Moringa: What is it and what are its benefits?

What is Moringa?

Moringa oleífera Lam (Moringaceae) is a highly valued plant of Indian origin for its medicinal properties.

It is also known as the "tree of life", since it has various medicinal uses, having been used for millennia in traditional Indian medicine. In addition, it has a high nutritional value, since different parts of the plant contain minerals, vitamins, beta-carotene, phenolic compounds, and it is a good source of protein.

Various parts of this plant, such as the leaves, roots, seeds, bark, fruits, flowers and immature pods, act as cardiac and circulatory stimulants; possess antitumor properties; antipyretics; antiepileptics; antiulcer; antispasmodics; diuretics; antihypertensives; hypocholesterolemic; antioxidants; antidiabetic activities; hepatoprotective; antibacterial and antifungal.

Moringa Benefits

Moringa contains multiple benefits, some of the most studied are:

• It has antibacterial and antifungal properties.

• Regulates blood pressure due to its vasodilator properties.

• Helps regulate blood glucose, since the moringa leaf extract increases the expression of insulin. [3] and [4]

• Promotes collagen synthesis, thus improving skin healing and elasticity.

• Protects and nourishes skin and hair

• Helps reduce stomach symptoms.

• Research may indicate that it produces a decrease in muscle fatigue. A study carried out in mice concluded that the aqueous extract of the moringa leaf has anti-fatigue properties against physical exercise, facilitating the mobilization of fat deposits in the body, delaying the depletion of glycogen stores and decreasing the accumulation of lactate and urea in the blood. . [2]