Moringa Miracle!

A plant known as the Moringa Tree which is found at the base of the Himalayan Mountains is known by the locals as “The Tree of Immortality”.  While that may be a bit of a stretch, Moringa leaf and seeds are widely known for its wealth of health benefits. Here are the top 5 benefits you can receive from the Moringa leaf.

1. Anti-aging- Moringa holds several thousand times more zeatin than any other plant so no wonder it is an anti-aging miracle Zeatin belongs to a family of plant hormones called cytokinins. These can work in the same way as antioxidants do. They promote the division of cells to occur faster than old cells can die. This will lead to less wrinkles, fresher skin cells, and a youthful glow!
2. Amazing Nutrition- Moringa leaf is full of vitamins. The pods and the leaves have a wide range of essential vitamins, proteins and minerals. Moringa also contains all of the essential amino acids your body needs. These are the main elements that make up the proteins that are necessary to maintain, grow, and repair cells. It’s also full of vitamin A, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6 and vitamin C. Along with those; it includes the minerals calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorus and magnesium.
3. Can Help Regulate Sugar Levels- Isothiocyanates are the compounds found in Moringa that have the anti-diabetic effect. A study that was published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology found that women who took 7 grams of Moringa leaf powder on a daily basis for three months reduced their fasting blood sugar levels by 13.5%. Another study suggests diabetic patients who added 50 grams of Moringa leaves to a meal reduced their increase of blood sugar by 21%.
4. Anti-Cancer Properties- Researchers found that the extracts of leaves and bark showed remarkable anti-cancer properties. When potentially cancerous cells develop, our healthy bodies routinely dispose of these defects through a process called aptosis, the natural or programmed death of abnormal cells. When cancer strikes aptosis is blocked. In one particular study researchers found a “remarkable increase in the number of apoptotic cells” when treated with the leaf and bark extract. Researchers in this study found that Moringa leaf and bark extract eradicated most of the breast and colorectal cancer cells. Another promising thing found is that the spread and progress of cancer was significantly reduced upon treatment with Moringa leaves and bark.
5. Helps Improve Digestive Health- Moringa has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in ancient systems of medicines such as Ayurveda to prevent or treat kidney damage, liver disease, stomach ulcers, fungal or yeast infections and digestive complaints. A common use of oil of Moringa is helping to boost your liver function and therefore detoxifying the body of harmful substances such as heavy metal toxins! It is thought to be capable of helping to fight urinary tract infections, fluid retention, kidney stones and diarrhea. Such a miraculous plant for all kinds of digestive problems.

I fell in love with the benefits of the Moringa tree so I decided to grow my own. These are my plants that I started from seeds that I have been nurturing to see if they will grow in Florida. I’ve been keeping them in pots so I can protect them through the winter until they get more established. Not sure how they will fare in this Florida climate but we will find out!