What I find so interesting about the latest health food discoveries is they aren’t newly produced foods. Instead we’re seeing food staples, which have been around for centuries, becoming the latest finds. I had the thought when I discovered Baobab, and couldn’t wait for my local health food store to call me when my special order arrived. Moringa is giving me the same kind of tingles.
One morning when my brain was still kind of fuzzy, I heard a reporter on NPR sharing her childhood superfood story of moringa. I’d never heard of this “superfood,” and it was the first I searched for when I turned on my computer. What is moringa? More important though, where can I get some?
Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing tree native to South Asia and now found throughout the tropics. Its leaves have been used as part of traditional medicine for centuries. The Ayurvedic system of medicine; the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit; associates it with the cure or prevention of about 300 diseases.
Moringa, sometimes described as the “miracle tree,” “drumstick tree,” or “horseradish tree,” has small, rounded leaves that are packed with an incredible amount of nutrition: protein, calcium, beta carotene, vitamin C, and potassium to name a few benefits. It’s been used medicinally (and as a food source) for at least 4,000 years.
Yes, the moringa trees is seriously amazing. No wonder it’s been around for so long. So what exactly does it does it do for the human body?
Moringa leaves are loaded with vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and more. 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
- 25 times the iron of spinach
Moringa leaves are rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid by the way, has been shown to slow cells absorption of sugar. Also, moringa appears to have anti-diabetic effects. One study found women who took seven grams of moringa leaf powder daily, for three months, reduced their fasting blood sugar levels by 13.5 percent.
Moringa is also great if you’re dealing with inflammation. The isothiocyanates, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in moringa can help reducing swelling and pain due to flare ups. Also, you can lower your cholesterol levels by making moringa part of your diet.
Your digestive system will also love moringa. It’s so high in fiber, the Epoch Times says it, “works like a mop in your intestines… to clean up any of that extra grunge left over from a greasy diet.”
Alright so many benefits, but the big question? How do you eat this?
Unless you have moringa tree growing in your backyard, the best way probably is in powder form. If you can make it to an asian supermarket you might be able to find moringa leaves and pods. You can use the leaves in the same way you would spinach. And pods can be used like green beans. Give them a little steam to soften them up, and viola, nutrition heaven awaits you. Here’s a simple recipe for using moringa leaves.
- Cooked lentils, quinoa, pinto beans, garbanzo beans - about 4 cups
- Freshly picked Moringa Oleifera leaves - lots of them
- Olive oil and/or butter - 1/4 cup
- Several minced fresh garlic cloves or garlic salt
- Sea salt and/or whatever spices you like
- Wheat germ - 1/2 cup
- Chia seeds - 1/4 cup, ground in nut mill or coffee grinder
- 2 eggs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
Lightly grease loaf pan with olive oil or butter. Bake 45 minutes.
Let rest 10 minutes, slice, and serve.
Otherwise, you can go the simpler route and find moringa leaf powder. Use it in your favorite dishes. Moringa has a "pecany-spinach" taste - sort of like "nutty" greens. Sprinkle it on eggs, veggies, or maybe your favorite vegetarian chile for a little kick.
Make it part of your smoothie rotation with this simple recipe.
- 2-4 leaves of kale or chard
- 1 banana
- 1 Tbsp. almond butter
- 1 date
- ½ - ¾ cups coconut water
- 1 Tbsp. cacao powder
- ½ tsp. moringa leaf
- 1 cup ice
Place all smoothie ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until smooth.
However you enjoy this amazing superfood make sure not to buy any powder or variations of the root. There is a neurotoxin in the root bark, which can be fatal, if taken in large enough quantities. No one appears to know the exact amount, so the best advice is - don't eat the root.
Don’t let the disclaimer scare you from this superfood. Yes, every piece of this tree can be used, but not every piece is meant to be eaten. Other than that, enjoy discovering this amazing “new” food which has only been used for the last 4,000 years. Hey, better late than never when it comes to health.
No comments:
Post a Comment