The Crazy Chef

Moringa - - Tree of life!

Moringa, or Moringa Oleifera is referred to as the ‘Tree of Life’ as each and every part of the tree can be utilized in one way or another, from the seeds, pods and flowers being utilized as food, whilst the rest of the tree is utilized for making herbal medicine and for making tools. In saying this, though the Moringa leaves are known to provide numerous advantages in various capacities, however, dried Moringa is said to have a higher nutritional value. The reason being, after six hours of being picked, the Moringa leaf, in its original state, starts to lose its vitamin and mineral qualities. Therefore, dried Moringa is said to be better in terms of holding nutritional value, and can be consumed in the form of ‘Moringa Tea’ or sprinkled on top of other healthy drinks and food.

The benefits of Moringa are countless, with its ability to store vitamins and minerals; Moringa is in fact the cure or provides relief from various ailments, some of which are as follows:

·      Acne Treatment

o   The extract of Moringa leaves can be used as a purifying face mask, whereby all that is to be done is to grind Moringa leaves with rose water to form a paste, which is then applied on the face for five minutes.

·      Wounds

o   Moringa leaves are known to have anti-septic and anti-inflammatory qualities, thus when applied, it can lead to the wound healing whilst preventing infection.

·      Diabetes

o   The usage of Moringa leaves, both through its original state or dried form, can be utilized to effectively regulate blood sugar level, which in turn can help to control diabetes.

·      Toxins

o   Moringa has the ability to detox the body, as when consumed it attaches itself to the toxins which are then flushed out of the system.

·      Immune Deficiency

o   Extracts from Moringa leaves can aid in regulating the immune system, through improving the cellular immune response and exerting positive effects on various other immune system components.

Moringa also provides benefits in terms of culinary uses, including being used as a substitute for meat by vegetarians due its high content of protein. Other than this, the leaves themselves can be utilized in salads and are utilized in the preparation of soups and salads, whilst also possessing characteristics which make it perfect for cattle feed, both in terms of nutrition and monetary terms.

On the other hand, certain parts of the Moringa tree are unfit for consumption such as the roots and its extracts, as particular parts may contain certain toxins which can be hazardous to health. Furthermore, women during pregnancy or whilst breast feeding, should avoid Moringa use as enough research has not been carried out in order to ascertain the reactions. And most important of all, before consumption of Moringa or any other herb, it is advised to contact a medical practitioner, especially if it is being utilized for therapeutic purposes.