When we first moved in to our new house on Aruba, we had some friends over to show them our new place. As we came around to the backyard our friend said, “Wow! you have a tree of life!” At that time we had never heard of a Moringa Tree, aka tree of life or miracle tree. Our friend went on to tell us about all of the amazing things this tree is good for. Being very intrigued, I did some googling and found out that this tree really has a ton of miraculous properties! Almost all of the parts of the tree can be used for some type of health benefit, providing more than 30 vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and over 90 protective compounds!
Moringa can be beneficial in helping treat a variety of conditions, such as:
inflammation-related diseases
cancer
diabetes
anemia
low energy and fatigue
arthritis and other joint pain, such as rheumatism
allergies and asthma
constipation, stomach pains and and diarrhea
epilepsy
stomach and intestinal ulcers or spasms
chronic headaches
heart problems, including high blood pressure
kidney stones
fluid retention
thyroid disorders
low sex drive
bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections
Studies have revealed that moringa powder is loaded with phytochemicals, protein, calcium, beta-carotene, vitamin C and potassium. Because it provides a concentrated source of vitamin A, it’s given to thousands of children in third-world countries every year suffering from life-threatening vitamin A deficiency, which is linked to impaired immune function.
Consuming it can also improve intake of trace minerals, amino acids and phenolic compounds. The plant contains a rare and unique combination of disease-preventing phytonutrients, including flavonoids, glucosides, glucosinolates, zeatin, quercetin, beta-sitosterol, caffeoylquinic acid and kaempferol.
According to Kuli Kuli, an organization that harvests moringa plants in Africa, gram for gram, the plant contains:
two times the amount of protein of yogurt
four times the amount of vitamin A as carrots
three times the amount of potassium as bananas
four times the amount of calcium as cow’s’ milk
seven times the amount of vitamin C as oranges
The leaves can be used fresh in a salad and taste similar to arugula. They can also be dried and ground to be added to smoothies or other foods.
Moringa Smoothie:
1/3 container of plain or Greek yogurt
1 shot of espresso (or hot coffee)
poured over 1/3 c oats (allow to steep a few minutes)
1/2 of a banana
1 kiwi
2 T. nut butter of your choice
1 T. honey (or to your taste)
1 T. dried moringa leaves, ground
A few dark chocolate pieces (optional)
A splash of coconut rum (also optional, haha!)
Ice
*Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
*Makes 1 large or 2 smaller smoothies – they are quite filling! Enjoy!
They grow these long pods that contain pea sized seeds which can be eaten raw or roasted. (I find them too bitter.) Oil can also be extracted from these seeds and used in skincare products.
I like to put some of the ground leaves in a tea bag and steep it in some coconut oil on the stove. I then add essential oils of my choice and use it as a body/face/hair oil daily!
You can make a tea from the roots, and even cut into a branch releasing a liquid that serves as a natural antibiotic for cuts. The blossoms make the bees very happy as well.
If you are not lucky enough to have a moringa tree in your backyard, you can buy moringa powder on amazon here. It is currently 10% off as of this publication.But if you are fortunate enough to get your hands on some of the raw leaves and want to dry them, here is my method:
Drying Moringa leaves:
Wash your leaves and lay them out to dry
Once dry, spread the leaves on cookie sheets in one layer
Preheat your oven to the lowest setting (about 120 degrees) and place your pans inside.
*I even keep the oven door ajar a little bit for ventilation.
Leave them in the oven until they feel crunchy. This will depend on the
climate you are in and will vary. I leave mine in for a good part of a day.
Once dried the leaves will easily slide off the stems.
I grind mine in a coffee grinder or mini chopper.
Store in an airtight jar in a cool dry place.
So in review, here are some of the top properties and benefits from using Moringa:
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Provides Antioxidants and Anti-Inflammatory Compounds
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Balances Hormones and Slows the Effects of Aging
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Helps Improve Digestive Health
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Balances Blood Sugar Levels, Helping Fight Diabetes
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Protects and Nourishes the Skin
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Helps Stabilize Your Mood and Protects Brain Health
So you see, it really is a Miracle Tree! And it grows on Aruba!
Also check out my other posts:
What to Pack and Step by Step instructions for filling out your ED Card or
All Inclusive or A la Carte, and much more!