Moringa

The moringa tree is native to India that grows in subtropical countries both Africa and Asia. It is high in vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and proteins.

Moringa is considered a superfood due to the wide range of benefits it provides to the body: it increases the body’s natural defenses, keeps cholesterol at bay, promotes skin hydration, acts as an antioxidant, regulates blood sugar levels … Whether it is consumed as a food or a supplement, its medicinal uses are very wide.

What is moringa?

Moringa is a tropical plant native to certain areas of Africa and Asia , such as India. Its properties and health benefits are many; so much so that it is known as the “miracle tree” or the “tree of life.”

A very rich source of key nutrients for the body, such as proteins, vitamins and minerals. That is why moringa has been used in natural medicine for several thousand years .

It is a tree that reaches between five and twelve meters in height; its crown is pyramidal and the leaves are compound. The size of its fruits is striking, up to 40 centimeters long and very similar in shape to that of a drum stick.

Moringa leaves

The greatest amount of moringa properties is found in its leaves. In the case of fresh leaves , they contain 4 times more vitamin A than carrots, 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 4 times more calcium than milk and 3 times more potassium than bananas. Therefore, its nutritional value is extraordinary.

As for the dried leaves , they contain 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium than milk, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times the amount of iron in spinach.

Active principles of moringa

Moringa is rich in numerous flavonoids with great antioxidant power and that, therefore, play a very important role in caring for both the cardiovascular system and the body as a whole.

In addition, it has a high content of chlorogenic acid; It is a substance that allows the plant to act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory .

Regarding its nutrients, its contribution of vitamins A, C, E and group B stands out . Moringa is also rich in mineral salts such as potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium or cnic, among others.

Moringa properties

One of the main known properties of this tropical plant is its high antioxidant power. However, its properties go much further, which is why it has been granted a wide range of medicinal uses throughout history.

Moringa stands out for its high content of B vitamins and iron; essential nutrients to avoid disorders such as iron deficiency anemia , whose main characteristic is iron deficiency.

In addition, it has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties . That is why moringa is widely used to alleviate the symptoms of diseases such as arthritis .

Due to its laxative effect , this plant relieves a wide selection of digestive ailments , such as constipation .

And finally, its healing action should be noted.

10 benefits of moringa

Here are the main benefits of this tropical plant. More than enough reasons to understand why moringa is considered a superfood.

1) Prevents aging

Moringa has great antioxidant properties , so it is a very effective plant to prevent premature aging of both skin and cells. Some experts recommend consuming a teaspoon of leaf powder to increase antioxidant levels in the blood.

2) Strengthens the immune system

Moringa pods are characterized by a very rich source of vitamin C . An essential nutrient for the proper functioning of the body since it acts as a protective barrier so that viruses and bacteria do not enter it. Therefore, it is a fantastic plant to avoid illnesses such as the flu or the cold.

3) Helps regulate sugar levels

Moringa slows down the rate at which sugar enters the bloodstream thanks to its isothiocyanate content.

This conclusion was reached by a team of experts after a study carried out on a total of 30 women. They found that taking a teaspoon and a half of leaf powder from this tropical plant managed to reduce glucose levels by 13.5%.

4) Fight inflammation

Thanks to its high content of isothiocyanates, moringa is a food with great anti-inflammatory properties . Thus, its consumption is recommended especially in those people who suffer from certain diseases such as arthritis since it significantly alleviates their symptoms.

5) Reduce cholesterol

Another of the great benefits of moringa has to do with its ability to reduce blood cholesterol levels . An especially important condition to greatly avoid diseases such as thrombosis or myocardial infarction .

6) Fight against free radicals

Moringa is a plant that fights the damage that free radicals , such as pollution, exert on the body.

7) Protects the cardiovascular system

This tropical plant prevents the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine , thus preventing fatty plaques from forming in the arteries. This reduces the risk of certain cardiovascular disorders.

8) Avoid anemia

Moringa leaves contain a high amount of iron (105 milligrams per 100 grams of product), thereby promoting the production of red blood cells in the body.

9) Relieves pain

It has analgesic properties in a way that helps in relieving the symptoms of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatism. In this way, those who suffer from this type of disease improve their quality of life.

10) Hydrates the skin

And finally, it should be noted that moringa greatly hydrates the skin thanks to its moisturizing properties . In this way the dryness of the same is avoided and, thus, it looks more beautiful and radiant.

How to consume moringa?

This superfood can be consumed and used in different ways. The ideal is to include it in different recipes since its flavor is quite strong.

• Fruit: moringa can be consumed as a food. In the case of fruit, it is not advisable to consume it raw, but cooked.
• Seeds: In general, the seeds of this plant are taken toasted. There are those who consume them as a snack, which is very healthy since it has a very low caloric content and good nutritional value.
• Leaves: Moringa leaves are rich in vitamin C and iron. They can be taken as an infusion or accompanying some dishes such as salads.
• Leaf powder: it is the most popular form in which moringa is consumed globally since it is very easy to use; It can be easily included in juices, creams, sauces …
• Moringa oil: and, finally, moringa oil, which has great nourishing and moisturizing properties. It is often used to perform different treatments on hair and skin.

It is important to avoid the consumption of moringa root since the extracts of it contain toxic substances that are life threatening.

Does moringa help you lose weight?

Currently, given the popularity that moringa has taken, there is a lot of talk about the properties of this plant to lose weight. Whenever a topic of this type is explained, it is important to remember that there are no miracle products that lose weight by themselves; Although it is true that some can promote weight loss, but they should always be consumed under medical supervision.

Well, once this aspect is clarified, it is worth noting that moringa has a series of effects that help burn fat. On the one hand, the tropical plant has cleansing properties , so that it helps eliminate toxins from the body.

On the other hand, moringa accelerates metabolism thanks to its high content of glucosinolates, which are transformed into isothiocinates during the digestion process.

In addition, it provides a satiating effect , so it keeps the appetite at bay; a very important aspect when it comes to losing weight.

And finally, thanks to its high content of B vitamins, it is a nutrient that helps in transforming the food eaten into energy, instead of storing it as fat in the body.

Moringa contraindications

Despite its wide range of benefits, there are a number of situations in which the consumption of moringa is not recommended.

This is the case of pregnant women . Excessive consumption of this tropical plant during the gestation period carries a certain risk of miscarriage due to its high content of vitamin A.

In addition, moringa has a certain laxative power . Therefore, if taken on an empty stomach on a regular basis, diarrhea can be a common side effect.

In the same way, those people who suffer from insomnia should not consume moringa since it has a great energy power.

Conclution

In conclusion, highlight the large selection of benefits and properties that moringa has for health as a whole, both physically and mentally. However, like any other natural ingredient, it should be consumed in moderation; otherwise, there are certain risks such as excess red blood cells or insomnia.