MORINGA DR. SIMON FIT

In recent times, Moringa has become popular as an ally in weight loss in view of its nutritional richness. In fact, studies say that Moringa provides 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots. , 17 times more calcium than milk, 9 times more protein than yogurt, 15 times more potassium than bananas and 25 times more iron than spinach.

The fact that Moringa is easily cultivated makes it a sustainable remedy for malnutrition.  Countries like Senegal and Benin treat children with Moringa.

Children deprived of breast milk tend to show symptoms of malnutrition.  Lactogogues are usually prescribed to lactating mothers to increase milk production.  Moringa is rich in phytosterols such as stigmasterol, sitosterol, and kampesterol, which are hormone precursors.  These compounds stimulate the proliferation of the ducts of the mammary glands to produce milk.

It is used to treat malnutrition in children under 3 years of age.  Approximately 6 tablespoons of leaf powder can meet a woman's daily iron and calcium needs during pregnancy.

The leaves are rich in proteins/amino acids, reaching up to 44%, they are also rich in minerals such as calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, iron and copper. Vitamins such as vitamin A beta-carotene, vitamin B such as folic acid, pyridoxine and nicotinic acid, vitamin C, D and E are also present.

Moringa has many minerals that are essential for growth and development, among which calcium is considered one of the important minerals for human growth.  While 8 ounces of milk can provide 300-400mg, Moringa leaves can provide 1,000mg and Moringa powder can provide over 4,000mg.  Moringa powder can be used as a substitute for iron tablets and thus as a treatment for anemia.  Beef has only 2 mg of iron, while Moringa leaf powder has 28 mg of iron.  Moringa has been reported to contain more iron than spinach.  A good dietary intake of zinc is essential for proper sperm growth and is also required for DNA and RNA synthesis.  The leaves show about 25.5 to 31.03 mg of zinc/kg, which is the daily requirement for zinc in the diet.

PUFAs are linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and oleic acid;  these PUFAs have the ability to control cholesterol.  Research shows that moringa seed oil contains around 76% PUFA, making it ideal for use as an olive oil substitute.

Moringa has been shown to help as much  to type 1 diabetes as  to type 2 diabetes.  Type 1 diabetes is one in which patients do not produce insulin, which is a hormone that maintains the blood glucose level at the required normal value.  Type 2 diabetes is associated with insulin resistance.  Type 2 diabetes can also be caused by a dysfunction of the beta cells, which do not sense glucose levels, thus reducing signaling to insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.  Several studies have shown that moringa can act as an antidiabetic agent.  A study has shown that the aqueous extracts of can help cure streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes and also insulin-resistant type 2 diabetes in rats.  In another study, researchers fed rats with STZ-induced diabetes Moringa seed powder and noted that fasting blood glucose decreased.  Furthermore, when rats were treated with approximately 500 mg moringa seed powder/kg body weight, antioxidant enzymes were increased in the serum.  This shows that the antioxidants present in moringa can reduce reactive oxygen species.   

Diabetes leads to various complications like retinopathy, nephropathy and atherosclerosis etc. Moringa can be used to prevent such ailments.  When there is hyperglycemia, glucose in the blood reacts with proteins and causes advanced glycated end products (AGEs).  These AGEs bind to RAGE which is expressed on the surface of immune cells.  This interaction leads to increased transcription of cytokines such as interleukin-6 and interferons.  At the same time, cell adhesion molecules are expressed on the superficial endothelium of the arteries.  This facilitates transendothelial migration that causes inflammation in the arteries and leads to atherosclerosis.  Moringa is used as an anti-atherosclerotic agent.  The anti-atherogenic nature can be explained by the antioxidant properties of moringa.

Cancer is a common disease and one in seven deaths is attributed to inappropriate medication. Various factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, and radiation exposure can cause the disease, among others.  Moringa can be used as an anti-cancer agent since it is natural, reliable and safe, in established concentrations.  Studies have shown that moringa can be used as an anti-neoproliferative agent, thereby inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.  Soluble and solvent extracts of the leaves have been shown to be effective as anticancer agents. The compounds in the leaves responsible for anticancer activities are glucosinolates, niazimycin, and benzyl isothiocyanate.

Moringa can be used as a powerful neuroprotectant.  Cerebral ischemia is due to obstruction of blood flow to the brain.  This leads to reperfusion and lipid peroxidation, which in turn results in reactive oxygen species.  Moringa with its antioxidants can reduce reactive oxygen species, thus protecting the brain.

Moringa is used to treat dementia as it has been shown to promote spatial memory.  Leaf extracts have been shown to reduce acetylcholine esterase activity, thereby improving cholinergic function and memory. It was also shown that moringa in the diet of rats can increase protein content and decrease blood urea and creatinine levels, preventing kidney dysfunction.

Moringa reduced acidity in gastric ulcers by 86.15% and 85.13% at doses of 500 mg and 350 mg, respectively, and therefore can be used as an antiulcer agent.

The hydroalcoholic extract of moringa flowers reduced the levels of rheumatoid factor, TNF-alpha and IL-1 in arthritic rats.  This proves that moringa can be a potent therapy for arthritis.