Moringa Benefits | Moringa Tree | Moringa Oil | Moringa Tea | Moringa Side Effects |

Moringa benefits are one reason why this plant has gain popularity in quite a short period of time. Moringa Oleifera is a drought-tolerant evergreen plant that is native to northwestern India. It grows up to 2 meters high and produces long, slender, brown capsules with globular seeds.

Most of its parts (its leaves, seeds, and flowers) are eaten as vegetables. Fresh Moringa pods and leaves are readily available, and the plant has been given the title “the miracle plant”. It has a long list of health benefits.

Uses of Moringa Oleifera

Moringa is used for the following conditions:

• asthma
• tired blood (anemia)
• arthritis and other joint pain, like rheumatism
• cancer
• constipation
• diabetes
• diarrhea
• epilepsy
• stomach pain, and stomach/intestinal ulcers
• intestinal spasms
• a headache
• heart problems
• high blood pressure
• kidney stones
• fluid retention
• thyroid disorders, and
• Bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections.

Moringa is also used to reduce swelling, and as an aphrodisiac to increase sex drive. It can be used to prevent pregnancy, boost the immune system, and increase breast milk production in nursing women.

Moringa can be applied to the skin as a germ-killer or drying agent. It is also used topically for treating abscesses, athlete’s foot, dandruff, gum disease, snakebites, and warts. Even the oil from moringa seeds is used in foods, perfume, and hair care products.

Proven Moringa Benefits

Moringa Protects Skin and Nourishes Hair

Moringa has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral qualities that can protect the skin from infectious agents.

Moringa is known to effectively hydrates and detoxifies your skin. It also neutralizes the effects of harmful toxins brought by pollution, sweat, and other chemical products.

Furthermore, the plant’s high protein content shields dermal cells from damage caused by mercury and cadmium, which has made it to be, used in several skincare products.

Similarly, Moringa strengthens your hair and protects it from harmful Ultra Violet rays and pollutants. It stimulates hair growth and helps prevent thinning hair.

Moringa Provides Antioxidants and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Moringa gives no side effects acquired from constant drug use. It has significant levels of antioxidants, essential amino acids, carotenoids, and anti-bacterial compounds. These elements work in the same way as most anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs.

Moringa leaves have anti-aging properties because of its significant amount of vitamin C, beta-carotene, polyphenols, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid.

All these components of moringa leaves, not only reduce inflammation but also combat oxidative stress and decelerate the progression of age-related disorders.

Moringa Benefits and Promotes Heart Health

High levels of cholesterol in the body increase your risk of numerous heart ailments, and fatty deposits create blockages within arteries; thus, increasing your risk of heart attacks.

Isothiocyanates and Niaziminin, are two bioactive components found in Moringa, that prevents the thickening of arteries.

Moringa effectively regulates blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the body. Thus, it reduces the impact of hypertension and prevents other unhealthy heart conditions.

Moringa Stabilizes Mood and Enhances the Function of the Neurotransmitter

Moringa is an excellent source of protein (tryptophan) that is beneficial in maintaining proper neurotransmitter function. Moringa also enhances the production of serotonin, a hormone that gives you vitality and promotes wellbeing. It promotes thyroid health, which helps maintain high energy levels and fight weakness and insomnia.

Moringa Benefits and Balances Hormones; Slows the Effects of Aging

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology tested the effects of moringa along with amaranth leaves on levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in menopausal women.

Researchers wanted to study if these super foods could help slow the effects of aging using natural herbal antioxidants.

Results obtained, showed that supplementing with moringa and amaranth caused significant increases in antioxidant status along with significant decreases in markers of oxidative stress.

Other effects like better fasting blood glucose control and positive increases in hemoglobin were also found. This led the researchers to conclude that these plants have therapeutic potential for helping to prevent complications due to aging and natural hormonal changes.

Moringa benefits the libido as well and when used right, might work as a natural birth control compound, according to some studies.

Moringa Helps Improve Digestive Health

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, moringa has been used to prevent or treat stomach ulcers, liver disease, kidney damage, fungal or yeast infections, digestive problems, and infections.

Moringa oil is commonly used to boost liver function and therefore detoxifying the body of harmful substances, such as heavy metal toxins. It might also be capable of helping to fight kidney stones, urinary tract infections, constipation, edema, and diarrhea.

Moringa Benefits in Balancing Blood Sugar Levels and Fighting Diabetes

Moringa contains an acidic compound that has been shown to help control blood sugar levels and allow cells to take up or release glucose as needed. This makes moringa a natural antidiabetic and a hormone-balancing agent.

Furthermore, another compound, called isothiocyanates that are present in moringa has been tied to natural protection against diabetes.

A study that was published in the International Journal of Food Science Technology found that moringa had positive effects on blood glucose control and insulin levels in patients with diabetes when eaten as part of a high-carbohydrate meal.

The effects of moringa, curry, and bitter gourd were tested in response to eating meals containing various levels of glucose. The results showed that plasma insulin responses were significantly lower when the three plants were included in the meal compared to when they weren’t.

moringa seed powder help increases antioxidant status and enzyme production within the liver, pancreas, and kidneys of rats. This help prevents damage, according to a study in Egypt.

High levels of immunoglobulin, fasting blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (which are all markers seen in diabetics), were also found to decrease as a result of moringa given to rats with diabetes.

Results from the study showed that in overall, compared to rats not given the herbal treatment, those receiving moringa experienced a return to kidney and pancreatic health as well as reduced complications of diabetes symptoms.

Moringa can Protect the Liver

Moringa is beneficial to the liver, and fights liver damage caused by certain drugs as well as speeding up the recovery process.

Moringa helps restore normal glutathione levels in the body and prevents hepatic lipid peroxidation. This is mainly due to Moringa’s phytochemical composition of catechin, epicatechin and vitamin C.

Moringa Oleifera Enhances Eyesight

Moringa’s abundance of antioxidants helps improve vision and provides protection against retinal damage. It also helps in preventing capillary membranes from solidifying. This helps in avoiding retinal dysfunction.

Prevents Stone Formation

Moringa is effective in breaking down uterus, bladder, and kidney stones. It helps reduce the development of stone deposits and regulates endogenous oxalate synthesis.

It also protects the kidney from nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity is a kidney problem due to exposure of certain toxins or a consequence of taking certain drugs.

The nephroprotective effects of Moringa soothe renal injuries and serve as an effective bio-absorbent, helping to eliminate heavy metals and toxins out of the body.

Moringa Oleifera Helps Prevent Cancer

Moringa is highly valued in cancer treatment for its protective qualities attributed to the presence of phenolic components (quercetin and kaempferol).

In addition, Niamzimicin, a bioactive compound in Moringa, inhibits the spread of cancer cells and induce caspase-mediated cell death. Such chemo-modulatory effects can even cure early stages of various types of cancers.

Moringa Serves as an Antibacterial Agent

As stated earlier, Moringa features a broad spectrum of protection against foodborne microorganisms. Such microorganism includes E. Coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, and Salmonella.

Moringa inhibitory effects make it ideal for preservation and sanitation purposes.

Moringa Oleifera can be Used to Treat Anemia

Moringa is beneficial in treating anemia as it facilitates the absorption of iron, increases red blood cell count, and regulates normal blood parameters.

It also prevents the formation of abnormal red blood cells or sickle cells, owing to its zinc, flavonoids, and phenolic acids content.

Moringa can help in the Treatment of Asthma

Moringa Oleifera provides relief from bronchial asthma and inflammation. This is owing to its anti-allergenic properties. It helps inhibit hypersensitive reactions relevant in several allergic diseases such as anaphylaxis and helps lessen the frequency of asthma attacks.

It also alleviates its symptoms such as dyspnea, chronic coughing, and bronchial constriction, and in overall, it promotes respiration and lung function.

Moringa Benefits and Nutrition Facts

Moringa Oleifera is a unique plant. Almost all parts of it (leaves, seeds, flowers/pods, stem, and roots), can be used as a source for nutrition or for medicinal purposes.

The most popular medicinal use of moringa involves drying and grinding down the tree’s leaves to unlock the most moringa benefits.

Moringa leaves are primed with numerous nutrients like protein, calcium, beta-carotene, vitamin C and potassium. It provides a concentrated source of vitamin A and is loaded with antioxidants.

It is given to thousands of children in third-world countries who are suffering from life-threatening vitamin A deficiency, which is linked to impaired immune function.

Moringa oleifera can be used to obtain important trace minerals, protein, and phenolics. The plant contains a rare and unique combination of disease-preventing phytonutrients, including zeatin, quercetin, beta-sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid, etc..

These phytonutrients have shown proven anti-inflammatory and strong medicinal values.

Several studies have shown that these compounds are protective of the heart, and natural circulatory stimulants. They also possess antitumor, anti-epileptic, anti-ulcer, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic effects.

Moringa Leaves

Moringa leaves are used to brew tea. You steep the dried, preserved leaves in hot water, and that releases their special chemical compounds.

The dried Moringa leaves can also be grounded to create a powder. Potent extracts are taken from this powder and used in the formation of concentrated moringa capsule supplements.

In addition to the valuable leaves, the pods of the moringa tree also contain seeds that hold a healing type of oil, which can be used to cook or put directly onto the surface of the body.

Some uses of moringa oil are to help retain skin’s moisture, speed up wound healing, and soothe dry or burnt skin.

The seeds are also used for water purification since combining moringa seeds with water helps impurities cling to the seeds. This makes impurities easy to be removed, leaving behind better quality water that’s lower in toxins.

Salt also seems to bind to moringa, which is beneficial for producing fresh-tasting water for hydration. 

Some studies have shown that little quantity of ground moringa seed can turn contaminated water into safe drinking water. This is due to the coagulating actions of certain ingredients in the seeds that absorb bacteria.

Amazing Moringa Benefits of Moringa Tea

The moringa tea is made by collecting or harvesting fresh leaves from the Moringa tree, then drying them at low temperatures. The drying will preserve the vital nutrients that will be released into your tea water.

The nutritious leaf of the Moringa Oleifera tree is an excellent ingredient for making teas filled with potent antioxidants.

Moringa tea is full of beneficial compounds that promote energy and wellness. The dried leaves are then shredded and either retained in their loose form or bagged into tea bags.

Benefits of Drinking Moringa Tea

People who drink this tea report a pleasant boost in energy and mental clearness after consuming a single cup. The tea helps with cramps and bloating during menstrual cycles for women.

Men have reported increased levels of stamina during their working hours. Other benefits include:

Moringa Benefits as a Weight Loss Supplement:

The tea is an excellent addition to a weight loss diet. It has a powerful nutrient profile that helps boost metabolism, and burn calories. It can also balance sugar levels, boost digestion, and increase energy levels.

Moringa Tea as Energy Booster

This tea is a non-caffeinated drink that can give you an energy boost. It helps increase vitality and overall wellness, and contain no sugar or caffeine.

Anti-inflammatory Properties

The tea made from moringa leaves is known primarily as an anti-inflammatory tea. It is excellent for reducing inflammation of the tissues and cells throughout the body.

It is also known for relieving pain, chronic aches, and joint disorders. It can also help with gout, stomach upsets, headaches, and fever.

Rich Source of Antioxidants

Moringa has high-antioxidant power, which helps fight free radicals and reduce oxidative stress and cellular damage.

Skin Care:

With its high concentration of vitamin C and bioflavonoids, the tea is an anti-aging drink. It boosts collagen production, gets rid of free radicals, and prevents the development of fine lines. It also increases the moisture content and the glowing of the skin.

Moringa Benefits include Treating Depression and Migraines

The tea made from moringa leaves can act as an anti-depressant that balances serotonin and dopamine levels in the body. This showed that moringa has the ability to treat and manage migraines and chronic headaches.

Kidney Health:

The moringa extract used in the tea has a protective effect against nephrotoxicity. This can boost kidney health, and can also help break down kidney stones and increases urine output.

Hair Care:

Moringa has high levels of iron, vitamin C, vitamin B-complex, and essential amino acids. These nutrients help promote hair growth and maintenance and also prevent dandruff and dry hair.

How to make Moringa Tea

Moringa can be prepared as a vegetable or included in soups, but others prefer to drink it as tea.

Here are some simple steps to prepare Moringa tea:

• First of all, you should harvest fresh leaves from the moringa tree and dry them at room temperature.
• Place the leaves in a brown paper bag with some holes in it and hang the bag in a cool area of your home, and in about 10 days your leaves should be dry enough to use.
• Shred or pulverize the leaves for 10-15 seconds. You can use a blender or similar tools to grind the leaves.
• Put the ground Moringa in tea bags, and store in a cool, dry place, ensuring not to leave it in open moist places.
• Any time you want to prepare the tea, just add hot water, lemon and sugar to taste.

Side Effects of Moringa Tea

The side effects of drinking the tea include:

• Heartburn
• Nausea
• Diarrhea, and
• Risk of miscarriage during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Moringa Oleifera, which is also known as the drumstick tree, offers a multitude of health benefits across various cultures. It helps address a list of widespread conditions such as anemia, cancer, diabetes, heart problems, low sex drive, and parasitic infections to name a few.

Presently known as “the miracle plant,” Moringa is something you should consider taking a serious look at, in your pursuit of good health for you and your family.

You Might Still Like to Read – 6 Science-Based Health Benefits of Moringa Oleifera Written by Atli Arnarson, PhD

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