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Moringa: Green Goodness
Moringa: Green Goodness
Moringa is a small tree that is native to the foothills of the Himalayan mountains in India. A few of its common nicknames are: Drumstick Tree, Ben oil Tree and Horseradish Tree. Historically it was very common to find it growing in rural areas and used as a staple food source. A tree that is easy to grow and has so much to offer acted as an economical and nutritional addition to the daily diet.
Moringa is now cultivated in many places around the world. Universally it is thought of as the miracle tree. All parts of the tree can be consumed and all parts are believed to be highly nutritious.
The Leaves
The leaves are the most commonly consumed part of the tree. They can be ingested fresh, juiced, dried, turned into powder form or even cooked up in a veggie stir fry. Ayurveda Medicine site 300 diseases that can be treated using moringa leaves.
It is thought to boost energy and detoxify the body as well as containing large amounts of Vitamin C and A. Is also a fantastic source of plant protein.
The Seeds
Most commonly processed to extract a concentrated oil; some cultures pickle the entire young, green seed pod. You can also steep them to make a tea or even a curry dish.
The seeds, ground into a fine powder, can be used to purify water as well. When ingested, the seeds offer very similar nutrients and medicinal properties to the leaves.
The Roots
This is where the nickname “The Horseradish Tree” comes from. The flavor is very similar to that of the horseradish root.
The roots are edible but do have a certain amount of toxicity if ingested in large quantities and not prepared responsibly. The roots are most commonly prepared by muddling them into a paste or drying them and turning into a powder. The roots are believed to have antibiotic and anti inflammatory properties.
The Flowers
Considered a delicacy across countries, the flowers have a similar flavor to mild mushrooms. You can also drink the flowers as tea or press them into a juice. Historically the flowers were honored as treatment for urinary tract infections and for an increase in lactation for breastfeeding mothers.
The Trunk
The bark and the trunk of the mooring tree are thought to have very similar properties to the root. It is dangerous to ingest in large quantities but very nutritious if prepared responsibility. Due to the very straight form, the trunks are often used for fencing. Legend says it can make for good animal fodder too.
Moringa is the Miracle Tree: so quick to grow, and so much to offer.
Sources;
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1242/mori nga
http://www.purehealingfoods.com/moringaInfo.php https://blog.kulikulifoods.com/2018/04/11/what-are-the-parts-of- a-moringa-tree-and-their-benefits/
Post by Halli Moore
