Moringa Plant
All about the moringa plant
The moringa plant is a vegetable tree that some call the miracle tree because of its numerous healthy properties. For example, the leaves of the moringa plant are about 40 percent protein, something that’s almost unheard of when you’re talking about vegetables. In fact, it’s believed to have a higher protein ratio than any other plant. The quality of the protein find in the moringa plant is similar to soy beans, although unlike soy, there have been no reports of allergies to it.
In addition to the vegetables provided by the leaves, the moringa tree also provides fruit. The fruit is a long, thin pod that resembles a drumstick. People in some parts of the world consider the fruit to be a delicacy. It’s cooked much like green beans and tastes a little bit like asparagus. Some people even remove the seeds from the pods and roast them like nuts or eat them like peas.
The flowers of the moringa tree are also edible. They taste very much like mushrooms. Some people even shred the roots of the moringa tree and use them as a condiment similar to horseradish. The powder from the plant is also used as a micronutrient to treat diseases in many different countries.
The moringa plant contains all nine of the essential amino acids you need to be healthy. It’s also a great source of all the vitamins you need, including Vitamins C and E. Just one ounce of leaves from the moringa plant gets more than 10 times your daily recommended amount of Vitamin E and your entire daily recommended amount of Vitamin C. There is also a large amount of beta-carotene, even more than carrots contain. The moringa plant is also a great source of all your major B vitamins.
Don’t forget the minerals you need every day. The moringa tree provides four times the amount of calcium found in milk. It’s also a very valuable source of iron and potassium.
Because of its numerous health benefits, many organizations are exploring the moringa tree as a valuable source of food for people in parts of the world where food is difficult to come by. Some of these organizations believe that the moringa tree is the answer to hunger all across the world. The leaves can be eaten fresh or cooked. They can also be stored as powder for months without refrigeration or loss of nutritional value. Researchers are studying the moringa tree as a valuable food source specifically for the tropics, where the tree grows very well and plentiful. It’s also in full leaf right at the end of the dry season in the tropics, which is when other plants there aren’t producing any food.
The best growing condition for the moringa tree is sandy soil, especially in semi-arid, tropical, and sub-tropical areas. The tree is native to the Himalayas in India, although it is wildly grown and cultivated in many parts of Africa, Central and South America, and Asia.