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The ‘Miracle’ Plant Moringa Can Supercharge Your Smoothies With Extra Vitamins

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If you haven’t heard much about moringa health benefits, expect that to change very soon. Moringa is the latest superfood causing quite a stir among health enthusiasts, and when you find out about all the nutrients it has to offer, you’ll want a taste as well. 

What is moringa?

Moringa is a plant native to South Asia but grown worldwide — and for good reason. The healthy piece of produce is pretty much the definition of multi-purpose, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Moringa’s leaves, roots, and seed pods can be consumed as vegetable products. Meanwhile, its seeds can be roasted and powdered to make tea or curries, or can even be transformed into a sweet, non-sticking oil. 

While moringa trees are often found in more tropical areas around the world, the online availability of moringa seeds, powder, and supplements make this plant much more accessible to people in colder climates. And that’s great news for those of us who are bundling up for a chilly winter season at the moment. Considering how many moringa benefits exist, it’s no wonder the moringa tree is often referred to as a “miracle” tree instead.

Moringa Health Benefits

Moringa is so packed with benefits that it’s hard to keep track of them all. According to a review published in Food Science and Human Wellness, moringa can reportedly provide seven times more vitamin C than oranges, 10 times more vitamin A than carrots, nine times more protein than yogurt, and a whopping 17 times more calcium than milk. Moringa even has an advantage over the ever-popular leafy green spinach: It boasts 25 times more iron than the famous salad ingredient.

Most of the benefits of moringa come from the leaves, pods, and seeds, but it’s worth noting that all parts of the plant can be edible. According to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the bark and roots of moringa are thought to have medicinal properties and have been used in a wide variety of folk remedies over the years. Although more research is needed on the medicinal effectiveness of moringa, some studies suggest anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects can come from the leaf, seed, and root extracts.

How to Use Moringa

Unless you live somewhere that’s super warm (lucky you!), it’s probably not realistic to grow your own moringa tree and pluck the leaves right off in your own backyard. But the good news is that you can still reap many of the benefits of the plant in powder or supplement form. The seeds also make a great convenient snack to have on hand.

Consider purchasing moringa powder such as MAJU’s Organic Moringa Powder ($18.99, Amazon), and using it to boost your morning smoothies with even more nutrients than usual. If you prefer a more old-school munch, you can also purchase a bag of whole moringa seeds like Moringa Seeds by Betel Natural ($9.95, Amazon). After removing the shells of the seeds, you can either eat them on their own or use them as a savory topping for a yogurt snack. With your health practitioner’s OK, you could even potentially take a moringa supplement such as Organic Moringa 180 Capsules ($18.95, Amazon).

Who knows? Perhaps you’ll even come up with your own creative uses for moringa that haven’t even been thought of before. You never know until you try!

Next, learn about the tastiest superfoods that can help you live longer in the video below:

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