Useful Properties Of Moringa

Every year, the US National Institutes of Health selects the most mysterious and little-studied plant that has the potential to help humanity. In 2008, such a plant was named moringa , which became the impetus for many studies.

Let's find out what modern science has learned about the traditional Ayurvedic superfood in recent years.

Adaptogen from the Indonesian peninsula

Moringa oleifera (Moringa Oleifera) is a tree 5 to 10 meters tall with long fruit pods that somewhat resemble drumsticks. In its wild form, it is found in the forests of the Indonesian peninsula, while plantations of cultivated moringa are scattered around the world: in Pakistan, Indonesia, Taiwan, Africa and South America.

The undemanding tree grows on almost any soil, although it prefers sandstones and loams. Thanks to this feature , moringa becomes a real salvation for regions suffering from infertile soils, malnutrition and, in particular, protein deficiency. In particular, moringa contains a lot of it.

In the countries of Indochina, the plant has been used since ancient times. Here it has a reputation as a miracle cure. which is able to heal from almost any disease. Moringa powder can be bought at almost any pharmacy in Thailand and India. Moringa is also actively used in cooking: the high protein content allows it to fit well into the Ayurvedic vegetarianism.

Moringa in cooking

Almost all parts of moringa are edible: young leaves and stems, flowers, unripe fruits or seed pods, and even seeds and roots. But the most nutritious are the leaves and tender young pods, rich in protein, vitamins of group B, C, E, provitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron.

In cooking, they are used according to the same technology as other herbs: boiled, dried and ground into a powder, which is then added to soups and sauces. And sometimes they are finely chopped and served as a side dish. Once in Thailand, be sure to try the traditional spicy and sour fish soup kaeng som with moringa pods . In the Philippines, moringa leaves are added to Visayan fish soup. And in Benin, moringa powder is put in bread to increase the protein, iron and calcium content.

In India and Bangladesh, moringa is added to curry - for this, unripe pods are boiled in coconut milk and spices. And young, thin fruits are cut short and stewed. Their taste is reminiscent of asparagus with a hint of fresh sweet beans. Roots are also used: they taste like horseradish root and are added to dishes as a spicy seasoning.

Folk medicine vs modern research

The healing properties of moringa were first described in ancient treatises of Ayurveda . Then all parts of the tree - from the roots to the flowers - were included in the recipes of medicines and cosmetics. For example, the leaves are used for hypertension and diabetes, and sometimes for the treatment of malaria and typhoid fever.

The choice of medicines in those days was small, but modern science is convinced: adding moringa to the diet is still relevant today. After all , the plant is a rich source of biologically active ingredients. In addition to vitamins and carotenoids, it contains antioxidants, tannins, and saponins. Scientists have counted more than 30 compounds in moringa that are potentially useful for our body.

An important nuance: the phytocomposition of moringa is not always the same. The concentration of bioactive substances in different parts of the plant can vary significantly. Also, the amount of vitamins is affected by the place of growth, the season of harvesting and the method of extraction.

Some of the miraculous properties of moringa are now scientifically proven, and some still need further study.

Moringa has antimicrobial and antifungal effects

In Indochina , moringa is used to treat superficial wounds, inflammation, and fungus on the skin, nails, and mucous membranes.

The effectiveness of this approach is confirmed by a series of experiments. Moringa extracts really have a pronounced antimicrobial effect. The aqueous extract of the root contains the active antibiotic pterygospermin, a powerful antibacterial and antifungal component. The water-soluble lectin from the seed extract inhibits the growth of many types of pathological bacteria. This list can be continued - almost any part of the plant , processed in accordance with the ancient recommendations of Ayurveda , provides a local disinfecting effect.

Moringa has anti-inflammatory properties

Followers of Ayurveda successfully treat inflammation of the urinary tract with moringa .

Clinical studies with the participation of volunteers confirm that the extract of the bark of this tree really helps to relieve the symptoms of urinary tract infection. As for other diseases, in vitro experiments (experiments carried out in a test tube, outside a living organism) have proven that moringa seed extract can significantly reduce the level of inflammatory cytokines (markers of the intensity of inflammation).

Doctors are in no hurry to introduce moringa into therapy - additional research is needed, including with the use of drugs manufactured according to a single standard. But to reduce the level of chronic inflammation, which is increasingly common in big cities, adding moringa powder to food can be useful.

Moringa has an antioxidant effect

Consumption of moringa is practiced to maintain the health of the cardiovascular system and treat allergic diseases.

Scientists have found that the dried leaf and extract of moringa contain many antioxidants, in particular, flavonoids. They are present in fairly high concentrations and can have a therapeutic effect. Alcoholic leaf extract also contains rutin (vitamin P).

It is known that these substances help to strengthen the walls of blood vessels, increase the elasticity of erythrocytes and thus have a positive effect on the composition and consistency of blood. Vitamin P provides the best vascular protective effect in combination with vitamin C, which is also abundant in moringa .

Other laboratory experiments have shown that the flavonoid quercetin can protect the brain, heart and other organs from damage caused by ischemia and toxins. And moringa can help the liver and kidneys recover after poisoning. Moringa 's antioxidant properties open its way to cosmetology.