"Don’t judge a book by its cover" is a popular saying. One needs to go further than skin deep to understand something or someone before making a judgement or opinion. This can be applied to just about any experience in life. Moringa is one such thing that needs a closer examination to truly understand what it is and how one can benefit from it.
Moringa Olifera, commonly called as drumstick tree or horseradish tree, is used widely as a vegetable in Indian and Asian cooking. One can be excused for dismissing it as a regular “green” plant, not giving a second look. But its traditional healing benefits are just now being discovered for wider adoption. As moringa tea, one can easily incorporate into everyday life to truly experience its medicinal properties, in our expanding line of herbal teas.
Nutrient Rich
Moringa is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It contains significant amounts of vitamin A, C, and E; calcium; potassium; and protein. Moringa tea provides a convenient way to get these nutrients.
Powerful Antioxidants
The moringa plant offers a rich blend of powerful antioxidants such as kaempferol, caffeoylquinic acid, zeatin, quercetin, rutin, chlorogenic acid, and beta-sitosterol. These powerful antioxidants found in moringa have been shown to possess free radical scavenging capacity and have shown its therapeutic value in curing the damage caused by oxidative stress. In tea form, Moringa tea makes it much easier to get these antioxidants.
Reduce Cholesterol
Bioactive components such as isothiocyanate and niaziminin present in moringa have been shown to prevent the thickening of arteries and reduce the development of pulmonary hypertension. Studies have confirmed its hypocholesterolemic effects help in reducing a high-fat rise in the liver, kidney, and serum cholesterol levels. Moringa tea with mint makes it much easier and delicious to get these benefits.
Treats Stomach Disorders
The isothiocyanates present in moringa are effective in the treatment of abdominal disorders such as constipation, gastritis, and ulcerative colitis. Researches have shown that its extracts can be considered as an effective herbal alternative to a range of commercially available antacids and antihistamines.
According to a study published in the Phytomedicine journal, treatment with moringa leads to reduced ulceration and its efficacy in curing ulcerative colitis is comparable with the commercially available drug prednisolone. Moringa also contains antibiotic and antibacterial properties and exerts inhibitory effects on the growth of various pathogens such as helicobacter pylori bacteria and coliform bacteria which can cause diarrhea. Moringa tea helps in combating obesity due to its high nutritional and low-fat properties. The High vitamin B content aids in digestion, and converts the food into energy rather than storing it as fat.
Treats Edema
Moringa tea with moringa extract is effective in the treatment of edema. Research studies have confirmed that treatment with drumstick root extract, which possesses anti-inflammatory qualities, has been significantly effective in inhibiting the development of edema. These studies suggest that the efficacy of this herb stands equal with the potent anti-inflammatory medicine indomethacin in the treatment of such painful conditions.
Fights free radicals.
Moringa leaves contains three major antioxidants flavonoids, polyphenols, and ascorbic acid. Antioxidants prevent the damage and degradation that free radicals cause, such as oxidative stress, cell damage and inflammation, thereby keeping them healthy and functioning at their best.
Reduces inflammation.
Inflammation can lead to chronic diseases like diabetes, respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and obesity. Moringa reduces inflammation by suppressing inflammatory enzymes and proteins in the body, and moringa leaf concentrate can significantly lower inflammation in the cells. Consuming moringa tea enables the body to mitigate inflammation on a regular basis.
Helps reduce some diabetes symptoms.
Moringa leaf powder has been effective at reducing lipid and glucose levels and regulating oxidative stress in diabetic patients, which means it lowers blood sugar and cholesterol and improves protection against cell damage.
Protects the cardiovascular system.
Moringa leaf powder has heart-healthy benefits, particularly in blood lipid control, the prevention of plaque formation in the arteries, and reduced cholesterol levels.
Supports brain health.
Moringa supports brain health and cognitive function because of its antioxidant and neuro-enhancer activities. It's also been tested as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease with favorable preliminary results. Its high content of vitamins E and C fight oxidation that leads to neuron degeneration, improving brain function. It’s also able to normalize the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline in the brain, which play a key role in memory, mood, organ function, responses to stimulus such as stress and pleasure, and mental health, for example in depression and psychosis.
Liver protection
Moringa contains high concentrations of polyphenols in its leaves and flowers that protect the liver against oxidation, toxicity, and damage. Moringa can reduce liver damage and fibrosis and reverse oxidation in the liver. Moringa oil can also restore liver enzymes to normal levels, reducing oxidative stress, and increasing protein content in the liver. The liver is responsible for blood detoxification, bile production, fructose metabolism, fat metabolism, and nutrient processing, and it can only fulfill these functions with the aid of liver enzymes, so it's vital they stay at normal levels. For instance, lower levels of hepatic enzymes can impair its ability to filter the blood.
Antimicrobial and antibacterial
Moringa has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that fight infections. It's been effective against types of fungi that cause infections on skin and strains of bacteriaresponsible for blood and urinary tract infections and digestive problems.
Enhances wound healing.
Moringa has blood-clotting properties in its leaves, roots, and seeds that benefit wound healing and can reduce clotting time, which means it reduces the time it takes for scratches, cuts, or wounds to stop bleeding.
Wishing you a happy and relaxing tea break!