The Wonder Crop – Moringa Health Benefits

Moringa Health Benefits – Have you ever wondered why the crop could be referred to as the wonder crop? And not even rice which is loved by virtually everybody as it is used for virtually every occasion? Nor cassava, maize, beans, carrot, spinach, or the friendship fruit (pineapple)? Just name them and tell me why the crop could be referred to as the wonder crop. The truth remains that the crop is not even a crop that has gained so much acceptance notwithstanding its many benefits either as a food, as a drug or as an edible. It has been in existence long ago in the early B.Cs. Why then could even any crop be referred to as a wonder crop? Could it be that it is better than the rest of the crops in existence in the universe? Oh! It could be so if kept side by side with any other crop I have ever seen.

Moringa ‘the wonder crop’- Moringa Health Benefits

Moringa oleifera belongs to the family of Moringaceae and is an effective remedy for malnutrition. Moringa is rich in nutrition owing to the presence of a variety of essential phyto-chemicals present in its leaves, pods and seeds. In fact, moringa is said to provide 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, 17 times more calcium than milk, 9 times more protein than yoghurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times more iron than spinach. The fact that moringa is easily cultivable makes it a sustainable remedy for malnutrition. Countries like Senegal and Benin treat children with moringa. Children deprived of breast milk tend to show symptoms of malnutrition. Lactogogues are generally prescribed to lactating mothers to augment milk production. The lactogogue, made of phytosterols, acts as a precursor for hormones required for reproductive growth. Moringa is rich in phytosterols like stigmasterol, sitosterol and kampesterol which are precursors for hormones.These compounds increase the estrogen production, which in turn stimulates the proliferation of the mammary gland ducts to produce milk. It is used to treat malnutrition in children younger than 3 years. About 6 spoonfuls of leaf powder can meet a woman’s daily iron and calcium requirements, during pregnancy.

This article provides an overview on moringa health benefits, the nutritional values, medicinal properties for commercial use and pharmacological properties of moringa. There are no elaborate reports on treatment of diabetes and cancer using moringa. Every part of M. oleifera is a storehouse of important nutrients and antinutrients. The leaves of M. oleifera are rich in minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, iron and copper. Vitamins like beta-carotene of vitamin A, vitamin B such as folic acid, pyridoxine and nicotinic acid, vitamin C, D and E also present in M. oleifera. Phytochemicals such as tannins, sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, anthraquinones, alkaloids and reducing sugar present along with anti-cancerous agents like glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, glycoside compounds and glycerol-1-9-octadecanoate. Moringa leaves also have a low calorific value and can be used in the diet of the obese. The pods are fibrous and are valuable to treat digestive problems and thwart colon cancer. A research shows that immature pods contain around 46.78% fiber and around 20.66% protein content. Pods have 30% of amino acid content, the leaves have 44% and flowers have 31%. The immature pods and flowers showed similar amounts of palmitic, linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids. Moringa has lot of minerals that are essential for growth and development among which, calcium is considered as one of the important minerals for human growth. While 8 ounces of milk can provide 300–400 mg, moringa leaves can provide 1000 mg and moringa powder can provide more than 4000 mg. Moringa powder can be used as a substitute for iron tablets, hence as a treatment for anemia. Beef has only 2 mg of iron while moringa leaf powder has 28 mg of iron. It has been reported that moringa contains more iron than spinach. A good dietary intake of zinc is essential for proper growth of sperm cells and is also necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. M. oleifera leaves show around 25.5–31.03 mg of zinc/kg, which is the daily requirement of zinc in the diet.

The nutrient compositions of leaves, leaf powder, seeds and pods.

Moringa can be used as a potent neuroprotectant. Cerebral ischemia is caused due to obstruction of blood flow to the brain. This leads to reperfusion and lipid peroxidation, which in turn results in reactive oxygen species. Moringa with its antioxidants can reduce the reactive oxygen species, thereby protecting the brain. M. oleifera is used to treat dementia, as it has been shown to be a promoter of spatial memory. The leaf extracts have shown to decrease the acetylcholine esterase activity, thereby improving cholinergic function and memory. It can increase protein content and decrease levels of urea and creatinine in blood, preventing renal dysfunction. Moringa decreased acidity in gastric ulcers by a percentage of 86.15% and 85.13% at doses of 500 mg and 350 mg, respectively and therefore can be used as an antiulcer agent. Moringa is prescribed by herbal practitioners for patients with AIDS. Moringa is suggested to be included in the diet, with the view of boosting the immune system of HIV positive individuals. However, more research is essential to validate the effect of moringa on anti-retroviral drugs. The hydro-alcoholic extract of moringa flowers reduced the levels of rheumatoid factor, TNF-alpha and IL-1 in arthritic rats. This proves that moringa can be a potent therapy for arthritis. Microbial diseases are widespread and there is a need for antimicrobial agents, M. oleifera has been proven as a good antimicrobial agent. It has been shown that the extracts of M. oleifera can act against bacteria like Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholera. The antibacterial effects of the seeds were accounted for by the presence of pterygospermin, moringine and benzyl isothiocyanate.

Oh! What more do I need to tell you about this wonder crop? I suppose this article has exposed you to the many wonders of moringa as a great diet. Why not not check out the nearest market for either fresh leaves, or pods for your maximum moringa health benefits.

Moringa Health Benefits