MORINGA | FULL HEALTH SECRETS

Moringa – The “Miracle Tree”

Written by Slawomir (“Swavak”) Gromadzki, MPH

Moringa AMAZING BENEFITS

Moringa oleifera, called the “Miracle Tree”, is one of nature’s most healthy and nutritious foods. There are countless studies that describe the benefits of moringa leaves, one of the most potent plants in the world.

Moringa leave is an exceptionally high source of chlorophyll, green pigment regarded as one of the most beneficial energy-boosting and health-enhancing natural substances known. Some sources suggest dried moringa leaves may have three times the chlorophyll of wheatgrass!

The leaves of Moringa oleifera tree are extremely nutrient-dense, providing essential amino acids and highly bio-available vitamins and minerals, especially Calcium, Zinc, Vitamins A, B or C. It is also an important source of natural Iron that helps to increase energy and regenerate red blood cells to prevent anaemia.

As noted in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, Moringa is known as a superfood because its leaves are loaded with nutrients and one hundred grams of dry moringa leaf contains: 9 times the protein of yogurt, 10 times the vitamin A of carrots, 15 times the potassium of bananas, 17 times the calcium of milk, 12 times the vitamin C of oranges, and 25 times the iron of spinach.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Moringa supplementation is traditionally used to detoxify the body, energize and nourish it, strengthen the immune system, and prevent oxidative damage by providing various natural antioxidants.

In a 2016 study an isolated from Moringa active ingredient called Isothiocyanate has demonstrated a potent anti-inflammatory activity in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers also show some evidence Moringa may protect against arsenic or mercury toxicity and be beneficial for people suffering from Alzheimer’s, hyperthyroidism or calcium oxalate stone formation. Moringa leaf supplements are also popular among lactating mothers who often report consuming moringa leaf cause a significant increase in breast milk. Moringa is packed with amino acid Tryptophan, which is used in our brains produce Serotonin, regarded as the most important antidepressant and good mood hormone.

Five human studies using powdered whole leaf preparations of M. oleifera have been published, which have demonstrated anti-hyperglycaemic (antidiabetic) and anti-dyslipidemic (cholesterol lowering) activities. These activities have been confirmed using extracts as well as leaf powders. A rapidly growing number of published studies have shown that M. oleifera leaves possess a wide range of additional biological activities including antioxidant, tissue protective (liver, kidneys, heart, testes, and lungs), analgesic (pain relieving), antiulcer, antihypertensive, radioprotective, and immunomodulatory actions. A wide variety of polyphenols and phenolic acids as well as flavonoids, glucosinolates, and possibly alkaloids is believed to be responsible for the observed effects.”

AIDS & IMMUNITY

Moringa is a very popular immune stimulant and traditionally it is often prescribed for AIDS victims.

CANCER

In one study an “extract of Moringa oleifera demonstrated chemopreventive and anti-leukemic activities as much as the standard anti-leukemic drug cyclophosphamide.” The title of another study which was published in 2015 states, “A potential oral anticancer drug candidate, Moringa oleifera leaf extract, induces the apoptosis (death) of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells” (liver cancer cells). Researchers now also believe Moringa oleifera leaf extract could be beneficial for patients with liver, colon or breast cancer.

FATIGUE & ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Some individuals who use Moringa supplements on a regular basis maintain that it gives them a boost of long lasting energy and helps recover more quickly after a workout. The good news, however, is that unlike unhealthy stimulants Moringa will increase your energy for much longer and without making you dependent or feel down after its effect is gone. It is believed that the powerful anti-fatigue effect of Moringa oleifera is the result of especially its powerful antioxidants as well as very high chlorophyll and vitamin/mineral content. Though, in 2015 it was demonstrated that this benefit of Moringa is also due to its ability to improve body energy stores by increasing levels and activity of other antioxidants such as glutathione. For instance, in 2008 study Moringa oleifera prevented acetaminophen induced liver injury by restoring levels of glutathione, regarded as the most important of all antioxidants.

DIABETES & SUGAR METABOLISM

Moringa leaves are exceptionally rich in antioxidants including vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, or very beneficial for diabetics chlorogenic acid which has been shown to slow cells’ sugar absorption and lower blood sugar levels. According to a title of a 2015 study, “Moringa revealed excellent antidiabetic activity and almost restored the diabetic rats to the normal healthy state!”

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Both animal and human studies have shown that Moringa oleifera can be effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels, which should lead to reduced risk of heart disease or strokes. However, since Moringa leaf may help to cope with increased blood cholesterol and chronic high blood glucose levels, which are regarded as the key causes of erectile dysfunction, it is also often recommended for men experiencing this very common today problem. Animal studies have proved that this important benefit of Moringa may be also due to Phenolic acid found in its leaves as it “inhibits key enzymes linked to erectile dysfunction and oxidative stress in rats’ penile tissues”.

PEPTIC ULCERS

A number of medical studies on the effects of Moringa leaf have demonstrated its anti-inflammatory, alkaline and healing effect which may be beneficial especially to those suffering from gastric ulcers or gastrointestinal discomfort caused by increased stomach acidity. Although the mechanisms by which Moringa leaf heals peptic ulcers are not fully understood experts suggest the Moringa leaf may work by reducing oxidative damage, increasing capillary resistance to Helicobacter pylori and reducing the inflammation caused by the same bacteria.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Previous research demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory properties of Moringa due to presence of isothiocyanates (comparable to those found in broccoli) and polyphenols (like those found in berries and other fruits). The anti-inflammatory properties of Moringa may have beneficial effects on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). A study done by Minaiyan et el. (2014) investigated the anti-colitis effect of oral administration of Moringa seeds hydroalcoholic extract (MSHE) and its chloroform fraction (MCF) on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats, in comparison with related controls. This study suggested useful therapeutic activity of Moringa and further demonstrated that an oral administration of MSHE, even with low doses, could be considered as an alternative remedy for IBD conditions and/or prevention of its recurrence.

ANTI-BACTERIAL & ANTI-FUNGAL

Moringa is known for its antibacterial effect. Kekuda et al. (2010) tested the extract of M. oleifera on several bacterial and fungal species. Among the bacteria tested, significant inhibition was observed in the case of E. coli followed by S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis. Inhibition of fungi was also observed as reduced colony diameter in plates poisoned with distillate as compared to control plates; significant inhibition was observed in the species of A. niger, followed by A. oryzae, A. terreus and A. nidulans.

ANTI-OXIDANT

The extracts of Moringa oleifera, both mature and tender leaves have potent antioxidant activity against free radicals, and contribute to significant protection against oxidative damage. Moringa contains important bioactive compounds including glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, thiocarbamates, and ﬂavonoids, with β-carotene being the major antioxidant compound. These compounds quench ROS, chelate metal ions and regenerate membrane-bound antioxidants (Kumar & Pari, 2003). In a study done by Sreelatha & Padma (2009), the aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera exhibited strong scavenging effect on 2, 2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, superoxide, nitric oxide radical and inhibition of lipid per oxidation. In this study the free radical scavenging effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract was comparable with that of the reference antioxidants.

CARDIO-PROTECTIVE

Moringa possesses significant cardio-protective effect, which may be attributed to its antioxidant, anti-peroxidative, and myocardial preservative properties. A study done by Nandave et al. (2009) evaluated the cardio-protective effect of lyophilised hydro alcoholic extract of Moringa oleifera in a isoproterenol (ISP)-induced model of myocardial infarction, and demonstrated significant effects of Moringa in preventing the rise of lipid peroxidation in myocardial tissue. In another study, Moringa treatment demonstrated positive effect on hypertensive rats by reducing the nocturnal heart rate, improving cardiac diastolic function, and reducing left ventricular and relative anterior wall thickness (Randriamboavonjy, 2016).

WOUND HEALING

The aqueous extract of leaves of M. oleifera was investigated for its wound healing activity. The extract was studied at dose level of 300 mg/kg body weight using incision, excision, and dead space wound models in rats. The observed healing actions in this study were demonstrated to be due to increased collagen deposition as well as better alignment and maturation. From the study results obtained, it may be concluded that the aqueous extract of M. oleifera has significant wound healing properties.

SAFETY

Moringa leaf can be safely consumed not only by adults but also children as according to scientific research no side effects of moringa leaves have been reported. According to an abstract of the “Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Moringa oleifera” written in 2015 by Professor S. J. Stohs and his colleagues, “No adverse effects were reported in association with human studies.

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SOURCES

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http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/moringa-oleifera

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014; 15(20):8571-6.

Journal of Food Science and Technology November 2014, Volume 51, Issue 11, pp 3464-3469

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