Moringa is an ancient plant-based superfood that has been adored by the world over for its multitude of nourishing health and beauty benefits. Moringa is considered a Superfood, rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, omega oils and is one of the very few natural products that contains all 8 amino acids essentials that the human body needs.
Moringa has a host of benefits:
Well-being
- Immune System: Maintaining a strong immune system is imperative when trying to fight off illnesses. Moringa houses all of the essential nutrients needed to improve immunity. The amounts of Vitamins A, C & E and Zinc found in Moringa exceed the amounts found in most other plants. A dietary intake of these vitamins and minerals is critical in protecting us, and our families, from infections and keeping a healthy immune system.
- Energy: Moringa is naturally caffeine-free… So, how does it give me energy? Moringa contains some of the most beneficial and natural sources of sustainable energy. The leaves of Moringa contain high amounts of the various Vitamin B’s, namely B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. There is fifty times more Vitamin B3 found in Moringa than peanuts. This helps your body use protein, fat and carbohydrates to make energy. Furthermore, Moringa has 25 times more iron than spinach and is an essential element in supplying the body with energy. This high iron content not only gives the body extra energy throughout the day but is also ideal for those suffering from anaemia. The vitamin C found in Moringa supports the metabolism of iron, ensuring a greater uptake.
- Mental: Just like our bodies, our brains also need optimal nutrition in order to function properly throughout the day. When we neglect our brain and fail to acquire the correct nutrients our minds become slumberous. Moringa gives the brain some gusto by providing a superfood supplement that complements healthy well-being. Amino acids, antioxidants, vitamin E and omega-3’s are just some of the best brain food ingredients that Moringa provides.
Weight Loss
- Body Weight: The bottom line to weight loss is that you need to burn off more calories than you take in. Sounds simple, but it is even easier for unnecessary excess calories to pop into our diet when we do not feel satisfied after a meal. Moringa helps to reduce overall caloric intake by using the correct nutrients to sustain fullness, helping your body stay ‘satisfied’ and avoid overeating. Moringa contains a high level of fibre and with the presence of Vitamin B, it will effectively result in regular bowel movements and an increase in the rate of metabolism.
- Great for Exercise: In order to gain maximum results during exercise, your body needs sufficient fuel. Moringa provides your body with an abundance of iron and calcium, of which both enhance energy-yielding metabolism. In addition, Moringa contains twice the amount of protein than yoghurt and has a far greater value than any other plant protein. Moringa will help to regain, regrow, re-energise and recover muscle mitochondria due to the rich source of amino acids.
Healing
- Blood Pressure Levels: Moringa helps to maintain healthier blood pressure levels within a normal range due to the potassium content found in the leaves. Moringa has three times the potassium of bananas, which helps to reduce the sodium content in the blood, therefore decreasing blood pressure. Potassium is essential for nerve function, muscle contraction and maintenance of fluid and blood pressure in the body.
- Blood Sugar Levels: Moringa assists in lowering blood sugar levels. High blood sugar is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s world. It is the main characteristic of diabetes and heart disease and is, therefore, a serious health problem. Although this miracle plant has been used for centuries as a treatment towards lowering blood glucose levels in patients, there are a number of studies showing that Moringa oleifera helps lower blood sugar levels and has been said to aid diabetics.
- Anti-inflammatory: Inflammation is a natural response in our bodies where chemicals are released to fight off germs, damaged cells or any other foreign materials. Intense or prolonged inflammation can be painful and may cause lasting damage to your heart, brain and other vital organs. Moringa is a natural anti-inflammatory that reduces inflammation by suppressing inflammatory enzymes in the body. In addition to playing host to a range of free radicals, Moringa also contains numerous anti-inflammatory compounds.
- Joint Pain & Bones: Due to a strong presence of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium and Vitamin K, Moringa is beneficial for maintaining healthy bones and helping to heal bone ailments. Furthermore, Moringa has been used to reduce the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis is a disease that causes painful inflammation in joints, which progressively worsens. Moringa oleifera has natural anti-inflammatory properties that help treat the inflammation, pain and swelling brought on by arthritis.
Beauty
- Hair & Skin: Moringa helps to reduce the rate of the ageing process and improves the condition of your hair and skin. The 47 anti-oxidants found in Moringa helps to prevent free radicals from damaging important living cells and tissues. With the assistance of the high content of Vitamin A, C & E and selenium found in Moringa, the cells will be protected from oxidative stress, leaving you with clearer, more youthful looking skin.
- Clear Vision & Eye Health: The Miracle Tree strikes again… Due to the high concentration of beta carotene and Vitamin A, Moringa is beneficial for protection against retinal damage. The addition of Moringa to your diet helps to keep retinal vessels healthy and prevents retinal dysfunction.
Wow – that’s a lot of health benefits! After reading about all these benefits, I decided I just had to try this amazing supplement, so my son and I recently started taking the Moringa Initiative’s Moringa capsules (it also comes in powder form). It has only been a month and I must say I am really feeling great – more energised! It’s still early days, but I’m going to continue taking it and I will keep you updated on my progress!
Here’s a handy tip for parents – I really struggled to get my son to take capsules, but we just couldn’t get him to swallow those huge capsules at first – no matter what we tried, they just wouldn’t go down. Eventually, I resorted to good old Google and I found the perfect solution! I found a post that said if your child is swallowing a capsule, they must bend their head forward and swallow, as the capsule floats and so it is directed towards their throat. If your child is swallowing a pill, they should bend their head backwards, as the pills will sink towards the entrance of their throat and make swallowing them easier. So we tried it, and lo and behold – it works like a charm! So that’s the story of why my son can take the capsules – but there is a powder version which can be sprinkled over food or mixed into a smoothie. There is also a Moringa tea which comes in a variety of yummy flavours.
Give it a try and let us know how it goes!
Moringa Initiative’s products are stocked in a handful of health stores and Spars in KZN. Check out their website to find the nearest store to you!
Review by Bev Delew for Mum’s Mail.