Description
Moringa oleifera, known popularly as drumstick tree, is a tropical plant grown for its nutritious leafy greens, flower buds, and mineral-rich green fruit pods.
Health benefits of moringa:
Food scientists believe that moringa plant possesses unique nutritional qualities that hold promise to millions of impoverished communities around the world who in need of dietary supplements like protein, minerals, and vitamins.
Moringa greens (leaves) are an excellent source of protein which is a unique feature for any herbs and leafy greens in the entire plant kingdom. 100 g of fresh raw leaves carry 9.8 g of protein or about 17.5% of daily required levels. Dry, powdered leaves indeed are an excellent sources source of several quality amino acids.
Fresh pods and seeds are an excellent source of oleic acid, a health-benefiting monounsaturated fat. Moringa, as a high-quality oilseed crop, can be grown alternatively to improve nutrition levels of populations in many drought-prone regions of Africa and Asia.
Fresh leaves and growing tips of moringa are the richest sources of vitamin A. 100 g of fresh leaves carry 7564 IU or 252% of daily required levels of vitamin-A! Vitamin-A is one of the fat-soluble anti-oxidant offering several benefits, including mucosal repair, maintenance of skin integrity, vision, and immunity.
Fresh moringa (drumstick) pods and leaves are an excellent sources of vitamin-C. 100 g of pods contain 145 µg or 235% of daily required levels of vitamin-C. 100 g of greens provide 51.7 µg or 86% of daily-recommended intake values of this vitamin. Research studies have shown that consumption of fruits/vegetables rich in vitamin C helps the body develop immunity to combat infectious agents, and scavenge harmful oxygen-free radicals from the body.
The greens, as well as pods, also contain good amounts of many vital B-complex vitamins such as folates, vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and niacin. Much of these vitamin functions as co-enzymes in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism.
Furthermore, its greens (leaves) are one of the finest sources of minerals like calcium, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, and magnesium. Iron alleviates anemia. Calcium is essential for bone mineralization. Zinc plays a vital role in hair growth, spermatogenesis, and skin health.
Moringa (drumstick) pods and leaves, raw, Nutritive value per 100 g. Percentages of daily-recommended values are marked in brackets. (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
Principle Nutrient value-Pods Nutrient value-Leaves
Energy 37 Kcal (2%) 64 Kcal (3%)
Carbohydrates 8.53 g (6.5%) 8.28% (6%)
Protein 2.10 g (4%) 9.40 g (17%)
Total Fat 0.20 g (1%) 1.40% (7%)
Cholesterol 0 mg (0%) 0 mg (0%)
Dietary Fiber 3.2 g (8%) 2.0 g (5%)
Vitamins
Folates 44 µg (11%) 40 µg (10%)
Niacin 0.680 mg (4%) 2.220 mg (14%)
Pyridoxine 0.120 mg (9%) 1.200 mg (92%)
Riboflavin 0.074 mg (6%) 0.660 mg (51%)
Thiamin 0.053 mg (4.5%) 0.257 mg (21.5%)
Vitamin A 74 IU (2.5%) 7564 IU (252%)
Vitamin C 141mg (235%) 51.7 mg (86%)
Electrolytes
Sodium 42 mg (3%) 9 mg (0.5%)
Potassium 461 mg (10%) 337 mg (7%)
Minerals
Calcium 30 mg (3%) 185 mg (18.5%)
Iron 0.36 mg (4.5%) 4.00 mg (50%)
Magnesium 45 mg (11%) 147 mg (37%)
Phosphorus 50 mg (9%) 112 mg (20%)
Selenium 8.2 µg (15%) 0.9 µg (1.5%)
Zinc 0.45 mg (4%) 0.60 mg (5%)
