The Nutritive Powers Of Moringa Oleifera Leaves

The Nutritive Powers Of Moringa Oleifera Leaves

“Moringa oleifera is a rich source of antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E that aid in fighting every day stress”

Moringa oleifera is native to India and is commonly called the ‘drumstick tree.’ It has been studied to have high medicinal value, nutrition and pharmacological properties. It has been typically used as a potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic and anti-microbial agent. Hence, here are the nutritive properties of drumstick leaves:

  • They are a rich source of calcium. Eight ounces of milk can provide 300-400 milligrams of calcium, 200 grams Moringa leaves can provide 1000 milligrams calcium! Calcium is required not only to keep bones healthy, but also to enable muscle contraction and to maintain blood pressure.
  • The leaves are also a rich source of iron and can be a substitute for iron tablets, especially for the iron deficiency ailment, anemia. 100 grams of Moringa leaves powder can provide 28 milligrams of iron, which is equal to the recommended dietary allowances of adult females. It is also a rich source of zinc which is important mineral for muscle building as well as for regulating various metabolic pathways.
  • Moringa leaves are low to moderate in calories as loo grams fresh drumstick leaves contain only 92 calories, while providing 6.7 grams protein, 12.5 grams carbohydrates and 1.7 grams of tat. These leaves can be added to many foods like vegetables, soups, in form of salad, in parathas and theplas, in making saag, in dals etc.
  • It is rich in phytochemicals such as tannins, sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, anthraquinones etc. and phytochemicals are important to keep inflammation at bay. It is through these properties that drumstick leaves help in lowering abnormal blood lipids.
    Moringa leaves are rich in anti- cancerous agents like glucosinolates, isothiocynates, glycoside compounds etc. and is said to prevent vanous forms of cancer.
  • It is also a rich source of antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C (100 grams fresh leaves have 220 milligrams) and vitamin E (100 grams fresh leaves have 448 milligrams) that aids in fighting every day stress.
  • Moringa seed oil is also a rich source of poly unsaturated fatty acids like omega 6 and omega 3 which is again important to reduce an abnormal rise in blood lipids.
  • Moringa leaves are also rich in other nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, copper, folate, pyridoxine and niacin.

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