Moringa Oleifera
This plant is called Malunggay in the Philippines and most families whose got a garden and empty space have this planted in their backyard whether in rural or urban areas. This is a versatile plant which had been used by our forefathers for many centuries.
What is Moringa?
Latein name is Moringa Oleifera and is the sole genus in the flowering plant family Moringaceae. It is native to parts of Africa and Asia and could grow in the tropics and subtropic climates. The name is derived from "murungai", the Tamil word for drumstick, and the plant is commonly referred to as the drumstick tree.
Source
As Cooking Ingredient...
We use the leaves most especially for cooking soups and we make tea out of the fresh or dried leaves. In my opinion, this plant has many benefits and is available in many forms be it in powder form, oil, capsules, extract and many more. The extract helps as food supplement.
According to theMedical News Today Moringa contains many healthful compounds such as:
vitamin A
vitamin B1 (thiamine)
B2 (riboflavin)
B3 (niacin)
B-6
folate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
calcium
potassium
iron
magnesium
phosphorus
zinc
It is also extremely low in fats and contains no harmful cholesterol.
This is one of the two Moringa Trees we have in the farm. It is about two decades old and planted by my father when he set up his coconut farm.
Health Benefits ...
The Moringa leaf is the most beneficial part of Moringa. That´s where all the vitamins are found as in the above list... besides it is a nourishment for our skin and hair. Old people in our area says it helps in curing stomach disorders, help in the treatment of depression and anxiety.
Moreover, it has a powerful antioxidants that are good for the heart and it is also known to be very good in the treatment of diabetes since it reduces the glucose level in blood.
And so today, I am sharing a tea made of Moringa leaves :
Ingredients for 2 cups
About 2 stems/branches of fresh Moringa
2 Calamansi juice or if not available...juice of 1/2 lemon
sugar or sweetener if you prefer it sweet
water.
Preparations:
- Wash the Moringa and pick the leaves
2... Bring to a boil 2.5 cups of water in a casserole with the leaves of Moringa. When water has boiled, set the fire to low and simmer for about 5 minutes until the leaves are limp or has become soft. Let stand for about 15 minutes.
3... Sift and discard the leaves and transfer to the cups then add the Calamansi juice(lemon juice). You can add sugar or sweetener according to your taste.
Enjoy your Moringa tea!
Disclaimer: The content of this post does not serve as medical advice but simply points out the known characteristics of the plant. If you have doubts about using Moringa or if it could help you, consult your medical practitioners if this is alright to use under your health conditions. There are so many end-products out there which you could buy online and if you decide to buy one, then simply research for its benefits as well as its side effects.
If you would like to know more on Moringa, here is another reference: Science Direct.com
Thanks for reading!
