Moringa: a tropical plant full of properties

The first time I heard about the moringa It was a few years ago, when a couple of my friends sold all their assets to dedicate themselves to cultivating it…

I thought, “Wow, what is it about this tree to cause such a big change?” They said it was a superfood of the future and, seen what has been seen, they were not wrong. These are some of his most outstanding properties.

Moringa properties

The moringa (moringa oleifera) it’s a generous tree. All its parts –bark, leaves, root, fruits (pods), flowers, seeds…– are used in India and the tropics to cure or prevent various diseases, such as asthma or joint pain, or to promote production. of breast milk.

In Spain the easiest to get are the dried leaves and the extractwhich can be added to salads, soups, infusions and smoothies.

1. Great source of iron

It stands out for the high proportion of iron: in just 5 g of leaves (one tablespoon) there are between 1.6 and 2.5 mg of iron, which means between 10 and 15% of daily needs.

For favor its absorption it should be combined with fruits rich in vitamin C. Due to its richness in this mineral, it is indicated in case of anemia.

2. Calcium and magnesium to strengthen bones, the nervous system and muscle tone

In the vegan diet, obtaining the calcium It is distributed among many foods. A spoonful of moringa contributes around the 10% of daily needs.

The wealth of magnesium (24 mg) also contributes to bone strength.

In addition, both minerals are necessary for the balance of the nervous system and muscle tone.

3. Natural Vitamin E Supplement

It is not an easy nutrient to obtain (mainly found in the seeds and crude vegetable oils), so moringa can work as a natural supplement: 5 g provides the 23% of the amount needed per day.

This antioxidant vitamin It is important to protect cell membranes. It also benefits the cardiovascular system and stimulates the immune system.

4. More energy with vitamin B1

Your contribution is essential to extract energy from food (especially from carbohydrates) and in one tablespoon is 12% of the recommended daily dose.

5. Rich in antioxidants

The moringa possesses more than 40 antioxidants. Among which vitamin A and quercetin stand out.

The Vitamin A It is in the form of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that especially protects the skin, mucous membranes and organs such as the bladder. 5 g of moringa provide no less than 14 to 20% of the daily needs of this vitamin.

The quercetin reinforces the anticancer and antidegenerative power of moringa.

Nutritional composition of moringa

As we have seen, moringa is especially rich in various nutrients in addition to antioxidant substances. Below we show the amount of minerals and vitamins which provides a single tablespoon of dried moringa leaf (5 g). We also indicate the percentage of CDR or recommended daily amount.

Nutritional composition of moringa (per 5 g) NUTRIENT CONTRIBUTION CDR Calcium 95 mg 12% Magnesium 24 mg 7% Iron 2 mg 10% Vitamin A 3.6 mg 20% ​​Vitamin B1 0.13 mg 12% Vitamin B2 0.06 mg 4% Vitamin B6 1.6 mg 7% Folic acid 27 mcg 14% Vitamin C 8.6 mg 14% Vitamin E 3 mg 23%