Moringa: The New Super(food)Star
by Gunjan Nanda
The ‘Miracle Plant’ Moringa, also known as the Drumstick Tree. Photo courtesy of Neoteric DCBA
Throughout history and even still today, there has been worldwide buzz about turmeric possessing great anti-inflammatory powers. In fact, the recent surge of organic and sustainable trends has brought ancient herbs back into the limelight, one of the most prominent of them being Moringa.
You might have heard the name spoken by your Yoga instructor, or maybe at your go-to smoothie place, probably even in a few of your favorite beauty products! This superfood and miracle plant has recently gained major popularity, especially in the United States, although its health benefits have been long known globally. But what is the real deal with this ‘super-plant’?
As a brown kid living in India, it was a necessity in our daily meal plan to include food that was healthy and contained medicinal and healing properties. Delicacies like Sambhar (or sambaar), a lentil-based vegetable stew or chowder cooked with tamarind broth (or paste), originally from South India is a must-have in my household till date, usually paired with Idli (a savory rice cake), Dosa (crepe-like made from rice batter), Vada (doughnut-shaped fritter) and steamed rice. It’s nothing less than a feast in my house when this South Indian speciality gets served! Sambar is often made exclusively with a combination of many vegetables, one of them being Moringa or what we Indians call it, drumsticks.
According to Google Trends, interest in Moringa has grown steadily for the past few years. For people like me, Moringa has been just another vegetable that tastes slightly different than the usual ones you consume. In fact, many parts of Moringa are wholly edible including its leaves, flowers and seeds among others, serving varied uses through every part.
Termed as the “world’s most useful tree” by scientists and hailed as an even more powerful inflammation fighter than turmeric!
Did you know that Moringa is also known as ‘The Miracle Tree’?
Moringa seeds provide benefits for our health, skin and hair. Photo courtesy of StyleCraze.
Moringa oleifera is a tropical plant that is often called the Drumstick tree, the Miracle tree, the Ben oil tree or the Horseradish tree. The plant has been used for its healing properties in South Asia for centuries, and it is increasingly found in supplements, bars and other health-food-aisle favorites in the United States. But why is it known as ‘The Miracle Tree?’
Well, according to a study published in the journal, Phytotherapy Research, the bark, sap, roots, leaves, seeds and flowers of the Moringa tree have all been traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments. These include: edema, swelling, stomach disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, epilepsy, thyroid disorder, anaemia and sickle cell disease, and bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections.
As if that isn’t enough, the miracle tree has also been linked to having positive effects on liver function, skin, hair and bone health, immunity, cardiovascular health, kidney function, eye health and cancer prevention. Also, because it can be grown affordably and easily, and the leaves retain lots of vitamins and minerals when dried, Moringa has been used in India and Africa in feeding programs to fight malnutrition – as stated by a recent study conducted by the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Moringa seeds can even be used to purify water and make it suitable for drinking!
This Supergreen improves your quality of living!
Moringa is widely available as a powder supplement (looks a lot like matcha powder) and can be easily added to your morning smoothies, soups, curries and more. It’s a simple ingredient, easy to toss into the blender instead of kale/spinach as your detox regime. The miracle ingredient is also commonly seen while brewing tea, and is sometimes sprinkled on desserts or added to the glaze of desserts to give them a nutrient-packed green tinge – says Dr. Erum Ilyas, a board-certified dermatologist. Do pay attention to the fact however, that Moringa is a tad bitter, so try figuring out the right amount you’d want to infuse in your eatables and beverages by testing your taste buds first.
Moringa leaf powder is taking the wellness world by storm, even described by some as “the new matcha” or “the new kale.” Photo Courtesy of Chatelaine.
Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, an integrative medicine specialist, recommends using 100% organic Moringa, which is also from first-harvested leaves. Make sure you know where you’re procuring your Moringa fix from and the quality of the product. And since too much of something is never good, it is possible that a ‘full of nutrient packed’ plant like Moringa can lead to digestive issues since it is so high in iron. It’s been recommended that you do not go over six grams daily, but it’s always better to have a doctor’s opinion before you start taking in a Moringa dosage of any form.
Moringa is said to have seven times more iron than spinach, so it is particularly good for post-workout fatigued muscles.
The veggie has a likeable taste- its seeds are subtly sweet, and its ground leaves are nutty and grassy like tea. Food companies are diving headfirst into adding Moringa to everything from nutrition bars and protein powders to pressed juices and kombucha. It’s now being added to chips as well, so you can grab one of these healthy packs for your next Netflix binge!
What’s more? Moringa is now trending in the beauty industry!
This nutrient-rich plant is gaining wide recognition amongst nutritionists and beauty brands, all thanks to the large range of benefits of its oils and extracts. A rich source of Vitamin A, which applied topically can encourage skin cells to renew, along with antioxidant vitamin E, making Moringa an ideal skincare ingredient. It also contains omegas 3 and 6 - fatty acids that help dehydrated skin.
You'll see it in oil form in lots of hair products - much like argan oil, it has incredible smoothing and repairing properties, due to its mineral-rich composition.
Moringa has been the secret star of many beauty companies and its products for years now! One of the most popular Moringa-infused products, appreciated by beauty editors and bloggers, is A-list facialist Emma Hardie's cleansing balm. It contains Moringa seed extract (oil) which is a tissue-strengthener and provides for a substantial source of vitamins. Also acting as a makeup remover, it can be used on spots to reduce inflammation because of the plant’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. It also acts as a hydrating mask if left on for ten minutes and for those of us with drier skin, you can even leave it on overnight.
Moringa Body Yogurt, a gel-cream for full body moisturizing.. Photo courtesy of Ulta.
Along with Emma Hardie, The Body Shop also has an entire moringa product range containing everything from exfoliating body scrubs to Beautifying Oil which can be used on both skin and hair.
Even after knowing the benefits and various uses of Moringa, the question remains – Why is this the talk of the town now?
Lisa Curtis, founder and CEO of Kuli Kuli, a company launched in 2014 that sells Moringa products to the U.S. market, says that it’s a confluence of trends. Curtis and others in the wellness industry are finding that Americans are more interested than ever in incorporating holistically beneficial greens into their diets and personal wellness routines. Aside from the surge in interest in superfoods and plant medicine, current research proving Moringa’s anti-inflammatory properties is also helping garner public attention.
We all know and have seen that superfood trends like kale, quinoa and chia seeds come and go, but it looks like Moringa might be the old-new wellness additive that's here to stay!
Fan of all things homemade? Try out this DIY Moringa and Avocado Face Mask by Aduna.* Here’s how you can make your own:
INGREDIENTS:
½ tbsp Aduna Moringa Powder (or any organic, pure moringa powder)
½ ripe avocado
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp hot water (to help blend)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl.
Apply to your face using clean fingers. Take care to avoid the delicate eye area.
Leave mask on your face for about 10-15 minutes.
Rinse with warm water.
Moisturize as normal.
*Recipes and words by Hala El-Shafie, ‘Beauty from the Inside’ Expert & Aduna Consultant Nutritionist, Founder of Nutrition Rocks.