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Moringa Oleifera

You might want to memorize that name. Why? Because it is a plant that may very well change the world in the near future.  The interesting part about it though is Moringa Oleifera, or Moringa has been around for tens of thousands of years and used by civilizations for almost that long.  Not only does this tree provide a vast array of nutritional value, but it can also: produce fuel, enhance crop growth, produce livestock feed, purify water and produce medicine!

On a site note, this single plant is the whole reason I started learning about alternative medicines.  The tree fascinated me so much that I wanted to learn about other natural substances that were similar.  Read on, this one is going to shock you.

What is Moringa Oleifera?

Moringa Oleifera is commonly know all over the world by a variety of names: Moringa, Malunggay, Shevaga, The Drumstick Tree, The Horseradish Tree and a few classics such as “Mothers Best Friend,” “The Tree of Life” and “Natures Medicine Cabinet.”  Moringa happens to be the only genus in the family Moringaceae.  Moringa Oleifera is one of 12 different types of “Moringa” that grow around the world and arguably the most beneficial.

Why is this tree so beneficial?

• Lets start with the fact that it can grow in soils where many plants can’t.  Once the moringa tree grows, it deposits organic matter back into the ground and over time actually can make the ground more fertile!
• The plant produces seed pods.  Inside of these seed pods you of course find seeds.  You can eat them or plant them for more trees.
• The seeds also serve additional purposes:  They contain 50-60% oil.  This oil is extremely beneficial for the skin as a mositurizer and can be used to treat cuts and scrapes.  The oil is also an extremely clean burning fuel.  Imagine the possibilities here for a family that survives off their land.
• Now take it one step further, after the seeds are mashed to produce the oil, the seed pulp itself can be added to water and will actually purify the water.  The pulp attracts dirt, germs and bacteria and allows it to settle to the bottom with the pulp leaving cleaner water.  This is also the believed effect that happens within the body when the plant is consumed.
• Now we have the leaves and we will go into more detail on the actual nutritional value of the leaves a bit further down the page, but they are extremely nutritious and are often used to brew tea or are dried (which actually increases the potency) and milled into a fine powder.  This powder has been used for many years by aid organizations to treat malnutrition in third world countries and is a cheap alternative to many medicines.
• Now you can also take the the left over leaves and stems and grind them up to be added to livestock fodder.  Studies have shown large percentage increases in both mass and milk production when this plant is added to the diet!
• For farming, the same parts that are added to the livestock fodder can be added to the water applied to crops and increases in size of crop can also be attained.
• The flowers can be eaten and used in teas
• The root is used in Aruyvedic medicine as well as a substitute for horseradish
• the benefits of this tree go on and on…..

Now you can see why this tree was so amazing to me.  Never before has there been such an opportunity to change lives all over the world than there is with this special tree.

Where Does Moringa Come From?

Moringa Oleifera is actually native to the Himalayan region of Northwest India, which adds this plant to the ever growing list of “superfoods” coming out of this harsh climate.  One cannot help wonder if the necessity for an extremely hardy and adaptable plant in this region contributes to their exceptional nutritional quality, but I digress.

Moringa is now found throughout the world in tropical and sub-tropical regions.  It grows best in a sandy based soil, but can also live in very poor soil.  This is what makes this tree so amazing is that not only can it grow where others can, but its also an extremely fast growing tree, one of the fastest around.  Although the plant can with stand frost, it generally does not withstand a hard freeze.  The general rule of thumb for moringa is that you can typically grow it wherever you can grow oranges.

The footage below shows Moringa trees growing wild in Kenya.

What Are The Nutritional Benefits Of Moringa?

Time for this tree to truly shine.

First, I think it is of note that when people refer to the nutritional benefits of Moringa, they are most often referring to the leaves themselves.  The leaves are also typically dried as the majoriety of nutrional benefits as the leaf dries.

Gram for gram, the Moringa leaf contains:

• 7 Times the Vitamin C of oranges
• 4 Times the Vitamin A of carrots
• 4 Times the Calcium of milk
• 3 Times the Potassium of bananas
• 2 Times the Protein of yogurt

Moringa is a very rare plant in that it contains a vast vitamin and mineral spectrum including: Vitamin A, B1,B2,B3,C calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, protein, zinc and more.

This in and of itself is amazing, but what is truly remarkable, is that Moringa leaves also contain all the essential amino acids and in good proportion, so they are extremely useful to the human body.

The properties of the plant are also said to have a detoxifying effect on the body much like the seeds do in water.

It’s no wonder that the World Health Organization has been utilizing the Moringa tree for over 40 Years!  Western Civilization is starting to wake up, in fact the Moringa Tree was named “Plant of the Year” on Earth Day 2008 by the National Institute for Health (NIH).

In short here is a quote from Monica G. Marcu, Phar.D., Ph.D. stating that Moringa will bring to the westerners table “Concentrated vitamins, minerals, all necessary protein constituents, beneficial fats, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory substances, all in a readily absorbable form and easy to digest = an energy food. Tasty but with very little sugar and salt”  Dr. Marcu goes on to state that Moringa is truly a superfood because even in low doses, it can supply all the vital nutrients the body needs with very few calories.

Moringa Supplement Information

Moringa comes in several forms on the market today utilizing mostly the leaves, but also the oil and the seeds in some instances.  We will cover the various types of supplementation below:

Moringa Leaf Powder-

The original Moringa supplement made from the dried leaves of moringa trees.  After harvest, the frawns are hung like tobacco and slow dried out of the sun to preserve the nutrients.  Once dry, they are milled into this fine powder which can be used to make teas, added into baked goods or sprinkled on top of food or salads.  Potent and effective.

Moringa Leaf Powder Capsules-

Moringa Capsules are, or rather “should,” simply be moringa leaf powder in an easy to consumer capsule form.  These can be very handy and a lot less messy if you are traveling or for those who prefer not to taste the powdered form. 

Moringa Oil-
Moringa oil has been used for centuries to moisturize the skin, reduce the signs of aging and treat small cuts bruises and scrapes.  Again, the potency and quality of the oil will be largely derived from the quality of the moringa plant itself and the manufacturing process.  You will want a “cold pressed” moringa oil as heat can destroy the natural enzymes. 

Moringa Cosmetics-

As awareness arises about moringa you are starting to see it listed in high end cosmetics as an ingredient to help slow the signs of aging and moisturize.  Before you buy, take a look at the rest of the ingredients and the company itself to determine if the moringa contained within will actually be beneficial to you and good for the planet.

Beware of Moringa Scams

As you can imagine, as more and more people become aware of Moringa and its benefits the flow flow of products onto the market is going to skyrocket.  We are already starting to see signs of this in the market place as low quality manufactures are attempting to capitalize on unsuspecting and uneducated consumers.

Unfortunatly right now, a large amount of the Moringa Oleifera supplements on the market are made from cheap Moringa that is imported from India.  Now there may be some quality organic moringa farms in India as well, but on a whole, India has been known for their lack of quality control and an inferior product.

Take a look at a sample photo taken from our manufacturer showing the difference between a low grade Indian grown moringa and their product.  Note the bright green and vibrant color of our manufacturers product and the dull “dead” appearance of the inferior moringa.

If you are purchasing any moringa capsule, make sure that it contains only 100% moringa and no fillers or additives.  You may also want to verify that it comes in a vegetarian or vegan capsule.

So before you buy a moringa supplement, make sure you do your due diligence on the manufacturer and where they source their moringa from and any other ingredients.  It is also of not that there have been several Multi Level Marketing companies springing up of late with Moringa as one of their main ingredients or selling points.  It is my assertion that I have yet to see a company such as this that produces a product of quality with sufficient moringa levels sourced from reputable sources.  I am open to changing this opinion, if something comes up, but until that time, buyer beware.

Well, there you have it, you now know more about Moringa than 99.9% of the world, I hope you found the information you were looking for and if you are looking for the finest quality Organic Moringa Supplements, be sure to visit our store.

If you enjoyed this article or found it useful, be sure to leave your comments below and share with anyone you think will find it useful.

Mat

For even more information on Moringa, be sure to download the Moringa Report below from our good friends over at Trees For Life International.