Moringa: A power house of nutritional value

Commonly known as Moringa Oleifera, the Moringa plant is a fast growing drought resistant tree that is native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas in North western India. It is being promoted as a means to combat poverty and malnutrition as experts agree that the long term solution to malnutrition is the use of […]

Commonly known as Moringa Oleifera, the Moringa plant is a fast growing drought resistant tree that is native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas in North western India. It is being promoted as a means to combat poverty and malnutrition as experts agree that the long term solution to malnutrition is the use of foods that are rich in the essential nutrients often lacking in people’s diets. However in relation to this, modern scientific research has proven that Moringa leaves are one of the richest sources of such nutrients. Every part of the tree is said to have beneficial properties although the leaves are the most nutritious part of the plant and are full of essential disease – preventing nutrients such as:
Vitamin A which acts as a shield against eye disease, skin disease, heart ailments, diarrhea and many other diseases.
Vitamin C which fights a host of illnesses including colds and flu.
Calcium which builds strong bones and teeth, and also helps prevents osteoporosis.
Potassium which is essential for the functioning of the brain and nerves.
Lastly protein which is the basic building block of all our body cells.
Scientific research has further proved that when compared with common foods particularly foods the leaves that are high in certain nutrients; fresh Moringa leaves are considerably greater sources of these same nutrients. They contain 7 times the vitamin C in oranges, 4 times the vitamin A in carrots, 4 times the calcium in milk, 3 times the potassium in bananas and 2 times the protein in yoghurt/milk. Thus, Moringa has enormous potential for benefitting humanity as it could improve human health, increase livestock’s weight gain and milk production (feeding the highly proteinous Moringa leaves to cattle has  being shown to increase weight gain by up to 32% and milk production by 43% – 65%) and also enhance plant growth and crop yields.
In developing countries, Moringa has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development and support sustainable land care.
People in several countries have found that Moringa leaves are quite acceptable to taste especially when added to common foods. All one has to do is remove the stems from the leaves and then cook the leaves as you would any other green leafy vegetable like Spinach. Countries like Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Phillipines and Thailand use Moringa seeds, leaves and stock in a variety of dishes ranging from soups, curries, rice omelets and solely as fruits and vegetable sides.
In Africa and Indonesia, Moringa leaves are given to nursing mothers in the belief that they increase lactation.
Moringa is a sun and heat loving plant; it grows best in dry sandy soil and tolerates poor soil including coastal areas. Thus it does not tolerate freeze or frost.
Adanna is of the Mass Communication Department, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.