Introduction
Moringa oleifera, also known as horse radish tree and drumstick tree, is indigenous to north-western India and the Himalayan foothills and is now found worldwide. It is a nutritional and functional food used worldwide. It is cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 9 and 10 in the USA. It is usually grown in semi arid, tropical, and subtropical regions. It is an annual or perennial plant that prefers to be grown in slightly acidic pH soil. Moringa has many edible parts, such as immature seed pods, drum sticks, mature seeds, leaves, flowers, and oil pressed from seeds.
It is a highly nutritious plant enriched with vitamins, minerals, and protein. It can be grown cheaply and helps in fighting malnutrition. Leaves, flower seeds, and roots of Moringa have nutritional benefits. It has various health benefits. It protects against cellular damage as it has antioxidant content. It helps in the reduction of pain and inflammation. It is one of the important sources of nourishment in a country where nutrition is a major concern due to economic issues. Dried leaves of Moringa are consumed as food supplements in powder and capsule form.
What Is Moringa?
Moringa Oleifera is a short-growing shrub that belongs to the Mongraciae family. There are thirteen varieties of moringa species. Moringa derives from the word "Murungal," which denotes twisted pods found in young plants. It was first described in 2000 BC in northern America. It is grown in semiarid and subtropical regions. It is a highly nutrient-dense plant and has medicinal use. Therefore, it is also known as a miracle plant. It is a fast-growing, drought-resistance plant that grows approximately eight to ten meters high. It has compound pinnate leaflets and white-colored flowers. It is used in culinary preparation in various forms, such as stir-fried vegetables, dried seeds, and powdered form.
What Is the Nutritional Value of Moringa?
Moringa is a nutrient-dense plant that is a great food in terms of nutritional value. Moringa leaves are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, B1, B2, and B3. It also contains minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and iron. In addition, Moringa is highly enriched with amino acids. There are eighteen types of amino acids present in Moringa. In addition, it contains phytoconstituents like Niazrin and Niazrinin. Flavonoids such as quercetin is also present in moringa.
Following is the nutritional content of 100 grams of fresh moringa leaves.
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Energy - 64 kilocalories.
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Dietary Fiber - 2.0 grams.
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Carbohydrate - 8 grams.
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Protein - 9.4 grams.
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Fats - 1.4 grams.
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Vitamin A - 3.7 milligrams.
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Thiamine - 0.25 milligrams
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Riboflavin - 0.66 milligrams.
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Pantothenic acid -0.125 milligrams.
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Folate - 0.4 mg.
What Are the Health Benefits of Moringa?
Following health benefits are attributed to Moringa.
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Antioxidant Properties - Moringa is enriched with antioxidants that fight the free radicals in the body. The Moringa leaves contain potent antioxidants such as vitamin C and beta carotene, which reduce the oxidative stress caused by the free radicals in the body.
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Skin and Hair - Oil extracted from moringa seeds benefit skin and hair growth. It keeps the hair healthy and protects against free radicals. It contains protein that prevents damage to skin cells. It provides detoxification and hydration to the body, improving the skin. It is effective against skin infections.
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Edema - Moringa has anti-inflammatory properties, which help in treating edema. It helps prevent edema by reducing fluid accumulation in tissues.
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Liver Health - Moringa is good for liver health as it protects the liver and repairs liver damage. It helps in the repair of the liver caused by the antitubercular drug.
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Cancer Prevention - Moringa contains Niazimicin, suppressing cancer cells by preventing further cancer development.
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Gastrointestinal Health - Moringa extracts help maintain gastrointestinal health by preventing gastric diseases like gastritis, constipation, and ulcerative colitis. Moringa extracts have antibacterial properties, which help in the inhibition of bacteria and help in keeping their health. The vitamin B content of Moringa improves digestion.
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Antibacterial Properties - Moringa has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which protect against infections from microorganisms like Salmonella and Rhizopus.
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Mood Disorders - Moringa helps reduce mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
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Cardiovascular Health - Moringa is good for cardiac health as it contains potent antioxidants which improve cardiac health. It also helps regulate cholesterol levels in blood and blood pressure, which is good for cardiac health.
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Wound Healing - Moringa extract helps heal the wound and reduces scar formation.
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Diabetes - Moringa is good for diabetic patients as it reduces the sugar level in the blood and urine.
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Asthma - Moringa is beneficial for asthmatic patients as it reduces the severity of the attack. It improves breathing and the functioning of the lungs.
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Renal Diseases - Moringa extracts contain a high amount of antioxidants that help decrease the toxicity to the kidney.
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Eye Health - Moringa improves eye health by reducing the dilation of retinal vessels. It prevents capillary thickening of the eye membranes.
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Blood Pressure - Moringa extracts the Niaziminin compound, which maintains blood pressure by preventing arterial thickening.
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Anemia - Moringa helps prevent anemia by increasing iron absorption and red blood cell count.
What Are the Downsides of Moringa?
Moringa's roots, bark, and flowers should not be consumed during pregnancy as they have anti-fertility properties. The chemical compounds present in the leaf bark and roots of the Moringa can cause contraction in the uterus. Therefore, it should be avoided during pregnancy. Moringa is known to interfere with the absorption of certain drugs, like levothyroxine. It also lowers the blood sugar level; therefore, consuming Moringa alone with antidiabetic drugs may cause blood sugar to drop too low.
Conclusion
Moringa Oleifera is a plant known worldwide for its nutritional value and health benefits for years. It is a plant enriched with nutrients, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. It contains important nutrients such as protein, iron, vitamin C, B6, and riboflavin. It increases the antioxidant level in the blood and has anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces blood sugar and cholesterol levels, thereby maintaining heart health. It is one of the best options for nutritious food and is inexpensive. However, there are certain downsides associated with moringa consumption. It is not recommended for pregnant women as it has anti-fertility properties. Otherwise, it should be incorporated into the diet as it has various health benefits and nutritional sources.
