Do you believe in miracles?

Miracles need not always be supernatural. God has scattered His wonder works everywhere. If we're just careful to look around, we're bound to discover a lot of them. Like Moringa. Moringa is a real miracle. Since I was a kid and up to now, I've always loved Moringa leaves. In Manila we call them "Malunggay." It's a tropical green leafy vegetable, often seen as clustered tiny leaves attached through thin stems to soft and slender branches. Some people cook and eat even these branches. They're cheap--selling at P5 per bundle. A bundle is enough to feed a family of 4.

Moringa is packed with micro nutrients. Just imagine: you get beta carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron, and potassium from it. Philippine government experts claim that a meal of this veggie is equal to 4 glasses of milk in terms of calcium, 7 oranges in terms of Vitamin C, 3 bananas in terms of potassium, has iron 3 times that of spinach, Vitamin A 4 times that of carrots, and protein double of what milk offers. It's a super veggie. And it's easy to grow--just cut an adult branch from a tree, thrust it deep enough in the ground, water daily and, presto, it'll sprout the precious leaves in no time. When it's fully grown, the more you harvest, the more leaves it will grow. Fantastic! Miraculous!

Cooked Moringa

Moringa is often stewed with chicken or pork. Simply saute chopped garlic, onions, and ginger in a small amount of cooking oil, add chicken or pork pieces in this, saute some more, pour in enough water, and then the Moringa leaves (without the stems). When they're cooked, Moringa leaves taste a lot better than spinach or bok choy.

Some people make soothing and refreshing tea drinks out of boiled Moringa. It's a perfect drink if you have sore throat. Simply wash the leaves and stems, even the branches if you want a more nutritious tea, boil and pour in a cup. It tastes like sweet corn. Some folks I know add in some salt and powder pepper, and it turns into a super health soup perfect with rice or just a steaming stew during cold days.

Moringa leaves is perfect with stewed shellfish, fish, boiled green seeds, sardines, as an omelet, or just as a plain sauteed dish. Better yet, juice it with its stems and branches in a mechanized juicer. You may mix the thick, dark juice with some apple or carrot juice. Now, imagine what super nutrition you'd get from that!

The pant also produces an elongated green fruit with lots of seeds in it. When cooked, this fruit tastes very delicious. And unlike other seeds, this seed not only is safe for those with arthritis, it actually cures the ailment. A favorite way to cook the seeds is to mix them with other vegetables and boiled with some pork, ginger, and a small amount of "bagoong" or small fish preserved in salt.

Medicinal Value

Cooked with chicken soup, it's a powerful concoction against colds, fever, and flu. Herbal experts say it heals a lot of ailments and helps powerfully in treating diabetes, cancer, and other diseases. Some use it to increase mother's milk when breastfeeding babies. The leaves, seeds, and oil are used in some places as traditional herbal medicine. It is even used for sexual virility, like when you have erectile dysfunction. It is said to be a promising power food source to help obliterate malnutrition in poor countries.

As Delicacies

Some folks in Manila cook Moringa as cakes, candies, jams, or sweets like pulboron--a flavored and hardened milk powder and cooked flour. So, instead of flour, some use refined Moringa. I find them better tasting than regular pulboron. And because it has similar properties as flour some use it to make noodles and bread. Like a genuine supernatural miracle, Moringa has lots of possibilities. The seeds are even made into biofuel that is definitely environment-friendly.

My Health Booster

I'm always interested in natural health booster foods that are quite cheap and easily available. For instance, periodically I eat boil Saluyot and drink the brew as well. Saluyot is as cheap as Moringa. It's a super Vitamin A source and has plenty of fiber and anti-cancer and anti-aging properties. At times I alternate this with boiled Moringa, especially when I feel the need for some extra energy boost.

Do miracles still happen? A lot. Especially with Moringa around and very affordable, there's no limit to what health and healing miracles are possible.