5 Amazing Benefits of a Plant You’ve Never Heard Of

We have all heard advice like this: “Go on a diet, exercise 3 times a week, don’t stress too much,” etc. But for some people those things are a lot easier said than done. Some people prefer to incorporate something easy into their daily routine because they know they can actually accomplish “easy.” They want to still be able to see and feel results, but they want to achieve that without having to make a lot of extra time for it. Is that even possible?

Introducing the Moringa plant. Originally native to South Asia, the Moringa plant (also known as the "miracle tree") is packed with protein, calcium, vitamin C, beta carotene, potassium, and many other nutrients. It comes as no surprise then, that it's been used for medicinal purposes for over 4,000 years.

Fast-growing and harvested year round, the Moringa plant is typically taken in leaf powder form and can be brewed as a tea or incorporated into a smoothie. You can also find cold-pressed moringa oil, but that is a lot more expensive than the powder. The pods, roots, bark, flowers, seeds and fruits of the Moringa plant are also edible. There is no doubt that Moringa is quickly becoming the newest "superfood" to include in your diet.

Here are just some of the many benefits you'll receive from taking a small dose of Moringa every day:

It's a powerful antioxidant

Antioxidants help fight "free radicals" that can cause cell damage and oxidative stress (which can contribute to heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and more). Because Moringa is rich in antioxidants it helps reduce inflammation and contributes to healthy cell regeneration. If you want clear, youthful looking skin, the Moringa plant will keep your skin wrinkle-free.

It’s rich in nutritional value

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a natural health expert, in just 100 grams of dry leaf powder the Moringa plant offers:

• 9 times the protein of yogurt
• 10 times the vitamin A found in carrots
• 15 times the potassium of bananas
• 17 times the calcium of milk
• 25 times the iron of spinach

It can lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels

High levels of blood sugar and cholesterol have been linked to increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. The leaf powder of the Moringa plant can lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels because it is extremely effective at reducing lipid and glucose levels in your body, much like flaxseeds, oats and almonds.

It increases your energy levels

The Moringa plant contains about 25 times the amount of iron found in spinach. Iron enriches your blood, carrying energy and oxygen to your muscles, organs and tissues.

Source Links:

http://www.treesforlife.org/our-work/our-initiatives/moringa