Miracle Plant Moringa: Additional Interesting and Amazing Facts
August 27, 2009 by BizMind
Filed under Agribusiness, Crops and Plants, Vegetables
Many are now written about the miracle plant Moringa (Malunggay) and its healthful benefits. Here are additional interesting and amazing information about Moringa:
* The nutritional contents of fresh Moringa leaves compared to common foods, gram for gram is as follows: 7 times the vitamin C of oranges; 4 times the calcium of milk; 3 times the potassium of bananas; 4 times the vitamin A of carrots; 50 times the vitamin B3 of peanuts; 36 times magnesium of eggs; 25 times iron of spinach; 4 times vitamin B of pork; 63 times potassium of milk; 50 times vitamin B2 of bananas; 13 times vitamin A of spinach.
* Moringa (Malungay) tree has an economic life span of 30 to 50 years. Each tree can product 10,000 seeds per year. The seed of Moringa produce 38-40 % oil.
* Moringa can be used to fortify noodles, soups and bread. It is a low-cost health enhancer.
* Moringa is not only a natural ingredient with cosmeceutical, nutraceutical food and pharmaceutical applications but it is a highly promising source of bio-fuel (renewable source of energy). Cosmeceutical products are cosmetic products that use natural ingredients that offer some health benefits as compared with conventional cosmetics.
* Of all the parts of the Moringa, leaves are used the most. An effective plant growth hormone can be extracted from fresh leaves of the Moringa which research experiments have shown to increase crop yields 25-30%.
* When Moringa leaves are dried and turned into powder form, its potency increases. A dried Moringa leaf has three (3x) to five (5x) times more nutrients than a fresh Moringa as confirmed by researchers and laboratory analysis. The dried leaf powder increases its mineral concentration due to water loss. Another advantage of the dried leaf powder is that it can be stored to a longer shelf-life. The dried leaf powder form is a nutritious add-on to baby food, soups, vegetables, and other food preparations without altering the taste of the food.
* The Moringa tree begins to flower after about 8 months to a year and continues to flower all year-round thereafter. The flowers of Moringa are edible; tastes like mushroom; and is rich in calcium and potassium.
* The Moringa flower (and the roots as well) contain a compound called pterygospermin which has powerful antibiotic and fungicidal effects. It is highly effective in the treatment of cholera.
* Moringa pods emerge from the flower clusters. One Moringa tree can produce 300 to 400 pods every year and a mature tree can produce up to 1,000 pods. A seed pod can contain 2 to 26 seeds per seed pod. The young Moringa pods are edible and its delicate flavor is likened to asparagus.
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Wow! I know malunggay leaves are nutritious but I never thought they were as nutritious as described in your article. Thanks for sharing! Just today an office mate told me to try eating a few malunggay seeds to help lower my blood pressure and it just so happens there’s a malunggay tree in front of a property I acquired a few months ago. Will try it out!
BizMind Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Yes, Jay! It is very nutritious and a good alternative medicine. That’s why I always eat malunggay every week.
Yes indeed the Moringa plant has plenty of nutritional benefits. actually some local entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this wonderful plant and processing the Moringa in different forms (flavored juices, herbal capsules etc.)Moringa or Malunggay is available everywhere in the Philippines that is why there is no reason for us not to gain access to this Wonder Plant. In the place where i live, the plant grows literally anywhere and people in the community is welcome to harvest it anytime they want.let us spread the word all over our land so that more and more people would learn about the Moringa and could also get the benefits of Gods gift.
More Power to all of you!
BizMind Reply:
October 13th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Thanks for the visit, Kuya Chris. Are you a malunggay consumer? If yes, you are in good health.