Health Benefits of Malunggay – the Miracle Tree

Long considered as the poor man’s vegetable, malunggay has been used for ages to combat hunger and malnutrition in many parts of Southeast and South Asia, Africa, as well as Central and South America.

It is easily grown in backyards with little care or bought cheaply in bulk at wet markets.

Many scientific studies about this humble gift from nature led to the conclusion that this poor man’s vegetable is actually a powerhouse of health benefits.

Know How to Enjoy Malunggay

• Malunggay Dessert Recipes – Cook and Eat the Healthiest Vegetable as Sweets

Malunggay earned the moniker Miracle Tree, for almost all of its parts have therapeutic and medicinal values. Some of its notable nutritional values include:

• 7x the Vitamin C in Oranges
• 4x the Calcium in Milk
• 4x the Vitamin a in Carrots
• 3x the Potassium in Bananas
• 3x the Iron of Spinach
• 2x the Protein in Milk
• 2x the Protein in Yogurt

Malunggay has also earned the name Nature’s Medicine Cabinet because of it has 90 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, 36 anti-inflammatory properties, 18 amino acids, anti-cancer properties, anti-bacterial properties, anti-aging properties, properties that keep bad cholesterol in check, omega-3 oils, and chlorophyll.

Some of malunggay’s myriad of vitamins and minerals include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B3
• Vitamin B5
• Vitamin B6
•  Vitamin B12
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Biotin
• Calcium
• Copper
• Flavonoids
• Iron
• Lutein
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Protein
• Zinc

If taken regularly, malunggay can nourish the body in the following ways:

• It keeps sugar levels in check, thereby keeping diabetes at bay.
• It boosts immunity and has been used to help AIDS patients increase their abilities to fight diseases.
• It lowers bad cholesterol and improves cardiovascular health.
• It speeds up metabolism and enhances digestion, helping people shed pounds, stop from becoming obese, and maintain a healthy weight.
• It aids the liver and kidneys filter harmful substances in the body that can become toxic and life-threatening.
• It has been used to control the growth of cancer cells through its anti-cancer properties.
• It protects the eyes and ears from developing disorders. It has been used to prevent blindness and poor eyesight.
• It has antibacterial-properties and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used on skin to fight acne, skin imperfections, and other forms of lesions.
• It helps produce breast milk for lactating mothers, lowering the need for expensive and commercially packaged milk.
• It has been used to naturally purify water, helping provide people with safe drinking water.

The health benefits of malunggay have been known to people for ages, as early as 5,000 years ago in Indian medicine.

In traditional medicine, it has been used for many purposes, including:

• acne and skin infections
• blood impurities and high blood pressure
• cough, fever, respiratory ailments, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and malaria
• diabetes
• diarrhea
• eye and ear disorders
• hysteria, anxiety, and headaches
• pregnancy and lactation
• psoriasis
• tumors, swelling, sores, sprains, and joint pains
• urinary disorders
• wounds

To take advantage of the many preventive and healing powers of malunggay, it is best to consume it daily by adding it into foods or drinking it as tea.

People can also take in malunggay supplements, about 2 tablets per day, to take advantage of all its natural health benefits.

Another way for people to use malunggay is to mix its powder with liquids like beverages and soups.

Malunggay can also be included in cooking oils and breads.

Many beauty companies, knowing the antioxidant properties of malunggay, have used it in the manufacturing of face washes, body washes, soaps, shampoos, lotions, and creams.

There are about 13 kinds or species of malunggay, which is known across the world as horseradish tree, mlonge, moonga, saijhan, sajna, or benolive tree.

These species include:

1. moringa arborea
2. moringa borziana
3. moringa concanensis
4. moringa drouhardii
5. moringa hildebrandtii
6. moringa longituba
7. moringa olefeira
8. moringa ovalifolia
9. moringa peregrina
10. moringa pygmaea
11. moringa rivae
12. moringa ruspoliana
13. moringa stenopetala

Copyright © 2011 Kerlyn Bautista

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