What is Moringa?

Moringa oleifera tree is one of the 13 species belonging to the Moringacae family and is also widely known as "miracle tree", "horseradish tree" and "drumstick tree". Moringa oleifera tree is native to India and naturalised in tropic and sub-tropical parts of the world; in South Africa it grows mainly in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga regions. It is known to be a powerful health-enhancing plant; the leaves are known to have many health promoting benefits; in India for example, the ancient tradition of Ayurveda medicine indicates that over 300 diseases are treated with the leaves of the Moringa tree.

Dried Moringa oleifera leaves are known to have both nutritional and medicinal benefits.

Based on a 2011 study conducted at the University of Fort Hare and University of the Frees State, a typical nutritional analysis of dried Moringa oleifera leaf powder of a South African ecotype was found to have the following nutritional benefits.

Compared to some common foods, Moringa leaf powder fares very well as it has:

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The Nutritional benefits

  • Protein
    30.3%
  • Amino acids
    19
  • Fatty acids
    17
  • Beta-carotene
    18.5mg/100g
  • Calcium
    3.65%
  • Phosphorus
    0.3%
  • Magnesium
    0.5%
  • Potassium
    1.5%
  • Sodium
    0.164%
  • Sulphur
    0.63%
  • Zinc
    13.03mg/kg
  • Copper
    8.25%
  • Manganese
    86.8mg/kg
  • Iron
    490mg/kg
  • Selenium
    363mg/kg
  • Vitamin E
    77mg/100g

Some of the Medicinal benefits

  • Cleans and detoxifies the body
  • Immune system support
  • Increases natural energy
  • Antiseptic for skin disorders
  • Helps with headaches
  • Helps with ulcers and gastritis
  • Assist in thyroid disorders
  • Helps with anaemia
  • Assists in weight loss and maintenance
  • Diabetes
  • Bronchitis
  • External sores/ulcers
  • Assists boots immune system in HIV positive patients
  • Urinary tract infections

For further sources of information, please consult the following studies

  1. Moyo et. al. (2011). Nutritional characterization of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves.
    http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/view/96497
  2. Mahmood et. al. (2010). Moringa oleifera: a natural gift-A review.
    http://www.jpsr.pharmainfo.in/Documents/Volumes/Vol2Issue11/jpsr%2002101115.pdf
  3. Fahey (2005). Moringa oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence for Its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties. Part 1
    http://moringablog.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Moringa-oleifera-medisch.pdf