in milk
2x the protein in milk
3x the potassium in bananas
And more fiber than oats!
In addition to supplying a hefty amount of antioxidants, moringa powder may help lower blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and improve heart function. It also just so happens to be easily absorbed by the body and is a super source of plant based protein – containing all of the 9 essential amino acids. If all of these reasons aren’t enough motivation to put some moringa in your morning smoothie, here are the 6 more benefits of moringa powder.
1. Fatigue Fighter and Energy Booster
Moringa may help you ward off exhaustion. Containing vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, vitamin A, calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorous, these vitamins and minerals work together to replenish your energy stores and fight off fatigue. Particularly high in Vitamin A – 325% of the recommended daily dose – and iron – 468% of the recommended daily dose – the vitamin A and iron work together to support he reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
2. Stress Reduction and Brain Health
Moringa may play a pivotal role in reducing stress and optimizing brain function, in addition to supporting overall well-being. The potency of Vitamin C and E in moringa combat oxidative stress associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia of the brain. Moringa has also been shown to increase dopamine and serotonin, otherwise known as the “happy hormones” that circulate the brain, which makes it potentially useful for treating depression, improving mood and reducing stress levels. In addition, the adaptogens in moringa leaves help to improve attention and improve stress related response, so it’s a great substitution for caffeine as a healthy pick-me-up!
3. Clear Vision and Radiant Skin
Rich in skin loving antioxidants and vitamins A, E, B2, B3 and zinc, moringa is great for promoting healthy and glowing skin. If you’re struggling with dry, dull or blemished skin, moringa can help to give you a radiant and glowing appearance. It contains a substantial dosage of vitamin A which helps to heal the skin and is also rich in Vitamin E, which helps prevent oxidative stress from damaging the skin cells. The Vitamin A content in moringa may also help improve eyesight.
4. Immune Booster + Inflammation Reduce
For the plant powerhouse that it is, moringa also supports the immune system. Full of fantastic immune boosting properties, including iron and vitamin A, moringa helps the immune systems to fight off viruses, bacteria and free radicals and foreign invaders. It also contains polyphenols that suppress inflammatory enzymes and proteins that interfere with the body’s ability to ward off disease. While I’ll always stand true to turmeric, moringa is another great inflammation fighter that has the potential to significantly reduce…you guessed it, inflammation.
5. Diabetes Protection
Moringa is great for regulating oxidative stress in the body and is effective at reducing lipid and glucose levels. Known for balancing and stabilizing blood sugar, studies have shown that Moringa helps prevent blood sugar spikes after meals and reduces fasting blood sugar levels. Moringa leafy is great natural resources for treating and preventing diabetes and may even help reverse type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
6. Cancer Prevention
Go, moringa, go! Moringa may play a role in treating cancer – a study showed that extracts of moringa leaves and bark could inhibit the growth of cancer cells. The leaves pack a potent dose of antioxidants and compounds that ward off cancers by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells and DNA that trigger tumor development – they are created by pollution, fried food, sun exposure, processed foods and environmental toxins. They cause damage to your cells causing oxidative stress and premature aging. Research has demonstrated that moringa extracts, such as quercetin and glucosinolates help inhibit growth of cancer cells, slow cell motility and colony formation in colon and breast cancer, specifically.
How to Use Moringa
You can reap the benefits of moringa using fresh moringa leaves, powdered moringa, or cold-pressed moringa oil. A word to the wise though - when shopping for your moringa product, make sure that it is organic and third-party tested.
For those of us that are not local to harvested moringa crops, fresh moringa leaves will be hard to come by. The most accessible way of using moringa is often in powder form – which is ideal for smoothies, guacamole, and even oatmeal. It’s also great incorporated into a caffeine free matcha latte! There are so many brilliants ways of using moringa because it’s super versatile, and pairs well with existing plant based smoothies, soups, and sips.
Considering its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and health enhancing benefits, moringa is a truly potent plant food that is worth adding to your wellness line up. With a remarkable nutrient profile – 25% plant protein, 9 essential amino acids, 24% fiber, vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin A, calcium, iron and antioxidants, moringa is one of the healthiest plants in the world. Do yourself, your liver, your cholesterol, your heart, and your gut a favor and add this medicinal plant to your medicine cabinet and arsenal of adaptogens.
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