Alternative of Health Supplements
Moringa Oleifera
Healthy foods will lead to a healthy life. It is difficult for the people to take all the food which is rich in specific nutrients. This lead to the formulation of health supplements.
This article is about natural source named Moringa Oleifera which can wider the alternative choices of your health supplements.
Moringa Oleifera, sometimes called the miracle tree because all of its parts; leaves, flowers, seeds, bark and roots has nutritional and medicinal uses. Not only that, oil extracted from the plant can be used as lubrication for delicate machineries like mechanical watches and clocks. It’s oil, which does not become rancid can also be used for cooking.
It’s also called with different names in different places. Malunggay or kamunggay in the Philippines, drumstick tree in India, benzolive in Haiti. Others also call it the horse radish tree because of its roots.
The nutrients, antioxidants from phytochemicals and medicinal constituents of this plant are too numerous to mention. A major aspect of this plant is that it is low in fat and carbohydrates. A gram for gram comparison to some of its nutrients with popular nutritious foods are listed below:
- Vitamin C: 7 times more than in oranges
- Vitamin A: 4 times more than in carrots
- Calcium : 4 times more than in milk
- Protein : 2 times more than in milk
- Iron : 3 times more than in spinach
In places where food is scare or if the cost of food is economically high, this plant can provide a good alternative considering it is easily grown in poor soil and can be planted in the backyard.
Other properties of this plant include: anti-fungicidal, anti-microbial and anti-cancer. The Phytochemicals glucosinolates and isothiocyanates helps in preventing lung and esophageal cancer and can also lower the risk of other cancer forms.
To treat minor cuts and sores, the leaves can be applied as a poultice because of its anti-microbial properties.
Moringa Oleifera can be planted almost anywhere. Truly it can be considered a poor man’s food source of essential nutrients.
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