Moringa, the new superfood

Moringa is considered, in recent times, a new superfood. Numerous properties are attributed to it and its success has grown exponentially, especially in the past year.

What is moringa?

It is a plant native to northern India and the most common species is moringa oleifera, also known as the horseradish tree .

Almost all parts of this tree are used, such as the moringa leaf or seeds .

It is also widely used as a food supplement , and can be purchased in powder or capsule form . Let's try to find out what moringa is for.

Moringa: property

Moringa leaves are an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals. In particular, they have a good amount of:

• Vitamin B6
• C vitamin
• Riboflavin (vit B2)
• Vitamin A
• Iron
• Magnesium

Moringa benefits

It should be noted that there is no miraculous food, but some foods, including moringa oleifera, have important beneficial properties.

Antioxidant action

Several compounds with antioxidant function have been found in the leaves of Moringa oleifera, including: vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, chlorogenic acid .

Thanks to this action, Moringa leaf extract can also be used as a food preservative.

Check your blood sugar

Moringa oleifera can help reduce blood sugar levels . However, most of the evidence is based on scientific studies in animals.

A study of six people with diabetes found that adding 50 grams of moringa leaves to a meal reduced the blood sugar increase by 21%.

Anti-inflammatory action

Inflammation is a protective reaction for our body, but if it is chronic it is at the root of numerous pathologies. Among the anti- inflammatory compounds present in moringa leaves and seeds, we can mention isothiocyanates , but further studies are needed to confirm this property.

Reduces cholesterol

High cholesterol levels are related to an increased risk of heart disease.

Moringa oleifera can have cholesterol- lowering effects , that is, it lowers cholesterol.

Protection in the comparison of some substances

Certain substances such as arsenic can contaminate food and water and is an extremely important issue, as long-term exposure to such arsenic levels can lead to health problems, including an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.

Several studies in mice and rats have shown that Moringa oleifera leaves and seeds can protect against some of the toxic effects of arsenic.

Moringa leaves are also highly nutritious and should be beneficial for people who lack essential nutrients.

Moringa oil

It is extracted from moringa seeds, is suitable for human consumption, and does not go rancid.

Moringa supplement

In specialty stores, moringa can be purchased as a food supplement . This comes from the dust extracted from its leaves. It can be added to dishes or used in the preparation of herbal teas or teas .

Moringa powder can also be taken in the evening and is useful for promoting sleep .

Moringa and thyroid

The properties of this plant help in the regulation of hormone levels in the blood, including those of thyroid hormones .

Does moringa make you lose weight?

The answer is no. Moringa has no slimming effects. However, it can reduce annoying abdominal swelling .

Contraindications

Be careful because Moringa leaves can contain high levels of antinutrients , substances that can reduce the absorption of minerals and proteins. Therefore, it is good not to exceed in its consumption, and take it away from some meals if you suffer from some nutritional deficiencies.

Bibliography

• Afzal Sheikh et al. “Protective effects of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves against arsenic-induced toxicity in mice ”Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2014; 4 (Suppl 1): S353-S358
• Sarot Cheenpracha et al. "Potential anti-inflammatory phenolic glycosides from the medicinal plant Moringa oleifera fruits" Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry 18 (2010) 6598–6602
• Pilaipark Chumark et al. "The in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant properties, hypolipidaemic and antiatherosclerotic activities of water extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. Leaves ”Journal of Ethnopharmacology 116 (2008) 439–446
• Majambu Mbikay "Therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera leaves in chronic hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia: a review" Frontier in pharmacology March 2012
• Carrie Waterman et al. "Isothiocyanate-rich Moringa oleifera extract reduces weight gain, insulin resistance and hepatic gluconeogenesis in mice" Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015 June; 59 (6): 1013-1024.
• Sidney J. Stohs et al. “Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Moringa oleifera” Phytother. Res. 29: 796–804 (2015)