THE POWER OF MORINGA TREE

MORINGA OLEIFERA.

Imaging a tree in your backyard that will meet all your nutritional needs, take care of  you medicinally, and purity your water for you and add money to your pockets. This tree actually exists. For centuries, the natives if northern India and many parts of Africa have known of the many benefits of Moringa oliefera. Its uses are as unique as the names it is known by, such as clarifier tree, horseradish tree and drumstick tree (referring to the large drumstick hasped pods) and in East Africa it is called “mother’s best friend”. Virtually every part of the tree can be used. Native only to the foothills of the Himalays, it is now widely cultivated in Africa, Central and South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia and the Philippines. This tree, though little known in the Western world, is nutritional dynamite. There are literally hundreds of uses for the this tree.

http://dc7bdvpey2aucz3a1b27i3ya11.hop.clickbank.net/

Moringa oleifera is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Moringa, which is the only genus in the family Moringaceae. English common names include Moringa. It is also known as drumstick tree, from the appearance of the long, slender, triangular seed pods. The tree itself is rather slender, with drooping branches that grow to approximately 10m in height. In cultivation, it is often cut back annually to 1 – 2 meters and allowed to regrow so the pods and leaves remain within arm’s reach.

In development countries, Moringa has potential to improve nutrition, boost food security, foster rural development sustainable landcare. It may be used as forage for livestock, a micronutrient liquid, a natural anthelmintic and possible adjuvant.

India is the largest producer of Moringa, with an annual production of 1.1 to 1.3 million tones of tender fruit from an of 380 km². Among the states, Nadhra Pradesh leads in both area and production (156.65 km²) followed by Karnataka (102.8 km²) and Tamil Nadu (74.08 km² ). In other state in so much as it has varied genotypes from the diversified geographical areas and introductions from Sri Lanka,

Moringa is growing in home gardens and as living fences in Thailand, where it is commonly sold in local markets. In the Philippines, it is commonly grown for its leaves, which are used in soup Maringa is also actively cultivated by the World Vegetable Center in Taiwan, a center for vegetable research with a mission to reduce poverty and malnutrition in development countries through improved production and consumption of vegetables.

It is also widely cultivated in Africa, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Sri Lanka.

Cultivation

In the Philippines, Moringa is propagated by planting 1 - 2m- long limbs cuttings preferably from June to August. The plant starts bearing pods 6 -8 months after planting, but regular bearing commences after the second years, continuing for several years. It can also be propagated by seeds, which are planted an inch below the surface and can be germinated year-round in well-draining soil.

As with all plants, optimum cultivation depends on producing the right environment for the plant to thrive. Moringa is sun and heat-loving plant, and thus does not tolerate freeze or frost.

Moringa is particularly suitable for dry regions, as it can be grown using rainwater without expensive irrigation techniques.

Many parts of the moringa are edible. Regional used of the moringa as food vary widely, and include:

Mature seeds

Oil pressed from the mature seeds

Roots

In some regions, the young seed pods most are most commonly eaten, while in others, the leaves are the most commonly used part of the plant. The flowers are edible when cooked and are said to taste like mushrooms. The bark, sap, roots, leaves seeds, oil, and flowers are used in traditional medicine in several countries. In Jamaica, the sap is used for a blue dye.

Drumstick

The immature seed pods, called “drumstick”, are commonly consumed in south Asia. They are prepare by parboiling, and cooked pods are particularly high in vitamin C.

Leaves

The leaves are most nutritious part of the plant being a significant source of vitamin B6, vitamin C, provitamin A as beta-carotene, magnesium and protein, among other nutrients reported by the USDA, shown in the table, right column. When compared with common foods particularly high in certain nutrients, fresh moringa leaves are considerable sources of these same nutrients.

Seeds

The seeds, sometimes removed from more mature pods and eaten like peas or roasted like nuts, contain high level of vitamin C and moderate amounts of B vitamins and dietary minerals (right table, USDA).

Seed oil

Mature seeds yield 38 – 40% edible oil called ben oil from its high concentration of behenic acid. The refined oil is clear, odorless and resists rancidity. The seed cake remaining after oil extraction may be used as a fertilizer or as a flocculent to purity water. Moringa seed oil has potential for use as bio fuel.

www.coolcurrency.blogspot.com

Roots
The roots are shredded and used as a condiment in the same way as horseradish; however, they contain an alkaloid, potentially having nerve-paralyzing properties.
Fighting Malnutrition with Moringa.

In developing tropical countries Moringa trees have been used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers. Three non-governmental organizations in particular–Trees for Live, Church World Service and Educational concerns for Hunger Organization – advocate Moringa as “natural nutrition for the tropics.” Leaves can be eaten fresh, cooked, or stored as dried powder for many months without refrigeration, and without loss of nutritional value. Moringa is especially promising as a food source in the tropics because the tree is in full leaf as the end of the dry season. Analyses of the leaf conpositioin have revealed them to have significant quantities of vitamins A, B and c, calcium, iron and protein.

Accotding to Optima of Africa, Ltd., a group that has been working with the tree in Tanzatia, “2525 grams daily of Moringa Leaf Powder will give a child” the following recommended daily allowances:
Protein 42%, Calcium 125%, Magnesium 61%, Potassium 41%, Iron 71% Vitamin A 272%, and vitamin C 22%. These numbers are particularly astounding; considering this nutrition is available when other food sources may be scarce.
The Moringa tree has great use medicinally both as preventative and treatment. Much of the evidence is anecdotal as there has been little actual scientific research done to support these claims. India’s ancient tradition of ayurveda says the leaves of the Moringa tree prevent 300 diseases. 

One area in which there has been significant scientific research in the reported antibiotic.
This tree is truly a “miracle” tree offering hope; nutritionally, medicinally and economically to devastatingly poor 3rd world countries. It has just recently begun being used as a supplement in a juice form and in powdered leaf tablets.
The many uses of Moringa:

• Moringa contains the nine essential amino acids that you must get from food! Recent studies have shown that these are necessary to development a health human brain.

• Moringa leaves contain:
- 7 times the vitamin C in oranges
- 4 times the calcium in milk
- 4 times the vitamin a in carrots
- 2 times the protein in milk
- 3 time the potassium in banana
- 3 times the iron in spinach
- One established, it sends a tap root down to the water table making it brought tolerant.
- It is a nitrogen fixer and can be used as a fertilizer
- It is a livestock feed
- It grows tall and lacy if left unchecked and so is good for forest gardening
. The seed is used to clarify water.
. The seed oil never goes rancid and is used in fine machinery
. The seed oil burns clean and so is a good source for heat and light
. Every part of the tree has beneficial properties. It is a sustainable food  source for third world countries where malnutrition is prevalent
. Moringa leaves could practically wipe out malnutrition in our Nation.

. They grow quickly even in poor soil and bloom eight months after planting.

www.bodyexercise.blogspot.com

. People in several countries have found that Moringa leaves are quite acceptable to taste, especially when added to common foods

 

Moringa Leave – Uses

• Leaves rubbed against the temple can relieve headachs.

• To stop bleeding from a shallow cut apply a poultice of fresh leaves.

• There is an anti-bacterial and ant-inflammatory effect when applies to wounds or insect bites.

• Extracts can be used against bacterial of fungal skin complaints.

• Leaf teats gastric ulcers and diarrhoea.

• Eating Moringa food products is good for those suffering from malnutrition due to the high protein and fibre content.

• Leaves treat fevers, bronchitis, eye and ear infections, inflammation of the mucus membrane

• The iron content of the leaves is high, and they are reportedly prescribed  for anemia in the Philippines.

• Dried Moringa leaves treat diarrhoea in Malawi, Africa.

• The powder ground from the seeds is also used in the treatment of scurvy skin disease (common bacterial infections of the skin).

The medicinal and nutritional benefits of moringa oliefera are just too numerous to mentiona and this has been the reason why it is called the Miracle plant of the century”

The demand for moringa oliefera both the leaves and seeds are rising everyday globally because of its many usefulness. According to Mrs. Feyi, she makes atleast N20,000 from Moringa sales weekly.

The export market for moringa products are very vast wide. The leaves of moringa plant can be dried and milled and sold, it can be made into tea, it can be cooked as spicach and can also be made as a beverage drink. It as against this background that forward looking investors are being encouraged to establish moringa plantation.