Moringa for a long time has been ruling the super greens kingdom and now it is creating even more buzz with the superfood tag it has rightfully earned. 

Moringa has been studied for its health properties and the numerous bioactive compounds it contains, including vitamins, phenolic acids, tannins, and many more which are present in significant proportions in the plant. Moringa is beneficial in numerous conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, insulin resistance, inflammation, etc., Moringa is one such superfood you wouldn’t want to miss. 

What exactly are Superfoods?

Superfoods are foods with a very high nutritional density and contain loads of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and offer additional benefits that can positively affect various aspects of your health. 

Including superfoods in your everyday routine helps you cope with the nutritional deficiencies associated with the food habits you have.

Another definition of a superfood is, that superfoods include foods that have a dozen or more unique properties and constitute a specific set of foodstuffs, natural or medium processed with numerous nutrients. They are food that according to studies are able to increase the vitality of the human body and can be a good choice for improving overall health by strengthening the immune system. 1

Bioactive compounds of Moringa

The nutritional composition of Moringa is impressive. Every part of Moringa is a powerhouse of nutrients. 

Vitamins: Vitamins like beta-carotene of vitamin A, vitamin B such as folic acid, pyridoxine, and nicotinic acid, vitamin C, D, and E

Minerals: Calcium, Potassium, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, and Copper 2

In fact, Moringa is said to provide 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 3

Moringa is often referred to as a panacea for many illnesses. It’s been in use in the Ayurveda system of medicine for thousands of years and the presence of rich phytochemicals in the herb makes it not only a perfect vegetable to be included in your diet but also a medicinal agent that can counter various diseases. 

Health benefits associated with bioactive compounds of Moringa

• Antioxidant potential: Several antioxidant compounds are present in Moringa apart from vitamins C&E and beta-carotene.

Quercetin: Quercetin shows strong antioxidant activity by maintaining the oxidative balance and scavenging the free radicals and helps reduce glucose levels and lower blood pressure. 4

Gallic acid: The most abundant phenolic acid in dried leaves with neuroprotective actions. 4

Chlorogenic acid: An antioxidant that can help reduce the post-prandial blood glucose levels. 4

• Helps in lipid homeostasis: Many bioactive compounds found in Moringa oleifera help maintain cholesterol levels.

β-sitosterol: Leaves contain β-sitosterol with documented effects of being able to lower cholesterol in animal models. 4

Saponins: Prevents absorption of cholesterol by binding it to bile acids and increasing their fecal excretion. 4

• Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory role: Moringa’s leaves, pods, and seeds play a major role in providing the anti-inflammatory effect. 

Isothiocyanates: These compounds in moringa leaves decrease the gene expression and production of inflammatory markers. 4

Quercetin: It helps in the reduction of the inflammatory process and inhibits the stream of events associated with inflammation.  4

• Lowers blood glucose levels: Moringa has been shown to provide beneficial results in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. 

Quercetin: Flavonoids like quercetin and phenolics protect the beta cells pancreas providing thus keeping hyperglycemia in control.2

             Isothiocyanates: These are the main actives in Moringa that exert their effects in insulin 

             signaling and sensitivity. 5

• Anti-cancer effect: In various studies, Moringa has shown to be an active nonproliferative agent inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. 2

4-(α-l-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl isothiocyanate, niazimicin and β-sitosterol: Leaves are effective against cancers of pancreas and breast and may inhibit the growth of several cancer cells. 4

The benefits that this little leaf can offer you don’t stop here. The herb’s nutritional profile is super impressive compared to the other super greens that are catching the attention like matcha because Moringa is completely caffeine free. 

Moringa provides much-needed nutrition and nutraceutical benefits. Make sure that you don’t take this herb just as another diet fad that is here today and gone tomorrow. 

Pick up this superfood containing 365veda Immunity Latte and do yourself a favor by consuming this ancient yet trendy super green.

References

1. Wolfe D. Superfoods: The food and medicine of the future. California: North Atlantic Books.2009:10-49 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329920205_Superfoods_Recent_Data_on_their_Role_in_the_Prevention_of_Diseases
2. Lakshmipriya Gopalakrishnan, Kruthi Doriya, Devarai Santhosh Kumar, Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application, Food Science and Human Wellness, Volume 5, Issue 2, 2016, Pages 49-56, ISSN 2213-4530, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fshw.2016.04.001. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300362)
3. Rockwood JL, Anderson BG, Casamatta DA. Potential uses of Moringa oleifera and an examination of antibiotic efficacy conferred by M. oleifera seed and leaf extracts using crude extraction techniques available to underserved indigenous populations. International Journal of Phytotherapy Research. 2013 Jan;3(2):61-71. https://powerherbs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/moringa-pdf.pdf
4. Vergara-Jimenez M, Almatrafi MM, Fernandez ML. Bioactive Components in Moringa Oleifera Leaves Protect against Chronic Disease. Antioxidants (Basel). 2017;6(4):91. Published 2017 Nov 16. doi:10.3390/antiox6040091  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745501/
5. Waterman C, Rojas-Silva P, Tumer TB, et al. Isothiocyanate-rich Moringa oleifera extract reduces weight gain, insulin resistance, and hepatic gluconeogenesis in mice. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015;59(6):1013-1024. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201400679 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25620073/