Moringa oleifera, or ‘Tree of Life’, is a key plant in the diet and traditional pharmacopeia of many tropical countries, reputed to be able to treat 300 diseases. Here we focus on 4 of its key benefits.
A fast-growing tropical tree native to Asia, and India in particular, moringa, or Moringa oleifera to give its botanical name, is a plant with multiple benefits for health.
Its fruit, roots, bark, seeds, and leaves are all used in the countries in which it grows naturally: Southeast Asia, Indonesia, India, Ethiopia, Chad, etc. In English-speaking countries, it’s known as the horseradish tree (because its root tastes similar to horseradish), as brede mouroum in Réunion, etc.
Moringa is widely used as a cooking ingredient in many countries because of its high nutrient content, its ability to withstand drought, and because it produces young shoots and leaves in the dry season when food becomes scarcer.
It’s for this reason, and because it’s the basis of the vegetarian diet in India, that it is known as the Tree of Life.
But moringa has also been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine. In addition to having a high nutrient content, it’s a medicinal plant with numerous benefits for health (1).
Ayurvedic medicine credits moringa with the ability to treat more than 300 health problems, including colds, diabetes and high blood pressure. According to this age-old Indian system of medicine, moringa is also good for the kidneys, hair, and sleep. But as we’ll see, recent scientific research has concentrated primarily on its benefits for blood sugar levels (2).
While every part of the plant is used in cooking in the various regions of the world in which this tropical tree grows, it’s the leaves in particular, that are currently the subject of scientific study. They contain numerouspolyphenols, alkaloids, such as glucosinolates and isothiocyanates, as well as saponins. They are also easily dried and made into powder to produce moringa capsules (3).
While research is ongoing to establish the precise mechanisms behind moringa’s effects, several studies have shown that supplementing with moringa for several weeks can reduce blood sugar levels by up to 30% in diabetic individuals. Moringa consumption also appears to increase insulin sensitivity.
Even more interestingly, other studies have demonstrated similar glycemia-lowering effects in ‘healthy’ individuals.
That’s why extract of moringa leaf is now considered to be a potential natural remedy for diabetes and is recognized by the EFSA for supporting glucose metabolism (4-5).
Moringa is not only a staple food in certain regions of India, but this Tree of Life has also attracted the attention of numerous NGOs such as Action Against Hunger, the Red Cross, and UNICEF. The reason for this is its remarkable nutritional value.
Moringa is rich in (6) :
Moringa’s high content of polyphenols, saponins, glucosinolates, and isothiocyanates has also prompted researchers to investigate this medicinal plant’s potential as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant (7).
Some studies suggest that moringa leaf extract inhibits production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by macrophages and reduces the activity of genes involved in inflammation (8).
And a number of other studies are evaluatingmoringa’s antioxidant potential, because of its high content of tocopherols and beta-carotene, amongst others.
According to an article on the plant produced by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), moringa products have antibiotic, hypotensive, antispasmodic, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, and hypoglycemic properties (9).
Moringa seeds are also rich in fatty acids such as behenic acid, oleic acid, and palmitoleic acid, as well as in antioxidants. For this reason, oil extracted from its seeds is widely used in hair and skincare products (10).
In addition, studies indicate that its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential could benefit the kidneys, which moringa may protect from disease (11).
And finally, while some studies suggest that moringa may improve sleep quality, the only real effect shown is that moringa boosts the sedative action of pentobarbital, a barbiturate used as a sleeping pill and anesthetic in surgery. Moringa’s effects on sleep are thus being evaluated for pharmaceutical applications (12).
The only contraindication associated with moringa relates to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, due to a lack of data on the plant’s effects on the fetus or infant.
You can obtain moringa’s benefits by taking a course of moringa leaf extract supplements in capsule form, (such as the product Organic Moringa Leaf Extract).
References
Keywords
21 Days
Above and beyond
DOMINIC
22 Days
The discount paves way to try new products.
Larry
22 Days
Professional and timely
TOMASINO Anthony
25 Days
Rapid order! All comes when expected.
NEW Virginia
25 Days
1- website easy to navigate and understand the different products 2- easy to order 3- superb timely shipping 4- excellent product 5- best customer service not just in the industry but overall!
Mohamad Hussein
26 Days
This was a reorder and fortunately you offered a discount. It was received as promised.
El Capt
27 Days
FIRST TIME TRYING
DOMINIC
27 Days
Great products and good to work with in ordering shipping.
DOMINIC
35 Days
High quality, great prices, fast shipment and large variety keep me coming back!
Jackson Josiah
36 Days
We were recommended products to buy at SuperSmart USA by Neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock. So glad he made this recommendation because we have been very pleased with all the products we have purchased from SuperSmart. Lately, I started using the Silyphus for liver and have been extremely pleased with my results.
Diane
37 Days
Was Able To Find What I Wanted And I Received My Order In A Timely Manner...
PITTMAN Richard
38 Days
Their supplements work, i'vce had great experience with their glucose and cholesterol supplements
ACKAWAY Joseph
39 Days
Only bummer they left the pkg in the mailbox and we had no confirmation of delivery.
Lorri
39 Days
GREAT PRODUCT!! FAST SERVICE!! SUPER - NICE PRICE!! I WILL ORDER AGAIN, I WILL RECOMMEND OTHERS TO DO THE SAME!!! THANKS!!
HENDERSON B.
41 Days
Dependable delivery and service.
ShadowSeer