Moringa and How It Helps Improve Your Health
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Moringa oleifera is a plant native in Nepal and India. Popularly known in different names such as the tree of life, miracle tree, horseradish tree, and drumstick tree, this is currently grown in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
The moringa powder made using the leaves of the plant has several medicinal uses and benefits backed by science. This is a superfood being used as a form of traditional remedy in Ayurvedic healing and phytomedicine for many centuries.
Take a look at the following health benefits that you can expect from moringa oleifera:
It is Rich in Minerals and Vitamins
Most of those healthy foods you consume have one standout nutrient. For carrots, you get vitamin A. Citrus fruits have vitamin C while nuts have vitamin E. The leaves of moringa stand out as a superfood as spirulina, since a single cup of these chopped leaves is found to be an excellent source of calcium, iron, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and vitamin C with significant amounts of magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin A, and potassium.
The leaves of the plant actually have higher vitamin C concentrations compared to oranges. This means that moringa could help with better vision, skin radiance, bone health, and immunity.
It is a Good Source of Plant-Based Protein
It doesn’t matter if you want to cut down your meat consumption or you are a full-pledged vegetarian because it is not always that easy to look for a convenient type of plant-based protein. While you can always go for tempeh and lentils, there are times when you crave for a no-cook and quick add-in that you can add to your soups or sprinkle on your sprinkle bowls. This is where moringa can come in handy.
Powders made from crushed moringa leaves are rich in protein with every tablespoon containing 3 grams of protein. They are also better than legumes thanks to the essential amino acids that are needed for mood regulation, energy production, and muscle repair.
It Helps Address Hormonal Imbalance
Menopause can wreak havoc on the hormones of a woman and make her feel off. Good thing that moringa might be able to help here. The combination of amaranth leaf powder and moringa leaf power will not onlt reduce oxidative stress.
It can also improve hemoglobin levels and blood glucose that translates to more balanced hormones. The plant is also associated with better thyroid health that can control the hormones related to digestion, sleep, and energy.
It Improves Digestion
There is around 30% fiber content in moringa leaf powder, most of which is insoluble. This is something that you don’t only need for better digestion but can also lower your risk of disease. It also works as a natural antibacterial and antibiotic and can help prevent the growth of different pathogens that could lead to a digestive upset. Anti-inflammatory properties of moringa have been revealed to help address digestive disorders such as colitis and might also improve gut bacteria.
It Fights Off Free Radicals
The free radicals are formed due to fried food, sun exposure, and pollution. These can cause damages on your cells as they rob them of an electron that can lead to premature aging, cell damage, and oxidative stress. The antidotes for this are the antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, polyphenols, and flavonoids that are all present in moringa. A diet filled with antioxidants is revealed to prevent premature wrinkles and could help improve longevity.
It Protects the Liver
Your liver is the detoxifier of your body. This filters your blood, metabolizes fat, and detoxifies chemicals and moringa can help your liver to work better. For starters, moringa has high concentrations of polyphenols that can reverse oxidation in your liver. It is also discovered that consumption of moringa can lessen liver fibrosis while protecting you against liver damage.
It Alleviates Inflammation
Turmeric has a strong contender for being a great fighter of inflammation in the form of moringa. It has been shown that the plant significant lowers cell inflammation. Aside from being rich in isothiocyanates and polyphenols that help reduce inflammation, moringa can reduce inflammation as it suppresses inflammatory proteins and enzymes in the body. This can help address cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.
It Supports Brain Health
It is said that 1 out of 8 people of more than 65 years of age have Alzheimer’s disease. The leaves of moringa are high in vitamins E and C that can help fight off oxidative stress linked with Alzheimer’s. The studies conducted on dementia and Alzheimer’s are showing some promising results. What is even better is that moringa is also associated to increased levels of serotonin and dopamine, the happy hormones. With further research, it can potentially help in the treatment of depression.
It Balances Blood Sugar
Increased blood sugar and insulin levels can result to sugar cravings and mood swings and might even result to the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Moringa leaf powder is shown to be effective when it comes to the reduction of glucose and lipid levels and regulation of oxidative stress. It also has therapeutic antioxidant properties and lowers fasting glucose levels in the postmenopausal women taking a supplement with amaranth and moringa. It also showed that a diet that includes moringa can also reduce insulin resistance and weight gain.
It Improves Your Sex Life
Your sex life can suffer because of stress. It can throw off the hormone levels that can spike cortisol and decrease dopamine and lower libido. Moringa is not only shown to reduce cortisol levels as it can also naturally increase testosterone levels that is known to be a great supporter of sex life. Moringa extract helps boost sexual performance as it suppresses cortisol and increases testosterone.
How to Add Moringa Powder to Your Diet
Moringa powder is made from ground and dried leaves of moringa. This has a mild flavor with somewhat an earthy taste that makes it work well with various recipes. You can add it to your smoothies, sprinkled on meals, or even use as coffee alternative free from caffeine.