Fluoride levels in 493 villages are exceptionally high.
Fluorosis Se Jung aims to help residents protect themselves from its effects.
Soumya Mathew
In August, Palak Ramesh showed no hesitation when the teacher at her government school in Haryana’s Khedli Khurd village asked her to spell out her name. But the next moment, when the 13-year-old student was asked to demonstrate a few stretching exercises, her confidence ebbed. When Ramesh tries to touch her ankles or stretch her arms, her joints, back and shoulders ache.
That pain seemed bearable. A more agonising wave of embarrassment swept over Ramesh and the quiet group of teenagers who had gathered around her when they smiled – they were conscious of their yellowing teeth. It’s not that they had ignored good dental-health practices. “Hum har din brush karte hai,” protested Ramesh’s friend Arseena Vakeel. We brush every day.
They are among the thousands of people in the region who suffer from dental fluorosis, or mottling of teeth, one of the most common effects of drinking fluoride-contaminated water. In March, the fluoride level in the groundwater of their village was recorded as 14 mg/litre of water. A level of 1mg or less is considered normal.
Khedli Khurd is one of the 439 villages in Haryana’s Mewat district that has to deal with excessive flouride in its groundwater. Over the years, NGOs have attempted to make villagers aware of the problem and to install water filteration plants to help remedy it. In August, Alfaz-E-Mewat FM 107.8, a popular community radio station in Mewat, launched what is perhaps the most innovative effort to keep residents healthy. It kicked off a show titled Fluorosis Se Jung, or Battle with Fluorosis. This eight-episode series includes dramas and question and answer sessions with doctors.
The station has also handed out 8,500 moringa, or drumstick, plants, a species that is believed to help to reduce the effects of fluorosis. According to a study published by the Journal of Industrial Pollution Control in 2007, moringa is an effective “defluoridating agent” Click To Tweet. It recommended that both Moringa pod as well as the leaves should be part of the diet of people living in fluorotic areas.
How it started
The idea for the initiative struck Faakat Hussain, a radio jockey at Alfaz-E-Mewat who hosts a question and answer show Tere Mere Man Ki Baat in March, when he received an on-air call from a shepherd from Khedli Khurd. The caller’s 40-year-old wife was finding it increasingly difficult to carry out her daily chores. When she worked in the fields or collected grass from the nearby forest, both tasks involved a lot of walking, her knees hurt.
During the course of that conversation, Hussain realised it was a problem faced by many women in Khedli Khurd. Shortly after, he visited the village with Dr Rizwan Khan, the district consultant appointed in Mewat under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis. They took a water sample from the village and Khan had it examined it in a laboratory at Al-Afiya General Hospital, Mewat. The water was found unfit for consumption.
(Left to right) Pritam Singh, a teacher at the government middle school in Khedli Khurd, Faakat Hussain, a radio jockey at Alfaz-E-Mewat and Sohrab Khan, a teacher at the school.
Since there was no awareness about fluorosis in the village, Hussain and his team decided to use the radio – the most common medium of entertainment and information in the district – to talk about the medical condition. The 20-minute sessions, hosted by Hussain, with Khan and Sanjeet Panesar, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College, are brodcast every Tuesday at 10.50 am. The show is repeated at 9.35 pm the same day.
Among the segments it has featured is a play on Fluorosis Se Jung, with
a man talking to his friends about how his wife struggles with swollen, aching joints. His friends advise him to head to the Alfaz-E-Mewat station and pick up some moringa plants to help his wife. The plays and songs are aired twice or thrice every day.
“A lot of them still don’t know what fluorosis is, so we try to communicate in ways they understand,” said Hussain. For them, their knees and ankles swelling translates to ‘ghutno mei hawa bharna’ or air getting filled in their joints. So we tell them the plant [moringa] is a good cure for that [problem] and eventually explain fluorosis to them.
Alfaz-E-Mewat was established in 2012 by the Sehgal Foundation, a charitable trust that is conducting research on flourosis. Lalit Mohan Sharma of the foundation says that the spread of the disease has its origins in region’s depleting groundwater levels. As residents dig borewells that are ever deeper, they are reaching water contaminated by fluoride-rich rocks.
The deeper the borewell, the greater the fluoride levels in the groundwater. Photo credit: ABHIJEET / Wikimedia Commons [CC Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported].
On August 7, Alfaz-E-Mewat invited several villagers, including children, to the community radio’s centre at Ghaghas village for a session conducted by Sharma, Khan and Panesar. They explained to the villagers that swollen joints were more than just a case of “hawa bharna” or air getting filled in their joints. Within two weeks after the session, Hussain says, the first batch of moringa plants was almost over.
The future
Mewat was added to the list of endemic regions by the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis in 2011-’12. But, according to Khan, the government is yet to supply alternative sources of drinking water or reverse osmosis facilitators to most villages. As a result, villages like Khedli Khurd continue to depend on groundwater sucked out through borewells.
Faizan.
“Should we die thirsty instead?” asked 53-year-old Faizan, a resident of Khedli Khurd. Her son Jafruddin, 35, was diagnosed earlier this year with avascular necrosis, a condition in which the blood supply to the bones is obstructed. “I was in Gujarat for about 10 days after my doctor asked me to move out of Mewat for a while,” said Jafruddin. “I felt considerably better there, even without taking medicines. Now that I have come back, I will have to depend on the medicines again to move around.” When Jafruddin tried to squat on the floor, his teeth clenched in pain.
Sohrab Khan, who has been teaching at the government school for the past six years, feels he is losing his agility, even though he does not stay in the village. “I can sense stiffness in my joints,” he said. “Since I am here for most part of the day, I end up drinking the water at the school.” Sohrab Khan is among those who took a moringa plant from Alfaz-E-Mewat, hoping it would stave off the symptoms of ageing he is facing in his 30s.
Jafruddin.
Hussain is unsure what direction the fluorosis-awareness programme will take once the radio series ends. But the change in the villagers’ approach towards the condition has been heartening. “When they had come for the session in early August, many of them thought their problems were just a part of ageing,” he said. “Now many are careful. At least, that’s what their eagerness to grow moringa in their houses shows.”
Think drumstick, and you’re instantly hit by the aroma of well-made saambaar. A regular ingredient in one of the country’s beloved dals, the humble drumstick aka moringa is not new on the circuit, but it has attracted major attention in the city recently. This when the health officials including CDHO’s (Chief District Health Officer) and Medical Health Officers (MHO) in corporations received a three-page document and pamphlet from a senior NHM official on the health and nutritional benefits of drumstick (Moringa Oleifera) or horseradish.
Backed by the Gujarat Medicinal Plants Board’s extensive pamphlet on the Moringa tree, the letter on ‘Drumstick tree: A wealth of Proteins & Essential Minerals/Vitamins’ by Dr Gaurav Dahiya (IAS), Mission Director of NHM, hailed the south Asian plant as ‘superfood’ and ‘Tree of Heaven’. That it was widely used in ancient traditional medicine and in Ayurveda is no news.
The document extensively catalogued the health benefits of having its various parts – not just the fruit – including leaves, flowers, vegetable, seed pods, bark, etc. The benefits include weight loss, anti-ageing, better immunity, combating skin and hair problems, better digestion, healthier bones and regulation of diabetes. Phew! It is easy to say that it “can completely turn around one’s health and lifestyle”. Click To Tweet
The benefits of Moringa’s leaves, skin, seeds need to be brought to people’s notice through our efforts and through your subdivisions including medical education, ICDS and the benefits of moringa tree can be made into a people’s movement so that it is widely used.”
The pamphlet adds, “It has anti-ageing properties and research has proven that. Click To Tweet Our biggest problem is that we make light of our own ancient sciences. Whereas it is only recently that western medicine confirmed its benefits and moringa is featured in Ayurveda’s scriptures among 300 beneficial herbs.”
Ye dil maange moringa
Dahiya revealed to Mirror that the letter was part of efforts under state’s malnutrition drive and likened the objective of the letter to the Cambodian experiment where a Canadian researcher put a lump of iron into the cooking pot made of melted down metal to battle anaemia – a huge public health hazard back in the day.
“Government has launched the fourth phase of Poshan Abhiyaan – a state-wide mission to eradicate malnutrition among children by providing food through Anganwadi centres. A balanced diet full of micro and macronutrients is important. Such foods and an affordable way to help bring up nutritional and haemoglobin counts of children,” said Dahiya.
Inspired by Dahiya’s love for moringa – allow us to come clean, we absolutely dig the vegetable – we decided to speak to nutritionists who helped us delve deeper into the benefits of having the always-available-yet-elusive moringa.
Moringa deserves attention
Nutritionist Liza Shah says that it is one vegetable that deserves more attention. “The drumstick or moringa derives its name from Tamil word, murungai, meaning twisted pod. While Moringa has been proclaimed as one of the more recent superfoods, the fact is that the vegetable has been part of Indian cuisine, especially south Indian, for centuries,” she says.
“Be it something as simple as a saambaar or an avial or just about any meat curry, pieces of drumsticks are always used. It may not be used in many north Indian dishes, but moringa is steadily making its way into other regions too. Besides these dishes, you can prepare soups, salads, pickles and even different sauces for an added crunch,” adds Liza.
Did you know drumstick pods can make your skin glow and shine! “Usually, when combined with lime juice, the pods can help get rid of acne, blackheads, pimples,” adds Pallak.
You can get drumstick leaves – like the fruit and flowers – fresh off the tree, and store it as a dry powder.
Why have moringa…
Regulates blood sugar levels, hence a boon for diabetics
Helps improve digestive health
Great to develop stronger bones
Helps purify blood
Relieves respiratory disorders
Boosts immunity
Packed with nutrients
Fights free radicals
Fights inflammation
Helps reduce some diabetes symptoms
Protects the cardiovascular system
Supports brain health
Protects liver
Contains antioxidants, antimicrobial and antibacterial properties
How to store fresh moringa leaves
Air dry leaves including stalks for 3-4 days. Remove stalks and sauté leaves for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. When the leaves cool down to room temperature, grind it, and sieve it. Make sure to store it in a cool dry place to increase shelf life. You can add this powder to your routine as well. Add to bread dough or roti atta, have it with water in the morning, add to soups, stews or dals. Remember to add it at the end of cooking or just before you take it off heat.
Rishta e Gulfam (A famed dish of the Valley, Gushtaba Rishta dons the vegetarian version with the fresh pulp of drumstick and fresh chaman in authentic Kashmiri spices) INGREDIENTS
Drumstick (boiled, deskinned and pulped) 400gm; fresh paneer 400gm; drumstick leaves 75gm; ground red chilli powder 6tbsp; black cardamom 3; green cardamom 4; saffron 4 tbsp; salt 2 pinches; turmeric ½ tbsp.; cloves 3; cinnamon stick 1; shallots (crushed into a paste) 1sp; ghee 4tbsp; aniseed 1 pinch; lemon juice to taste; zafraan to taste
METHOD
Mash paneer, mix in the pulp of drumsticks, wash and chopped leaves, Kashmiri spices, adjust seasoning and shape into balls. Boil in a pan with water enough to cover the dollops. Cook for 10 mins till dollops rise to the surface. Then add turmeric, chilli paste, cloves, cinnamon, black and green cardamom, fried shallot paste and saffron water. Cook for 4-5 minutes till gravy thickens. Add salt to taste. Heat ghee in a separate pan, add to the mince gravy and close with a tight lid for 2 minutes. Garnish with aniseeds and serve hot.
The Elixir (A lip-smacking coastal soup with wonders of greens benefitting the body with glowing skin, stronger immunity, fibres and vitamins) INGREDIENTS
Drumsticks 4; aloe vera 4tbsp; drumstick blossoms (optional) a handful; drumstick leaves a handful; wheat germ 1 small bunch; basil a bunch; butter ½ tsp; carom seeds ½ tsp; coconut milk stock 1 cup; salt and green chilli to taste; black pepper to taste; lemon juice to taste METHOD
Wash drumsticks, trim and chop them into finger-long pieces. Place in a pan with 2 cups of water and boil until soft. Squeeze out the pulp or scoop it out with a spoon. Keep pulp side, discard woody parts. Blend pulp in a mixer until smooth. Chop the basil and wheatgrass into small pieces. Heat butter in a pan and add the carom seeds. When they splutter, add drumstick blossoms, drumstick leaves, and coconut milk broth. Adjust with seasoning and put to boil. Cook until the mixture is homogenous, stirring continuously. Add drumstick pulp, aloe vera and mix well. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper and lemon juice to taste. As temperatures chill, warm your senses and nurture your body with this hot ‘The Elixir’ drumstick soup. Enjoy.
It contains 8 amino acids necessary for the body, usually found in red meat, cheese and other dairy products. Vegetarians miss out on these elements
MORINGA is a valuable source of protein, calcium, beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium and many more.
Moringa salad bowl
EMANUEL CHIBESAKUNDA, Lusaka
MORINGA Oleifera originally comes from India, it has established well in Zambia and other countries in the Southern African region. It grows well in most ecological regions countrywide and many different parts in Africa and the world. It is a fast-growing tree whose leaves are uniquely imputed by nature with nutritional and medicinal benefits. It has often times been referred to as the “miracle tree,” “drumstick tree,” or “horseradish tree,” has small, rounded leaves that are packed with an incredible amount of nutritional value. Growing Moringa
Moringa trees grow easily from seeds or cuttings. They grow quickly even in poor soil and bloom within eight months after planting. Moringa seeds have no dormancy periods and can be planted as soon as they are mature. In the ground, it is best to plant the seeds directly where the tree is intended to grow and not to transplant the seedling. The young seedlings are fragile and often cannot survive transplanting. Grow Moringa from Cuttings
To grow Moringa from a cutting, simply cut the trees that have stopped producing fruits each year. It is important that branches are cut off so that fresh growth may take place. These branches are excellent for growing new trees. Make a cutting at least 1” (2.5cm) in diameter and at least six feet (1.8m) long, dig a hole 3 ft. (1m) x 3 ft. (1m) and 3 ft. (1m) deep, place the cutting in the hole and fill with a mixture of soil, sand and composted manure. Fill firmly around the base of the cutting. Form a slight dome or cone shape, sloping down away from the cutting as this it is desirable that water not touch the stem of the new tree and thereafter water generously, but do not drown the cutting in water. Moringa Growing Environment
Moringa is a resilient tree. It can survive in a variety of climates and substandard soils. It is as fast-growing as it is hearty. Normal growth ranges from 3-5 meters per year if left un-cropped. It is one of the fastest growing biomasses on the planet when properly nourished. There are some varieties known to grow seven meters in one year if left unchecked. A fully mature Moringa tree can grow to as much as 35 feet (Moringa Tree Care and growing Moringa; Susan Patterson). Moringa Out- and Indoor Tree
Moringa is also an ideal plant to grow indoors or, depending on where one lives, including in one’s own backyard. Once mature, fresh Moringa, leaves harvested from one’s tree make a delicious addition to a household salad. The leaves are also great for making tea, as well as an ingredient in a variety of chicken, meat and vegetable dishes. Moringa Multiple Benefits
Growing a moringa miracle tree is a great way to help rural communities improve their livelihood. Moringa trees are also interesting to simply have around as they attract multiple pollinating insects. It is for these amazing multiple benefits contained by moringa tree that it is often referred to as the moringa miracle tree. This tree contains more vitamin C than an orange, more vitamin A than a carrot, more calcium than milk and more potassium than a banana. It contains about four times as much calcium as that contained in milk, three times the amount of potassium that can be obtained from bananas. It is, therefore, a natural gift to humankind that can practically empower rural communities with a nutritional bank and ecological incentive (Moringa farms, Inc).
Moringa is also rich in minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, phytochemicals, vegetable proteins, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and carbohydrates. Technical Synopsis & Nutritional benefits
Moringa is a valuable source of protein, calcium, betacarotene, vitamin C, potassium and many more. Parts of the tree, such as leaves, flowers, and seeds, are edible and provides important source of protein, calcium, iron, carotenoids, and phytochemicals, and it is employed for several applications for nutritional purposes. This product is reputable for improving health and nutrition of people and livestock as it significantly boost their health and nutritional state. As an example, carrots only have 25 percent of the vitamin A that can be obtained from the same amount of Moringa Oleifera.
Previous studies have observed that it is also an interesting source of milk clotting enzyme and reported to offer caseinolytic and milk-clotting activities of M. oleifera flowers using azocasein and skim milk as substrates, respectively. M. oleifera seed extract was also used as a milk-clotting agent and the resulting curd was white and firm. Moringa Harvested All Year Round
The fact that Moringa grows rapidly and easily makes it especially appealing and adaptable to many ecological areas and one of the fastest plant-based investment to successfully contribute to nutritional intake as well as support ecological balance. In these areas, Moringa may be the most nutritious food locally available, and it can be harvested all year round.
Recommended uptake of two capsules twice per day, or about one bottle per month directly replace traditional vitamins and can help to eliminate the worry of one’s life where one get the right vitamins and minerals into dietary food uptake only. Moringa in tea bags, which makes it quite convenient to get your daily dose of the supplement simply by steeping a tea bag during your morning routine. Livelihood & Rural Development Opportunity
Moringa oleifera offers a unique opportunity as it stimulates nutritional and rural economic empowerment. It is an energising product that helps with healing and medical prevention as well. It can be used to redress skin disorder treatment, diabetes, sleep improvement, relief for anxiety and depression. It can give consumers a significant boost in energy, it has the ability to even out your blood sugar levels, and it can even help you recover more quickly after a workout. Moringa Soil Requirements
The trees have the resilience to flourish even in areas where it is dry and sandy and does not easily die off due to insufficient water or poor soil. It offers farmers with a good market for their seed, people benefit from cheaper, good quality cooking oil and the mills bring employment. Moringa oil has been used in skin preparations and ointments since Egyptian times. The bright yellow oil with a pleasant taste has been compared in quality with olive oil. The kernel contains 35-40% by weight of oil. Zambia – Plant A Million
The Plant – A – Million Initiative is a tree planting movement with the expanse and ambition to become Africa’s premier example of a ‘Tree-based economy’. The vision of the initiative is to create a ‘Tree-based Economy’ which will enable to mitigate climate change with economic benefits for Zambia. Growing Money from Trees!
Stop Talking. Start Acting! For information contact Emanuel Chibesakunda at info@PlantAMillion.co.zm: +260(211)257800
When it comes to then growing list of superfoods, moringa always seems to be top of the pile.
Native to northern India, moringa oleifera
has quickly become a favorite supplement among health enthusiasts. They
often use it in the form of a powder, capsule, oil or tea. Unlike most
plants, all parts of the moringa tree are used – the seeds, leaves and
pods. While the seeds are often roasted and consumed like nuts, the
leaves actually contain more nutrients. These nutrients include folate,
antioxidants like phytonutrients, vitamin A, B vitamins, fiber, iron, calcium and zinc.
Aside from its nutritional value, moringa
is also important for a earth-friendly standpoint. The plant has been
used to not only filter water but also to improve soil fertility and
conjunction with forest restoration efforts (1).
Also, moringa can grow in virtually any
climate, making it accessible to individuals all over the world. In
fact, the National Institute of Health once referred to it as the plant
of the year in 2008 (2).
With such a rich nutritious value, one
has to wonder the potential health benefits that moringa can have on the
body. If that’s the case, read on to find out exactly why it could be
this year’s top superfood.
Moringa health benefits
Anti – cancer properties
It seems that moringa seeds contain properties that might prevent the growth of cancer cells.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules revealed how a protein found in moringa seeds can decelerate the growth of liver cancer in both human and animal cells. Aside from chewing on the seeds, try these 7 tips to help reduce your breast cancer risk.
Did you know Moringa is highly beneficial for your skin and hair? This video explains some of the beautiful benefits to be gained from using high-quality moringa for hair growth!
Boosts heart health
In regards to cardiovascular health,
moderate levels of cholesterol are important. This means levels of LDL
(bad) cholesterol which levels of HDL (good) cholesterol remain
elevated.
According to a study published in the journal Frontier in Pharmacology, the
monounsaturated fats found in moringa can help to lower high levels of
LDL cholesterol. if you’re looking to boost your levels of HDL
cholesterol, try eating these foods.
Maintains healthy skin and hair
Moringa contains both antioxidants and
protein. This not only prevents premature aging of the skin but it also
helps to strengthen both skin and hair cells.
As a beauty ingredient, it is touted for its ability to kill bacteria, reduce odor and moisturizes the skin.
Reduces elevated blood sugar levels
In regards to diabetes, high blood sugar is the biggest risk factor for this chronic disease.
Moringa contains a compound called chlorogenic acid and animal studies have revealed how this compound helped to lower blood sugar levels in diabetic rats (3). In regards to human studies, a piece published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology revealed how the daily consumption of a teaspoon of the leaf powder over a three-month period also reduced blood sugar levels.
Bottom Line
Whether you’re drying the leaves to use as a powder, drinking the tea or chewing on its seeds – moringa is rich in antioxidants and thus it could potentially be the next big superfood.
Health Benefits of Moringa Oleifera or Drumstick Leaves You Should Know!
There are many ways you can include these leaves in your diet. However, the most popular way to consume these leaves is in powdered form as it is very easy to use. Drumstick leaves powder is very easily available in the market or you could make it at home too.
Moringa as a rich source of certain macro and micro nutrients is
gaining popularity as an ingredient in producing food supplements.
Moringa seed, leaf, and the flower is finding large application in food
industry. There has been a growing demand for moringa leaf as an
alternative food source to combat malnutrition among children and
infants. Use of moringa ingredients as a food fortificant is on the rise in many parts of the world including Africa.
The use of moringa ingredients in fortifying food is
gaining much attention worldwide owing to the studies that have shown potential
use of different parts of moringa tree in food application. Recent studies have
also shown positive effects of moringa in blood sugar regulation by affecting
carbohydrate metabolism. This is driving demand for moringa in a most common
dietary form including tea and powder.
Moringa ingredients are widely being used to improve the nutritional
value of staple food across countries. Bread is a staple in many countries,
hence, researchers and food companies are finding ways to completely replace
wheat flour used in bread to make it gluten-free. This, however, poses a major
challenge in the food industry. Recently, researchers found that combining
moringa leaf, seed, and flower powder in bread dough prepared using wheat or
any other flour can improve its nutritional value.
Moringa
Leaf Powder as Alternative to Canola Meal in Poultry Diets
Considering the health benefits and nutritional value,
there is a huge potential for moringa leaf power replacing canola meal as a non-conventional
ingredient in poultry diets. A study was conducted recently to investigate the
effects of moringa leaf powder on immune response, blood hematology and growth
performance of broilers. The study found that moringa leaf powder as a vegetable
protein source can enhance the immune response to infectious diseases without
any change in weight, and blood hematology in broilers.
Diet supplemented with moringa leaf powder can lead to
low mortality and enhance growth performance, meat yield and serum cholesterol
of broilers. This is leading to the rise in demand for moringa leaf as a cost-effective
and beneficial alternative in poultry food production, especially in the
developing countries.
Poultry production companies in the developing regions
are looking for a cheap and safe alternative source of protein. This is driving
demand for moringa leaf powder as an alternative to other expensive sources of
protein in poultry feed.
Indian plant seed ‘Moringa oleifera’ can bring clean water to millions, say scientists!
Proteins from the Moringa oleifera plant – a tree native to India – can help effectively purify water in developing nations at a low cost, say, scientists. The plant – commonly known as the drumstick tree – is cultivated for food and natural oils, and the seeds are already used for a type of rudimentary water purification.
However, this traditional means of purification leaves behind high amounts of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the seeds, allowing bacteria to regrow after just 24 hours. This leaves only a short window in which the water is drinkable.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in the US used sand and plant materials to create a cheap and effective water filtration medium, termed “f-sand.” F-sand was created by extracting the seed proteins from the Moringa oleifera plant, and adhering them to the surface of silica particles, the principal component of sand.
It kills microorganisms and reduces turbidity, adhering to particulate and organic matter. These undesirable contaminants and DOC can then be washed out, leaving the water clean for longer, and the f-sand ready for reuse. According to the United Nations, 2.1 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services, the majority of whom live in developing nations. The Moringa oleifera plant tree is native to India and grows well in tropical and subtropical climates.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international humanitarian relief organisations have used moringa to combat malnutrition in many parts of the world because it is a nutrient-rich plant, which could substitute other mainstream food
Illustration: Ratna Sagar Shrestha/ THT
Without a doubt, global climate is deteriorating. Changes in the mean temperature, irregularity in the seasons and increasing cases of extreme weather are much evident, and at the same time, food security is also in peril. Many scientists have predicted that climate change will disproportionately affect the rural poor and marginalised communities, and Nepal is threatened by this prediction. As such, an intervention is required, particularly to address these issues, and moringa cultivation offers a holistic solution in many ways.
In a sense, it is quite absurd that 70 per cent of the world’s food supply comes from just three grains, i.e., corn, wheat and rice, and 80 per cent of our plant-based food intake comes from just eight grains and four tubers. According to the FAO, our present agricultural system is responsible for about 14 per cent of the green-house gas production. So, there is a dire need for an alternative and good back-up for the present food monoculture.
Moringa (Moringaoleifera), also known as “miracle tree” or “drumstick” in English, “Sheetalchini’” in Nepali, originated in India, and gradually dispersed to Asia, Africa and South America.
The absolute number of people facing chronic food deprivation has increased to nearly 821 million in 2017, from around 804 million in 2016. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international humanitarian relief organisations have used moringa to combat malnutrition in many parts of the world because it is a nutrient-rich plant, which could substitute other mainstream food crops and solve the hunger problem.
Not only for humans, moringa leaves can be used as a supplement in livestock feed and increase up to 32 per cent of the daily weight gain. Fresh moringa leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or processed into tea, powder and other pharmaceutical preparations. Moringa leaves, shoots and seeds can be used as green teas with tremendous results. The juice extracted from the fresh leaves of the flora is said to work like a growth hormone that can increase crop yield by 25-35 per cent.
Having said so, the question arises: How can the marginalised and poor people utilise this ‘miracle plant’, as such agriculture practice incurs noticeable cost for input and nurture? Moringa, in fact, is a hardy plant and doesn’t demand stringent requirements. It is fast growing and well adapted to growing in adverse conditions where many other plants would not. An estimated 95,000-16 million plants can be cultivated on a hectare, with an average yield of 2 kg of leaves per harvest, and the product can be harvested for up to a maximum of 10 years.
Unlike mainstream crops, it doesn’t require intensive care – homemade compost and manure application with sporadic irrigation just to make the soil wet is sufficient for optimum result. It can be grown under high-density monoculture, or intercropped with other crops like the cowpea. Flooded land, dry river bed or waste land which is otherwise unused could be utilised for moringa plantation and hence, even the marginalized people can savor its benefits.
In addition, the leaves of the moringa plant are rich in micronutrients like beta carotene, calcium, magnesium, potassium, protein and vitamin C, to name a few. Its leaves and fruit have therapeutic potential for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
In a study by Biomed Research International in 2015, the plant was shown to have anti-diabetic effects as well. Thus, it can serve as an effective tool to combat malnutrition in a child, anaemia in lactating women, other several nutrient-deficiencies and promises reliable food stock to produce a healthy population.
Moringa is a very fast growing tree and grows easily and rapidly. It is also known as a “Never die” plant because of its adaptability to the weather, soil and other environmental variation. It can thrive well in semi-arid, tropical and subtropical areas, however, it cannot stand the chilling climate. The heavy flushes produced by the trees even during the dry season act as good sink for carbon dioxide absorption and utilisation, thus reducing the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is one of the major causes of ozone layer depletion and global warming.
According to a Japanese study in 2009, the rate of assimilation of carbon dioxide by the moringa tree was 20 times higher than that of general vegetation.
It is estimated that if moringa is extended from 100,000 hectares worldwide to 1 million hectares, it would sequester about five billion metric tons of carbon in their trees. Also it helps to reduce dependency on forest for other fuel wood.
Nepal, with 23.38 per cent of its people under the poverty line and being highly vulnerable to climate change, has wide scope for moringa plantation. At present, not much research has been done on moringa cultivation. Imminent threats from food security and climate change could be addressed if initiation for systematic and scientific research as well as extension of the moringa is done at different agro-climatic regions of Nepal. It can bring about a positive upheaval in the existing food realm, and the process can even mend the environment. Thus moringa is a win-win.
Bajagain is employed at Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture Project
Magic of moringa: the superfood where nothing goes to waste!
If moringa is yet to slip onto your radar, then it may be time to swot up on the plant that’s taking the foodie and beauty worlds by storm this year.
Moringa Oleifera, to give it its Latin name – or the drumstick tree, as it’s more colloquially known – is a heat-loving tree that flourishes in semi-arid conditions. It originates from the foothills of the Himalayas and north-western India, North Africa and South East Asia, but moringa is now grown in tropical and subtropical climates all over the world, and it’s very much in demand.
“Moringa seeds have a high concentration of oil,” says nutritionist Zenia Menon of Dubai Herbal and Treatment Centre. “These are extracted to make moringa, which yields more oil than sunflower and peanuts. It can be used in cooking or moringa-seed oil can be used directly on the skin to help retain skin’s moisture,” she says.
Where you’ve seen it
You might well have spotted it highlighted as a key ingredient in your shampoo (Herbal Essences’ Bio: Renew shampoo and conditioner is “powered” by moringa) or on your new moisturiser (The Body Shop’s Moringa Butter Moisturiser is one to try). Nicknamed “The Tree of Life” owing to its powerful, nourishing and moisturising effect on the skin, moringa can be applied as a tonic or consumed, and nutritionists such as Menon are touting it as the ultimate superfood all-rounder to include in your daily diet. Click To Tweet
Trend forecasters such as Spins might have pinned 2018 for moringa to have its moment, but this nutrient-dense superfood-of-the-year established its healing roots way ahead of the curve. “The moringa leaves have often been used in ancient medicine and they are a powerhouse of nutrients,” Menon says of the small, abundant leaves found on the fine branches of the moringa tree. Because it grows quickly and at a relatively low cost, moringa has been the go-to vegetable for many parts of the developing world. Even dry, the leaves are packed with vitamins and minerals, making it ideal for feeding programmes to fight malnutrition.
In cooking, the drumsticks (or green pods) have traditionally been used in curries and stews across Thailand, the Philippines and India. There’s a good chance that the sambar or Keralan thoran salad you enjoyed so much on holiday in India had a hefty dose of moringa chopped or grated into it. Every last part of the moringa tree can be and has been put to good use. After the vegetables of the tree are used in stews and the seeds pressed to obtain the oil that fortifies moisture-boosting skin products, the leftover seed cake has been used as a water purifier, too.
The health benefits
According to moringa farmer Mariko Gifford, gram for gram, the plant’s leaves contain a whopping seven times the vitamin C of oranges, four times the calcium and two times the protein of milk, four times the vitamin A of carrots, three times the iron in spinach and three times the potassium of bananas. Taking all of this information into account, it’s not surprising that including a helping of moringa in your diet could defend your body against a lengthy list of unwanted ailments.
Menon cites it as a food that can prevent diabetes, heart diseases, anaemia, arthritis and liver disease, plus respiratory, skin, and digestive disorders. Added to this, “it has natural detoxifying properties and contains anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants that fight free radicals that cause oxidative stress and cell damage” (making it the perfect anti-ageing cream ingredient). Balancing hormones, reducing the effects of ageing, fighting fungal infection, treating anxiety and protecting brain health are also included in the broad arsenal of benefits listed by Menon.
As well as the benefits of direct moringa consumption, the plant can also be used in farming and food production as an alternative to toxic fertilisers or unnatural hormones. “It’s feeding the world in a way that doesn’t introduce toxicity, Click To Tweet” says Gifford, who is behind the Moringa For Life website. The farmer extols the plant for its positive results when applied to farming and general crop production. “It improves milk production and weight gain in cattle, and it can be diluted and then sprayed onto plants as a plant enhancer,” she says. If your vegetable patch or microgreens are looking a little wilted and sad, it might be time to give them a spritz of moringa to revive and revitalise.
If after reading this you’re keen to work the magic of moringa into your own diet, lifestyle or beauty regime, you can get your hands on it in a number of forms. Choose moringa powder (look for it in Carrefour, Neal’s Yard Remedies and the Ripe Farm Shop) for an easy dose of the superfood that can be sprinkled into a soup, curry or stew – or slot it into your daily routine and brew yourself a moringa tea every morning. Menon advises having a half-teaspoon of moringa powder, a half-teaspoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon in hot water as a post-breakfast drink. Click To TweetDon’t overdo it, though, because it does have a laxative effect if consumed in high quantities. Go one step further and grow your own tree for fresh leaves to steam like spinach or toss into a salad, as well as fresh moringa drumsticks to add to your cooking.
The drought-resistant moringa lends itself to sweltering conditions. Sri Lankan national Ram Pillai has even grown a large moringa tree from a sapling in his Dubai garden. “We add the leaves to our morning smoothie and once again cook the vegetable seed pods on a weekly basis,” he says. You can also find fresh leaves from the UAE’s Deena Farms organic farming community, for an instant supply before your moringa sapling turns into your own tree of life.
Organic food products for healthier living in Mombasa!
Three women entrepreneurs are taking Mombasa by storm as they produce value-addition organic products from the stairs of their rental house.
Most families, particularly those living in urban areas, prefer modern processed foods with chemicals, which have very low nutritious value and come with many health risks.
Silvia Nyaga from Kisauni and her two colleagues, Sharlet Asiachi and Ann Muthoni, produce organic products, which not only help them earn income but promote health for both children and adults.
They initiated the idea two years ago to not only operate a business but also advocate for families in urban centres to consume nutritious foods free from chemicals.
The three registered a company called Sylo Health Products, which specifically deals with health products that are 100 percent pure.
“My products have no chemicals, they are highly nutritious. It’s food, yes, but on the other hand, it has a healing effect. Once you eat it, it boosts your immune system,” Nyaga says.
Organic food refers to food products that are produced, prepared, and processed without the use of any chemicals. Its demand has increased over the past decade, as it is healthier than conventional food.
Under Sylo, Nyaga produces peanut butter, Amaranth flour, coconut vinegar, Pure Amaranth powder, pure natural bee honey and Moringa seeds powder and other products from the Moringa tree.
Amaranth is traditionally known as mchicha in Kenya, while Moringa (mzungwi) is also a traditional tree, which is nutritious and has a lot a medicinal value.
Due to lack of capital to get out of the space, they operate in, Nyaga decided to utilise the small staircase area in the house. She took me to the process of making peanut butter naturally, without adding anything.
HOW THEY MAKE IT
“Sylo does so many health products,” Nyaga says. “We are going to show you how we do milling of our products, how we make peanut butter organically.”
Nyaga buys peanuts from the market and takes them to Kongowea for roasting since she does not have her own roaster.
“We don’t remove the outer covering of the peanuts. We mill with it because the outer covering has fibre that helps to make good peanut butter,” she says as she prepares the roasted peanuts.
After removing the dust and leaves, she mills it using the only small electric mortar miller, which can mill 2kg at a time. It takes five to 10 minutes to be ready.
“Once it’s ready it becomes watery. Inside the miller it’s usually hot, and we have to wait for it to cool before we begin packaging,” she adds.
The readily processed butter is then packaged in jars of 200g, 400g and 800g, ready to go to the market to be sold at Sh200, Sh300 and Sh500 respectively.
But before that, Nyaga and her team must seal the jars so that no one can break them until the buyer opens them at the comfort of his or her home.
On a good month, the women get Sh15,000 to Sh20,000 from the sale of peanut butter alone. Nyaga says many people fear peanut butter because of oil. However, anyone who checks online will see it is very nutritious, she says.
“It has magnesium fibres, calcium, iron and so many food minerals that help in the body,” Nyaga says.
Peanuts have a fibre that helps reduce weight for adults. “One has to eat in the morning with a slice of bread. During the day, you will not even feel like eating anything else,” Nyaga says, adding that peanut oil also opens cardiovascular veins.
“In the modern society, illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure are arising because of the food being eaten. People should go back to eating organic foods,” Nyaga says.
Asked how she acquired the knowledge, Nyaga says she was trained by Agriculture officers and did more research through the Internet, reading books and newspapers.
Since the company was opened two years ago, she has been able to employ six people. At the ‘factory’ there are three staff members, including herself, and one boy was employed at her shop, which sells the company’s products.
The company also employed one person at Kaloleni, who produces vinegar, while at Gede in Kilifi county, there are trained groups that make coconut oil.
INCREASED MARKET
At first, they used to move from door to door making locals understand their products. However, as time went by, they reached out to many people after going to forums such as shows.
“People have seen our products, and whenever one buys, they will always refer somebody else once it works for him or her. Many many customers are being referred, and we also continue marketing one on one,” Nyaga says.
Her message to women out there is to ensure they study nutrition skills. She goes to different places teaching other people the skills they have.
Amaranth flour is another leading product of Sylo Health Products. They get the seeds from Mpeketoni in Lamu county, Kisumu and sometimes Tanzania.
“These seeds we can pop them and get nuts for both children and adults. The same seeds can be sold to farmers to plant,” Nyaga says.
Amaranth flour is good for people with arthritis, diabetes and asthma. The flour is also important and healthy for children, as it has calcium, which helps them in growth.
“It’s the best porridge for children who are growing up. It’s also good for weak people. Some people get weak when they fall sick,” she says, adding that they sell 500g of Amaranth flour at Sh200.
Other Sylo products are from the Moringa tree. Moringa grows in homesteads and can produce flour. Its leaves are good as vegetables, which are mixed with spinach or mchicha.
“One can also take the leaves, wash them, then blend them to produce juice, which has many benefits to the body,” Nyaga says.
Moringa seeds are ground and have proved to be very nutritious, particularly for diabetic patients, while Moringa flowers are also good for treating patients with infections.
“The flowers are squeezed with water and applied to the infected area, such as athlete’s foot,” she says.
Cases of malnutrition are not new. A visit to hospital reveals children suffering from malnutrition-related diseases, such as kwashiorkor.
Expectant mothers also require nutritious foods to help in the growth of the unborn child.
Sylo Health Products enterprise is just an example of how women can become entrepreneurs to develop organic products that will not only generate income but promote a healthy nation.
Scaling Up Nutrition-Kenya chairman George Ouma says it’s important for the community to be educated on the importance of eating nutritious foods.
“A lot of community members understand that a balanced diet is eating meat,” he says.
Ouma says the population of children is very high at 50 percent, and for proper brain development, they require nutritious foods.
“Breastfeeding mothers need adequate foods, which translate to well-developed brains and growth,’’ he says.
The chairman says food insecurity and nutrition cannot be addressed in isolation. They require concerted efforts of the Education ministry, social services and donors including World Bank and Jica.
Drumsticks, many of us traditionally add (sing) to our dals and sambars for flavour. But even as we enjoy them, we have no idea how healthy drumsticks (Moringa oleifera) are! Click To Tweet An ancient herbal remedy for many health issues, the leaves of Moringa (as it is sometimes called) or drumstick plant are now making a comeback all over the world as a health aid, thanks to its many benefits.
Bioactive compounds in Moringa leaves interact with the body’s active molecules to bring about improvements in health. In particular, the leaves of Moringa are rich in nutrition, including Vitamins B6 and C, riboflavin, beta-carotene, and magnesium. Here’s what a regular dose of Moringa leaf can do for your body. Click To Tweet
For your hypertension: The leaf powder has a compound called quercetin that naturally reduces blood pressure without side effects.
For your blood sugar: Moringa leaves contain a compound that helps the body maintain alkalinity. Many of the side effects of high blood sugar result from acid-base imbalance.
How Moringa seeds are saving thousands of rural Kenyans without clean water!
Moringa seeds can help this situation. In Kenya 17.3 million people lack access to clean water with water-borne diseases like diarrhoea and Cholera being the leading cause of death for children under five years, a situation replicated in Sub Saharan Africa and worldwide.
Last year 10 people died and over 200 were hospitalized in Western Kenya after consuming contaminated water. A recurrent phenomenon in the country that points to the extent of water woes.
Water treatment solutions are out of reach for many households with the majority of them averaging between 0.50$ to $5 USD. The other alternative is boiling which has equally been deemed expensive and environmentally unfriendly due to the amount of fuelwood used.
But a group of women have found a low-cost method of purifying water, which is now backed by science. Embracing seeds from the wonder tree Moringa Oleifera, over 3,000 women predominantly from Central Kenya have borrowed the low-cost purification concept from their counterparts in South Sudan who rely on the muddy River Nile for drinking water.
How the seeds cleanse dirty water
The process starts with the grinding of the seeds into a paste which is then poured into the untreated water and given time to trap the impurities before settling at the bottom. The women then decant the pure water off the top. The seeds also remove turbidity, the cloudiness, in the water.
“I was among the first women to try this concept about three years ago. We fetch water from the rivers which are usually contaminated and it had become increasingly expensive to buy the synthetic water purifiers. Officials from the Ministry of Health came and gave this new method a clean bill of health. We now rarely get water-related borne diseases like Cholera or diarrhea,” said Tabitha Muondu one of the beneficiaries of the purification method.
Once the crushed seeds are added to water, they have a magnetic force that attract dirt particles including disease causing organisms. Dirt is hooked to the seeds and once it settles in the bottom of the jar, the water is fit for drinking.
Image: Water treated with Moringa seeds on the right and untreated water on the left.
Clean bill of health from scientists
Scientists from the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation say that the purified water produces between 90 and 99 percent reduction in bacteria. Conventional water purifiers contain aluminum salt as the active ingredient. The natural coagulant in Moringa seeds dubbed the Moringa Oleifera Cationic Protein (MOCP), act the same way as the aluminum salt in trapping dirt and killing bacteria.
“As the demand for water purification methods soars, companies that make water purifiers are now under dosing chemical treatments which reduces their potency and that explains why most of what we have in the market is not effective. With Moringa seeds we have ascertained that the natural coagulant is so powerful that a few seeds can purify a large mass of water,” Said Dr. Morris Okwemba a researcher at the Ministry.
Increased uptake across the country
The method has gained traction especially in rural areas where the Moringa tree is easily accessible. “This tree has always been here in our compound but I never knew the enormous benefits it has in its seeds. We only learned about it through a farmer exchange program and we have had neighbors coming to borrow seeds to plant the tree.
This is the greatest revolution for us the rural people,” said Maria Oketch from Western Kenya.
Researchers, however, warn that the purification method should be concentrated for domestic use where the purified water is consumed right away. Mass purification would be counterproductive since if stored for long, the water starts producing an odor and a weird taste.
The inexpensive water purification method has received the backing of science with numerous studies pointing to its efficacy. A joint research by University of Botswana and Uppsala University was able to successfully remove impurities from water using the Moringa seeds with researchers hailing the method as the ultimate answer to millions in the world who struggle with access to clean water.
“It’s amazing to see that simple interactions between molecules can solve practical problems. Understanding this process can lead to further developments in water purification using naturally occurring and environmentally friendly materials,” said Adrian Rennie, one of the researchers in the project and a Professor of Neutron Scattering at Uppsala University.
Image credit: A farmer with her child standing near Moringa oleifera tree – Trees for the Future and agroforestry
Local plants hold great potential for domestic water treatment — Experts say!
By Rakiya Muhammad, Sokoto | Published Date
As an alternative to the use of synthetic chemical such as alum with the cost implications, locally available seeds zogale (Moringa olieifera) and Bagaruwa(acacia nilotica) can be used as natural water treatment agents, Professor Umar Abubakar Birnin Yauri has said.
The Professor of Analytical Chemistry Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, told Caliphate Trust that they were specially ideal for rural communities where high cost of treated water forced many inhabitants to resort to readily available sources with the attendant risks of exposure to water borne diseases.
Zogale is a popular vegetable in cuisines in northern part of Nigeria while Bagaruwa, is commonly used for medicinal purposes and in leather processing in the region.
“In Nigeria, we use alum to treat water, the problem is alum is imported, it is not manufactured in Nigeria, so we thought of using bioflocculant, a plant product used for flocculating the water. We tried zogale and it is doing very well, we have tried Bagaruwa and we find it is also working well,” Professor Binin Yauri stated.
According to World Health Organisation:” Globally, nearly two billion people use either unimproved drinking-water sources or improved sources that are faecally-contaminated. Over half a million diarrhoeal deaths in low- and middle-income countries are attributed to inadequate drinking-water,”
But the chemistry expert said plants could offer cheap and environment friendly methods of addressing water contamination.
“Plant can act as water coagulant.”
He described the technologies involved as cheap and easy to use.
“It is very suitable for rural areas”.
Prof Birnin Yauri said in a comparative study on the use of plants as flocculants in water treatment, different plant seeds and leaves were screened to find primary coagulant able to reduce the turbidity of drinking water.
He noted that the plant used in the study to include Moringa oleifera, Habiscuss Sabdariffa and Corchorus Tridens.
“The study found that raw water can be treated considerably with the use of plant material, noting that that as a biological process, it does not generate any non-treatable wastes.
“The physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis proved that the performance of the plant as water coagulant was within the world health organization standard limit.”
![The deeper the borewell, the greater the fluoride levels in the groundwater. Photo credit: ABHIJEET / Wikimedia Commons [CC Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported].](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bore_well_water_pump_Chinawal.jpg "The deeper the borewell, the greater the fluoride levels in the groundwater. Photo credit: ABHIJEET / Wikimedia Commons [CC Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported].")
Controls Blood Glucose Levels
