What is Moringa Oleifera (Moringa)?

Moringa is a plant that is native to areas of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. It is also grown in the tropics. The leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds, and roots are used to make medicine.

Its commonly known as moringa, drumstick, Moringa oleifera, Munika, Sohanjana, Murungai and Murungai Ilai

It consists of high nutritional value and the leaves and flowers of moringa oleifera are used to manage various diseases.

Health Benefits of Moringa Oleifera 

Health Benefits of Moringa Oleifera

  1.  Rich in Antioxidants: It contains proteins, vitamins, and minerals that works as an antioxidant and protects cells from damage. A study by the Journal of food science and technology which was conducted among women’s shows that it helps in increasing blood oxidant levels.
  2. Controls blood sugar & cholesterol levels in the human body: High cholesterol and blood sugar levels increases the risks of various health problems, including heart disease, which can be controlled with the consumption of Moringa. A study by International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition shows that adding some amount of moringa oleifera in your diet helps you to reduce your blood sugar and cholesterol
  3. Helps in reducing Inflammation: Inflammation is the body’s natural defense towards infection or injury. But, if it continues over a long period of time, it can cause chronic health problems which include heart disease and cancer. Researchers believed that moringa’s leaf, seeds and its pods consist of isothiocyanates which are anti-inflammatory in nature.

Benefits of  Oleifera are:

  • Increase the production of breast milk
  • Improve weight in undernourished children
  • Increases body mass index
  • Beneficial for treatment of arthritis
  • Beneficial for kidney stone treatment

Precautions

Precautions to be taken while consuming it

  1. People who already have low blood pressure problem should not consume Moringa Oleifera as causing fainting because this ingredient has a property of lowering blood pressure
  2. If you are breastfeeding then you should avoid moringa oleifera as there is not enough information if it is safe for the nursing infant.
  3. Consumption of moringa in any form during pregnancy might bring some complications as moringa makes the uterus contract.