Moringa is a tree with a rich nutritional profile that’s native to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. There are several different species, but the most common and widely consumed is moringa oleifera. This is sometimes referred to as “the miracle tree.” It’s also been called the “tree of life,” “mother’s milk,” “drumstick tree,” and “horseradish tree.”
The tree is fast-growing, drought-resistant, and can reach 40 feet in height. Nearly every part of the plant is edible and has medicinal qualities, but the pods, leaves, flowers, and bark are most frequently used. It’s valued in Ayurvedic therapy for a range of uses, including its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral and antidepressant properties.
Its bark is thick and white-colored and its leaves are long and oval-shaped. The tree has been used since ancient times and was valued by the Greeks and Egyptians. Currently, several humanitarian organizations are encouraging its growth in rural communities to help combat malnutrition.
The plants grow so quickly that within six months of planting a cutting, the first harvest can be taken. By the second year, one tree can produce nearly 300 seed pods that might be parboiled and added to curry or roasted and eaten like nuts.
Moringa tea can be made from dried leaves, seeds, or flowers, but dried leaves are the most popular. While moringa tea is frequently consumed in India, the benefits of the tea have only recently reached the Western world. Roughly 1 teaspoon of dried loose-leaf tea is used in 1 cup of freshly heated pure—not distilled or flavored—water. For added health benefits and a different flavor, try blending it with some green tea.
Unique Glucosinolate Found in Moringa
Other health benefits from moringa plants are the unique glucosinolates that are unique to the tree. A glucosinolate is an inert sulfur-containing phytochemical that is most notably found in cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage.
According to one paper in Scientific Reports, moringa contains not only high levels of glucosinolates but a unique formulation that is responsible for many of its medicinal properties. When glucosinolates are metabolized by an enzyme called myrosinase, they produce a bioactive isothiocyanate compound.
The isothiocyanate found in broccoli and many other cruciferous vegetables is sulforaphane. However, the unique glucosinolate (glucomoringin) found in the moringa plant is metabolized to moringin.
Researchers recently discovered a new glucosinolate in wild forms of moringa oleifera called 4-(-L-glucopyranosyloxy)benzyl GS (4GBGS). Domestic forms of moringa oleifera grown for human consumption had some levels of 4GBGS but in much lower concentrations.
Researchers speculated that this may be due to breeding the plant to reduce the naturally bitter taste. Since glucosinolates contain sulfur, they have a distinct, sometimes off-putting flavor. In addition to glucomoringin and 4GBGS, moringa oleifera also contains at least 10 other glucosinolates that work together to provide many of the health benefits of the plant.
According to Jed Fahey, a nutritional biochemist from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the overall nutritive value of the moringa tree has led to widespread use in order to reduce the burden of undernutrition. In a 2009 article in the journal Ecology of Food and Nutrition, he wrote:
“However, scientifically robust trials testing its efficacy for undernourished human beings have not yet been reported. If the wealth of anecdotal evidence (not cited herein) can be supported by robust clinical evidence, countries with a high prevalence of under-nutrition might have at their fingertips, a sustainable solution to some of their nutritional challenges.”
In the years following Fahey’s article, human and animal studies have begun to reveal some of the health benefits that have been enjoyed by traditional medicine practitioners for hundreds of years, including improving iron levels in lactating women, reducing malnutrition in children, and showed promising results in treating malaria and malnutrition in a study using mice.
7 Benefits From Drinking Moringa Tea
Many of the benefits associated with drinking moringa tea are likely the result of the tree’s nutritional profile, including the unique glucosinolates discussed above. Additionally, the plant is rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids, which are protein building blocks.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of the pods contain 45 milligrams (mg) of magnesium, 15 mg of phosphorus, and 461 mg of potassium. They’re also rich in zinc, vitamin C, folate, and vitamin A.
Drinking moringa tea is a satisfying and relaxing way of ingesting many of the health benefits associated with it. If you’d like to experiment with a different flavor, try adding cinnamon or lemon basil to your drink. Seven of the potential health benefits of adding moringa tea to your routine include:
Reducing arsenic toxicity: A review of the literature revealed M. oleifera may be useful in people with chronic hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and dyslipidemia. Chronic exposure to arsenic in contaminated drinking water or food is associated with an increased risk of high blood sugar and cardiovascular disease.
Long-term exposure to arsenic can lead to several types of cancers and can contribute to the development of neurological, lung, and kidney diseases. Animal studies also show the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of moringa help reduce those long-term risks.
Helping to control blood sugar: One animal study demonstrated moringa could reduce blood sugar by up to 29.9 percent in normal subjects, up to 32.8 percent in mildly diabetic subjects, and 69.2 percent in severely diabetic subjects.
Supporting cardiovascular health: Animal studies show moringa helps normalize elevated levels of blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides in diabetic subjects. Cardiovascular disease is a significant complication associated with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes. Moringa may also help reduce the formation of plaques in the blood vessels.
Offering possible anticancer effects: Moringa has a cytotoxic effect on breast, colorectal, and prostate cancers. It may also be a potential adjunctive treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is one of the most common conditions in men as they age.
Supporting brain health: In an animal model, moringa helped alleviate the effects of homocysteine on the brain in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and mitigated memory impairment in age-related dementia.
Preventing chronic disease: Moringa tea is rich in phytochemicals, including tannins, saponin, and polyphenols. These compounds play a role in resisting the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), high blood pressure, cancer, and overall inflammation.
Supporting male reproductive health: Animal studies have suggested that moringa has a beneficial effect on male reproduction, including libido and fertility. However, the same is not true for females, who, in one study, experienced negative fertility effects from supplementation.
Plant Protein With All Essential Amino Acids
Moringa is also a source of high-quality amino acids. They are the building blocks of protein, which are used in a variety of functions. There are 20 different amino acids that have been identified and are classified as either nonessential or essential. Your body can make the nonessential amino acids but needs to get the essential amino acids from food.
There aren’t a lot of plant foods that contain all the essential amino acids, but moringa is one. According to the African Journal of Biotechnology, the plant has 19 amino acids, including all nine essential amino acids.
Each of these has important biological roles including being used to stabilize blood sugar, being used in the production of collagen, being necessary in the production of red and white blood cells, and playing a role in memory formation and nervous system function.
Antibiotic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity
Biological effects of moringa extend to having potent antibiotic properties against a variety of pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Candida, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Specifically, the isothiocyanate 4-α-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)benzyl isothiocyanate (4RBITC) is a potent antibiotic against H. pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans.
The anti-inflammatory effects from moringa may also help protect your skin from pollution. Moringa leaves are rich in antioxidants that contribute to healthy skin as well as sulfur, which is a key ingredient in the production of collagen and keratin.
Moringa oil, pressed from the seeds of the tree, keeps for years without turning rancid and is easily absorbed into the skin. Although the product hasn’t gained widespread popularity, there is evidence that it helps reduce wrinkles. The oil is also naturally moisturizing and nourishing.
Use Caution When Ingesting Moringa
It’s important to remember that certain plants, like moringa, are bioactive and may interfere with medications or supplements you’re taking. The leaves are considered to be generally safe and edible, but there is a slight controversy about the roots and stems.
The information about using moringa before or during pregnancy, or while nursing, is also unclear. Until there’s more evidence that moringa is safe during pregnancy, women who are pregnant or who want to become pregnant shouldn’t use it.
Early studies have also demonstrated there’s an immunosuppressive effect from the seeds or extracts that contain the roots and seeds. The plants can also have a mild laxative effect.
Since moringa has an effect on blood sugar, inflammatory response, and may interact with other medications, it’s important to first check with your pharmacist, inform your holistic physician of the addition, and monitor your blood sugar frequently if you are a diabetic.
Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com. An osteopathic physician, best-selling author, and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health. This article was originally published on Mercola.com
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