Malunggay - An Important Functional Food

The Philippine Technical Working Group identified moringa, also known as horse radish or malunggay in the Philippines, as one of the eight functional foods, along with coconut oil, coconut products, turmeric, seaweeds, root crops, local berries, pili, and edible mushrooms.

These functional foods were chosen because they contain one or more nutrients which are helpful in improving and supporting one's health and "may prevent risks for some certain disorders."

Source: Food and Nutrition Research Institute, DOST

What are these "certain disorders?" In this article published by the FNRI Digest on the first quarter of 2018, they pointed out that about 31% of Filipino adults suffer from obesity, 22% have high blood pressure, and about 6% have elevated blood sugar levels. In addition, 2 out of 10 Filipino adults also have high cholesterol levels. 

Consuming adequate amounts of functional foods like moringa and making them part of our regular diet is an effective strategy to maximize health and reduce disease risk. However, "functional foods" are not magic foods. The best way to live a healthy life is still through proper diet and maintaining a healthy body weight along with regular exercise, avoiding tobacco, and reducing stress.

Moringa For Diet and Weight Loss

If you're looking for ways to  lose weight, taking moringa supplements might be beneficial for you.

Moringa has high levels of B vitamins, which are great metabolism boosters. B vitamins can help support and promote a more efficient metabolism. An efficient metabolism burns more calories, which can help if you want to lose weight. Moringa may help get rid of fats and waste faster because it stimulates metabolism and helps the body digest food quicker.

In addition, because moringa is rich in nutrients, it can provide our body with essential vitamins like Vitamin A and C, calcium, and protein, which can give our body more energy and curb our cravings for junk food.

Moringa is also high in fiber. Fresh moringa leaves and moringa supplements in the form of powder, capsules, or tea offer varying amounts of fiber. Adding lots of fiber like moringa into your diet is another natural solution to cravings, which could help you meet your weight loss needs.

Eating lots of leafy vegetables is necessary to improve and maintain one's weight and diet. Leaves such as spinach and moringa can make you feel full longer, while also keeping your calorie intake low. It is therefore easier to maintain a healthy diet without experiencing cravings for high-calorie foods.

Moringa supplements like powder, tea, or capsules are in concentrated form and will provide the body the same amount of vitamins and nutrients present in fresh leafy greens. If you're not into eating veggies, taking supplements everyday is a quick and easy way to gain all the nutrients your body needs.

The Nutritious Moringa - Benefits of Taking Moringa

Moringa contains high levels of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. What's great about moringa is that unlike multivitamins that are mechanically processed in laboratories, moringa is an all natural source of vitamins, minerals, protein, antioxidants, and other important substances that our body needs to stay healthy.  It is a powerhouse of nutrients, which is why nutritionists around the world consider moringa a superfood!

Moringa has Vitamin A (beta carotene), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin B7 (Biotin), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol), Vitamin E (Tocopherol) and Vitamin K.

Moringa also contains significant amounts of chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous and zinc. In addition, moringa has 9 out of 10 essential amino acids, which our body needs to grow, repair, and maintain cells.

Moringa Oil (Malunggay Oil) Benefits

Moringa Oil is extracted from the seeds of the Malunggay tree (moringa oleifera). The oil extracted from Moringa oleifera is also called Ben Oil because it has high amounts of behenic acid. Other species of Moringa can also produce Moringa oil, but they are not called Ben oil. This name is especially reserved for Moringa oleifera oil.

Benefits of Moringa Oil

• Has anti-aging properties
• Helps moisturize, brighten, and rejuvenate skin
• Has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties 
• Acts as a natural combatant against skin troubles and face blemishes
• Helps fight acne, black heads, and dark spots
• Helps strengthen hair
• Moisturizes dry scalp
• Helps reduce split ends and dandruff

Moringa Powder for Healthy Skin

Moringa does not have only health benefits on the body. The powdered form of dried moringa leaves are used these days to make beauty soap, too, and has an important role in skincare. Here are some of the benefits of moringa (malunggay) powder:

1. It has astringent properties - Using moringa soap can help heal and dry out wounds and is effective as well in killing germs. Say hello to smooth, glowing and blemish-free skin!

2. It has anti-aging properties - Because moringa is packed with high amounts of antioxidants and is loaded with lots of vitamins and minerals, using soap with moringa powder can help prevent aging by helping your skin retain elasticity and moisture. Therefore, you can say goodbye to fine lines and wrinkles!

3. It can help reduce skin inflammation - People with psoriasis, eczema, and other skin disorders may benefit from the use of moringa soap. Its antibacterial properties can speed up the healing of itchy or broken skin. 

So, I'm gonna spend the rest of the day today to make my own moringa soap. I'll share with you the pictures once I'm done. 

Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera): A Tree Rich In Nutrients

Fresh moringa leaves / malunggay leaves contain the following nutrients per serving:

AMAZING, BUT TRUE!

Why Malunggay? Health Benefits of Moringa

Moringa Oleifera

When I went to the Department of Agriculture Palawan to meet the OIC, Ms. Librada, I mentioned my interest in the moringa / malunggay leaves and seeds, not only because the lowly moringa / malunggay is easy to grow, but also because of the many health benefits that the moringa leaves, seeds, flowers, and even the roots and trunk can provide for our body, for animals, as well as for the environment.

As you can see, all parts of the malunggay tree is valuable. The moringa leaves are edible. They can be eaten raw or added to soups, meat, fish, or chicken dishes. You can mix them with rice, in porridge, or in bread. You can extract oil from the moringa / malunggay seeds which is now being used in many industrial applications.

Here is a list of some of moringa / malunggay leaves health benefits:

1. Moringa / Malunggay leaves are a rich source of essential amino acids. It is an excellent substitute for meat because of its protein content. If you are a vegetarian, or just prefer to eat more veggies than meat, you can be sure to get your protein fix from your moringa / malunggay leaves.

2. Moringa / Malunggay leaves contain antioxidants, and is a great source of vitamins and minerals. One serving of moringa / malunggay leaves contains 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 4 times more vitamin A than carrots, 4 times more calcium and 2 times more protein than milk, 3 times more potassium than bananas, 3 times more vitamin E than spinach, and 3 times more iron than almonds. My sister, who breastfeeds her 1 year old son, drinks moringa / malunggay leaf capsules, and swears that her son seems to have a stronger immune system and rarely catches a cold. Who wouldn't want to eat that?

3. Moringa / Malunggay leaves can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and prevent other cardiovascular diseases. Several research and scientific studies have proven that consuming moringa leaves in either dried or raw form can help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood and can help treat cardiovascular disorders.

4. Moringa / Malunggay leaves helps regulate blood sugar levels. My husband who has a higher than normal blood sugar level, has been drinking moringa capsules for 2 months twice a day, once in the morning and once after dinner at night. He has recently tested his blood sugar levels and says that there are times when it's lower than the readings last month.

There are many more health benefits that the moringa / malunggay tree can offer. No wonder it is called "The Miracle Tree" or "The Tree of Life." It is the most nutritious plant on earth.