You can use every part of the tree, and African doctors have used it to revitalize many of their patients who once suffered from extreme weight-reduction and were bedridden and plagued by all kinds of other illnesses.
Almost the entire Moringa tree is edible, including the pods, leaves, seeds and roots. The leaves have a remarkably complete set of micronutrients and vitamins, and every essential amino acid. That’s rare for a plant.
Moringa Nutritional Values vs. Various Foods
| ||
| Nutrient | 100g Dry Moringa | Other Foods |
| Vitamin A | 18 mg | Carrot: 1.8 mg |
| Vitamin C | 17.3 mg | Orange: 30 mg |
| Calcium | 2,000 mg | Milk: 120 mg |
| Iron | 28.2 mg | Spinach: 1.14 mg |
| Potassium | 1,324 mg | Banana: 88 mg |
| Protein | 27.9 g | Yogurt: 3.1 g |
| Magnesium | 368 mg | Broccoli: 19 mg |
| Fiber | 19.2 g | Whole Wheat Bread: 6.8 g |
When researchers looked at extracts from the Moringa leaf, they found it full of antioxidants and very effective against diabetes.1 The leaf extract is also antibacterial, and even kills human tumor cells.2
Dr. Kizito in South Africa claims a lot of success using the Moringa tree to combat prostate cancer. What you do is rub the essential oil on the skin in the area of the prostate.
For other ailments you put 5 drops of essential oil on the tongue.
They even use Moringa to filter water. What you do is crush the seeds and run water that may be tainted through the powder, and it filters out many impurities. It’s a bit like the way we would use a charcoal filter here in the U.S.
If you live in a warmer, drier climate, you can plant a Moringa tree.
You can buy Moringa powder at your local health-food store. Capsules are also available, and 500 mg a day is a good start.
Both hot and cold Moringa tea are delicious. To make it cold, just add 1-2 tbsp of Moringa leaf powder and a slice of fresh ginger root or some freshly squeezed lemon juice to 16 ounces of water. Stir thoroughly and allow it to sit for an hour to brew.
For hot Moringa tea, use ½ to 1 teaspoon of Moringa leaf powder in 8-12 ounces of hot water. Allow the tea to steep covered for about 10 minutes.
Added a little bit of honey if you want.
Moringa also nourishes your skin.
Moringa is just one example of the treasure trove of medicinal and nutritional plants in Africa.
1. Gupta R, Mathur M, Katariya P, Yadav S, Kamal R, Gupta R. "Evaluation of antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of Moringa oleifera in experimental diabetes." J Diabetes. 2011 Nov 21.
2. Sreelatha S, Jeyachitra A, Padma P. "Antiproliferation and induction of apoptosis by Moringa oleifera leaf extract on human cancer cells." Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Jun;49(6):1270-5.
