Health Benefits of Moringa: 7 Reasons to Add to Your Meals and Diet

If you’re looking to boost your health, moringa offers several benefits and it can be a great addition to your meals and diets.

What is Moringa?

Originally a local medicinal Indian herb, Moringa, has grown in popularity in recent times because of its nutritional value.

In different parts of the world, Moringa is called differently, including:

• Moringa oleifera Lam
• Horseradish tree
• Mulangay
• Drumstick tree
• Mlonge
• Saijihan
• Benzolive,
• Sajna
• Marango

Moringa’s medicinal and nutritional value has been around for centuries. However, it is only in recent times that studies are beginning to confirm those phenomenal benefits.

So why is Moringa so popular? In this article, we will go over some of the moringa benefits.

What are the health benefits of moringa

1. Improves bone health

From when we are born, our bones grow in mass and density and length up to a certain age. After that age where they start getting weak.

As we grow older, the need to develop healthy and stronger bones become more and more important. 

Moringa oleifera leaves serve an excellent source of calcium, vitamin K and protein. These nutrients are vital to supporting healthy bone development.

Moringa also is rich with anti-inflammatory effects and may help treat injured bone joints.

2. Improves immunity against bacterial diseases

Our body’s mechanism for fighting off deadly diseases and infections is vital to our daily survival.

That mechanism is called the immune system. Certain nutrients and minerals are vital to helping the immune system function at its best. 

And of all the moringa benefits, improving immunity is perhaps the most essential.

Moringa Oleifera leaves contain extremely helpful compounds that help to boost our immune system. These compounds and nutrients include:

• Iron
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
• B2 (riboflavin)
• B3 (niacin), B-6
• Potassium
• Magnesium

Research in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention found that one of the important moring benefits is its anti-tumor, anti-cancer, and overall antibacterial properties.

The research shows that Moringa possesses potential therapeutic effects to fight cancer, arthritis, diabetes and other infections.

3. Improves skin health

What we eat goes a long way to affect our skin. On one hand, empty-calorie foods and junk food provide little to no nutrition and nourishment to our skin.

On the other hand, nutrient-rich food can be a great nourisher for our skin.

Because of its vitamin-rich nature, Moringa is a great nourisher of the skin and prevents unnatural skin aging.

Moringa contains powerful antioxidants. Moringa’s total antioxidant capacity measure with Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value is around 157,000. 

One of its most dominant antioxidants is polyphenols which are the prominent plant compounds.

These compounds help to reduce oxidative damage in tissues in our body. The effect of this ever-enhancement of cells is that your body continues to fight cells that cause wrinkles, skin dryness, and premature aging.

4. Helps to relieve stress

Research has shown that moringa leaves are an excellent source of a natural adaptogen.

Adaptogens are plants that shield the body from the toxic effects of stress, and related poor habits like stress-eating.

Not only do adaptogens boost endurance, but they also support in dealing with the daily stresses in life.

5. Improves cardiovascular health

One way the body fights threats to cardiovascular health is through its army of antioxidants.

Moringa is rich in antioxidants which might help to fend off any cardiovascular problems.

6. Reduces risk of diabetes

If you’re diabetic, moringa leaves might be a good addition to your daily diet and meals. Over the years, studies have shown that morning has anti-diabetic effects and can reduce blood glucose levels over time.

In general, plant-based diets help prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. A poor diet worsens your immunity.

A 2009 research on more than 60,000 people found out that 7.9 percent of people on a regular diet had type 2 diabetes compared to only 2.9 percent of people on a vegan diet.

Moringa plant is a good addition, especially drinking it in the morning or adding it to your green smoothie.

7. Helps fight fatigue

One of the main symptoms of extreme tiredness and fatigue is a sudden illness like the common cold or flu. There are headaches and general muscle soreness.

The path to recovery from those symptoms is one that includes increasing your intake of iron and vitamin A which makes moringa an important course. 

Because moringa is rich in iron and vitamins it helps to prevent the prevention of fatigue in our body.

It also improves the chemical reaction of iron, thereby increasing metabolism. This iron content is especially good for vegetarians who might not have enough iron in their diets.

Takeaway

Whether it is substituting your morning coffee with moringa or adding it to your smoothies, moringa as part of your daily lifestyle and routine can bring in important health benefits.

If you combine moringa benefits to the befits you get from regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating healthy meals, you will see improvements in your health.