All parts of the tree are usable for nutritional and medicinal purposes – from the roots, trunk, and branches to the leaves, flowers, and seeds. The small, oval, dark-green leaves are famous vegetable ingredient in soup, fish and chicken dishes.
The leaves can actually be eaten raw, but are best added in meals due to the high concentration of nutrients. The roots are used to make tea, while the trunk, after it is scraped and squeezed for its juice is used to clean wounds.
Moringa trees are generally grown in the backyards in countries of Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and Africa. It is said that these plants are “low maintenance,” requiring little to no care.
Its Powder is a nutritionally complex green super food that simultaneously nourishes and detoxifies the body. Unlike many conventional supplements and multi-vitamins, moringa leaf powder is a whole food – meaning its abundant nutrients are easily absorbed and utilized by the body. You will feel the energizing, immunity boosting, anti-stress, and detoxifying effects of this Organic Herb for yourself.
Benefits of Moringa Leaves
Fertility
If a couple is having troubles trying to conceive a baby, it is highly recommended that both the man and the woman add the leaves into their diet. Moringa leaves and fertility have been going hand in hand for centuries.
To increase the effect of moringa benefits for men, it is best to mix moringa powder with ground pepper and dried ginger. Moreover, moringa can also be very helpful during the postpartum period: it helps promote lactation and prevent anemia for breastfeeding mothers.
Increase Semen Count
Moringa leaves tea has been proved as the multi-advantages tree; while the fruits may bring the solution for men’s problem. For those who have semen problem, this is the best way to increase semen count. It can effectively help men to produce more fluids which protect and enrich sperm
Produce more Milk for Breast-feeding
Breast-feeding mothers need to give the best milk for their babies in order to prevent malnutrition. Natural nutrition of breast-feeding can produce more milk if the mothers consume the leaves. Moreover the leaves are believed to have an aphrodisiac that enhances or stimulates the sexual activity. Malunggay young can increase the flow of milk lactating mothers.
Normalize Blood Sugar Level (Diabetes)
Among the various benefits of the leaves, anti diabetic becomes one of the illnesses which the leaves can heal. Some studies of diabetes explained an increase in the magnitude of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) which almost doubled from 4.1% to 8.1%.
That condition may be caused by stressed lifestyle and it leads to the increase in the incidence of diabetes.
The leaves have potential in managing health especially for diabetes. Hyperglycemia is one of the most important symptoms of diabetes. The study used Malunggay leaves tea in lowering the blood sugar levels. The research involved some participants and they were asked to have breakfast before they drank its tea.
After taking breakfast their blood sugar levels were measured. The research used the dried-leaves tea and commercially prepared according to the specifications of the manufacturer.
One tablespoon of the leaves was mixed into a cup of hot water and brewed for 5 minutes and each respondent drank one cup of the tea.
After two hours, their blood sugar levels were measured again and the study proved that taking the leaves tea did not have significant effect on the blood sugar level two hours after intake for people with initial blood sugar levels that are between 60-120 mg/dl.
In other side when the leaves tea was drunk by hyperglycemic patients, their blood sugar levels sugnificantly decreased two hours after intake. That proof shows that moringa leaves tea can manage or treat diabetes.
Combating Malnutrition
The leaves have been known in medical field as the effective way to combat malnutrition especially among infants or new born babies and nursing mothers to combat malnutrition,
The leaves are consumed by mothers in feeding programs. The drumsticks are similar to green beans while the seeds are taken out from the mature pods and cooked like roasted nuts.
The leaves are cooked and used such spinach and dried for usage as a condiment. They are rich in nutrients and minerals and are used as nutritional supplement.
Anti-infectious, Antibacterial and Antifungal
The medical field has proved the miracle benefits of the leaves for some treatments including the herbal medicine for anti infectious, anti bacterial and antifungal since the leaves contain iron, thiamin, calcium, beta-carotene, phosphorous, vitamin A, B, C and E and lipoprotein.
Specific components of the leaves which include isothiocyanate compounds were reported to exhibit hypotensive, anticancer and antibacterial activities in our body.
Pterygospermin which is known in medical science as having antimicrobial was also found in the leaves.
Anticancer (Phytochemicals)
Nowadays cancer has been one of the main concerns in medical research. It leads the scientists to do more research finding the effective medicine by using healthy plants.
Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants and the study analyzed that the leaves were particularly rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A and D, essential amino acids as well as antioxidants such as β-carotene, vitamin C and flavonoids.
Furthermore, this miracle plant is rich in compounds containing simple sugar, rhamnose and unique group or glucosinolates and isothiocyanates which were categorized as hypotensive, anticancer and antibacterial activities.
Benzyl isothiocyanate which is found in Malunggay leaves can prevent cancer cells in our body.
The leaves are also used in the treatment of prostate and skin cancer. While another study shows that the herb can prevent against doxorubicin resistant human breast cancer cells. The leaves can even heal tumor and prevent cancer cells activities.
Anti-inflammatory
The advantages of the leaves have been revealed including inhibiting inflammation.
Traditionally the leaves were also used to prevent and treat inflammations associated to rheumatism, arthritis and joint pains. The leaves are loaded with various vitamins and minerals which can effectively prevent against many kinds of sicknesses.
Strengthen the Immune System
The leaves help to boost the immune system about 10 times more than the commercially-made vitamins and other supplements.
Helping to Restore Skin Condition
Skin problem is the main interest for women and men. Women especially are worried about their skin and they will find the best way to solve this skin problem. The leaves, which are known as miracle leaves can solve this skin condition.
The miracle leaves contain many nutrients which are very useful for skin care. Eating the fresh and young leaves can reduce the skin problems such as irritated skin and reddened skin. The seed oil is also the main agent to prevent inflammation.
Relieves Headache
The leaves are not only used for serious illnesses, but also used to treat other diseases such as headache as the leaves are enriched in vitamin A and C.
The fried-leaves are useful for treating cold and fever while the juice of its leaves is used in cases of headache.
Strengthen the Eye Muscles
The leaves juice is also applied in the eye in fainting fits due to nervous debility. Malunggay’s vitamins and minerals are essential for preventing general micronutrient disorders.
Vitamin E which are contained in the leaves can strengthen muscle weakness including eye muscles.
Prevent the Intestinal Worms (Anthelmintics)
The leaves contain an important nutrient called anthelmintic which can prevent against parasitic worms and may kill the intestinal worms activities in the body.
Relax and Promote Good-Night Sleep
Those who lack sleep can use Malunggay as natural sleep aid to make them sleep very well. The various nutrients from the leaves make people get relaxed and prevent nervous disorder. They are anti-spasmodic and the vitamins of the leaves can solve the problem related to anxiety during sleeping time.
Treat Common Cold, Fever and Asthma
When cold, fever or asthma occurs in our body, this effective herbal medicine such is the best way to heal naturally. Moringa has more vitamin C than other fruits which can strengthen the immune system and attack diseases such as cold, fever and asthma.
Besides, its young root can treat fever as well as its leaves. While for asthma, scientists suggested Malunggay seeds and juice of the young root mixed with milk for treatment of asthma.
Heal Ulcers
Another benefit of the leaves is in healing ulcer or gastritis. The amino acid histidine in it can be used in healing ulcer and glutamic acid.
Clean Dirty or Polluted Water
Moringa is not known only as the medical herb in many countries, the seeds are used to purify and clean dirty-polluted water. For example in Sudan, the research using the seeds in Nile water proved that the process of water purification not only removed solid contaminants but also greatly reduced amount of harmful bacteria.
While a study in the UK found that Malunggay seeds not only purify water but also soften it very well. A study showed that the seeds can filter water using flocculation to produce healthy and potable water.
Treat Rheumatism
The leaves are known as useful medicine to heal aching muscles and they are also effective in reducing rheumatism, since the herb has amino-acid histidine used in the treatment of rheumatoid arhtritis.
The leaves can work together with the seeds. They are roasted and applied in painful area of rheumatism. Vitamin B1 of the herb is also used in preventing rheumatism.
Hypocholestemia or High Cholesterol
The leaves contain calcium, potassium, protein, iron and vitamin A, B, and C which contribute and balance the cholesterol level in the body. It is the same when the leaves were tested to measure blood sugar levels.
Side Effects of Moringa
However, despite the great benefits of this miracle tree, there are some side effects that we must pay attention to.
Its root and root extracts should not be consumed as food ingredients for cooking. Spirocin, an alkaloid isolated from the root may cause a fatal nerve paralysis.
And for some reason, moringa should not be used during pregnancy. It is considered to be unsafe when the root, bark or flowers are used during pregnancy because this can cause abortion and uterine contractions.
So when thinking about consuming this miracle herb, we have to stay safe and enjoy its natural nutritional values.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should never eat moringa root and bark – but only the leaves. Moringa root contains dangerous components that can even cause paralysis or other negative side effects.
Excessive consumption of moringa leaves can lead to gastrointestinal issues, such as heartburn and diarrhea.
Nausea and gag reflex are common side effects of moringa due to its distinctive and somewhat unpleasant taste – in that case, you should lower your moringa intake until you get used to it.
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