Moringa: The old superfood that you need to bring back to your diet
- Moringa is high in antioxidants so it has potent, immunity-boosting qualities. If you want to use it for this purpose, then hand-pound four-five uncooked leaves, or eat 5gm of powder on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning with a glass of water.
- Drumsticks are very rich in fibre, which is so insoluble that they have to be cooked for us to be able to digest it. The absorption of vitamin A is also better if you cook it with a bit of oil.
- The root is very antiseptic in nature. You can use the bark and the root directly on the skin. In fact, it is used for its antibacterial qualities as a hand wash or on the skin.
- It is a great source of iron, especially because it contains a ton of vitamin C that helps the iron get absorbed by the body. This makes it excellent for vegetarians who can’t get iron from meat.
- A very interesting fact is that it’s very rich in magnesium, giving us almost 50 percent of our daily requirement. Magnesium is important for bone health, and its deficiency makes us crave sugar. This mineral is present in moringa leaves.
- It’s a very good source of plant protein. However, there are two aspects to protein: how much and what quality. So while the per-gram-weight may not be so high, the quality and variety of proteins are excellent. It contains a wide range of amino acids that are the building blocks of skin and hair.
- Because it is packed with antioxidants it is also excellent to prevent cardiovascular diseases. In fact, it is good for any disease to do with inflammation, be it arthritis or rosacea.
- You can also eat or apply powdered leaves with a shot of aloe vera gel to get clear, smooth skin. Just like haldi, moringa can be used in many ways.
Vasudha Rai is a certified yoga teacher and has been writing on beauty, health and wellness for 15 years. Find her at Vbeauty.co
