The Moringa Miracle for Health and Weight Loss

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April 28, 2019

Moringa Oleifera, also known as the miracle tree, is an ancient plant that is native to Asia and Africa. It has for centuries been used for many different purposes due to its high density of bioactive compounds including carotenoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Its nutritious pods, roots, bark, gum, leaves, and seeds are used for food, medicine, cosmetic oils and also forage for livestock.

In this article, I will give you a complete overview of Moringa and its benefits for many common diseases and weight loss, including what you need to know about supplementation.

The Basics

The Moringa tree is called the miracle tree because of two factors:

  1. Moringa ability to grow easily in very challenging conditions and 
  2. The wealth of nutrients it contains.

Readily grows

Once you read the rest of this article you will definitely want to grow a Moringa Oleifera tree in your garden or house, and you’ll be very happy to hear that this extremely nutrient dense plant can easily grow from seeds or cuttings even in poor soils (making it an excellent food source for the future). It does, however, need warmth, sunlight, but only a little water. If you live in a cold climate, you can grow Moringa indoors or move it indoors during the cold winters if it is planted in a pot. After 8 months of planting, suddenly a tree will grow and blossom.

Nutrient Content

The second reason Moringa is known as the miracle tree is due to its wealth of nutrients. 100 grams of Moringa contains 10 times the beta carotene found in carrots which support healthy vision, reproduction, embryonic growth and development, a healthy immune system and cell differentiation. 

Moringa leaves have the vitamin C content of 12 oranges, protecting the body from free radical damage from pollutants and toxins. 

Moringa also has 17 times the amount of calcium and 9 times the amount of protein found in dairy products supporting bone health and muscles.

Moringa also has 25 times the amount of iron found in spinach, and even in a much more absorbable form. [1-6]

Moringa leaves are also a rich source of polyphenols, such as flavonoids which have been shown to protect against heart disease and cancer. [7].

One of the flavonoids found in high concentrations in Moringa leaves is quercetin, found at levels of 100 mg/100 g. Quercetin is a very potent antioxidant that also has fat lowering effects and sugar lowering anti-diabetic effects [10]. 

Quercetin has been shown to reduce hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. Quercetin also protects ? cells in the pancreas, lowering the risk of the onset of diabetes, [11].

Research shows that moringa also has anti-fibrotic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties.  

Due to all of this, it’s no surprise that people in Asia and Africa have used this plant for centuries to treat various skin problems, diseases, infections, depression and even to lose weight.

Let’s look into these effects:

Moringa For Heart Disease, Diabetes, Cancer and Liver Disease

Even though moringa is packed with nutrients, it also contains anti-nutrients (glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, tannins, and saponins), that make it more difficult for our body to absorb all the wealth of nutrients found in moringa. However, these anti-nutrients in Moringa are known to help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and liver disease. What an amazing food!!!

Moringa for Weight Loss

Besides this, it seems that moringa can be very beneficial in weight loss. Animal studies have shown that moringa lowers fat formation while increasing fat breakdown. 

Another study showed that the isothiocyanates in moringa have anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects by increasing insulin signaling and insulin sensitivity. [29]

Moringa also lowers appetite due to this effect.

Moringa and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s 

New research shows that certain compounds in moringa may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. [30]

Conclusion

Moringa is quite a miraculous food for our health; in fact, many drug companies are studying the mode of action of the compounds found in Moringa to develop new pharmacological products. 

I definitely recommend supplementing your diet with moringa leaves, flowers, and pods in your cooking or in salads or sandwiches. As you now understand, even small amounts have significant benefits on your health and overall well-being, and it is well worth incorporating in your diet.

If you choose to take supplements, know that their antioxidant levels will be lower, but they are still beneficial for health if bought from a reputable source. I recommend these two reputable sources of organic moringa capsules that are vegan, and free from additives, preservatives, and all fillers.

If you are interested in growing your own moringa, you can buy seeds at many nurseries including these in the US:

  • Moringa Farms.com
  • Seedman.com
  • Hendrycreekhideaway.com

If you decide to grow your Moringa tree indoors, you must remember to prune it regularly. This will help you produce a LOT of leaves, great to be used in your food!

Feel free to comment below and let me know what you liked best about this article.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I’d be honored if you would share it with your family, friends, and followers by clicking the Like, Tweet, and Share buttons. If you are serious about improving your health no matter what your age or circumstances, and are ready to finally achieve optimal health and lose the weight you’ve been struggling with, then click HERE to check out my online Guerrilla Diet Bootcampfor Healthy and Lasting Weight Loss.

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Thank You, 🙂

Galit Goldfarb

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