Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifera is a tree whose name is derived from the Tamil word Murungai, otherwise popularly known as drumstick tree in India. The moringa tree is fast growing, drought resistant, native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas in northwestern India. Today moringa is widely cultivated throughout Africa, Central and South America and many parts of Asia. But the most amazing fact of this plant is its nutrient content: from the roots to the sap, every part of the plant yields some health benefits. It has 46 types of antioxidants, 36 kinds of anti-inflammatories and a wealth of other beneficial compounds.

Morigna oleifera has been used by the traditional Indian medical system of Ayurveda as early as 150 BC to treat a wide variety of health problems such as arthritis, heart disease, bacterial, fungal and viral infections. It is difficult to avoid superlatives when describing Moringa’s value as a food source. It is rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron vitamin A and vitamin C. The leaves of this plant have high levels of a compound called beta-sitosterol known to lower cholesterol. Further, researchers have found that leaves have 2009mg of calcium per 100gm which is more calcium that 6 cups of milk. It also has 28mg of iron per 100gm- that is more that 7 oz of chicken liver. The flowers contain antioxidant substances called flavonids, such as quercetin, kaempferol, rhametin, isoquercitrin, and kaempferitrin, The plant’s root is rich in moringinem alkaloids that appear to have cardiac stimulant and hypertensive effects. It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. The seeds are anti-hypertensive and help protect the liver. Moringa gum is used as an abortifacient, to treat headaches, fever, dysentery, asthma and intestinal cancer.

Effective for:

• Antifungal and antibacterial properties
• Lowers the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
• Powerful antioxidant
• Promotes healthy circulatory system
• Promotes natural serum cholesterol
• Promotes the normal functioning of the liver and the kidney
• Provides anti-inflammatory support
• Strengthens the immune system
• Supports the normal sugar levels of the body

Supplements:

Supplement of moringa can be bought as a leaf or seed powder, oil and tea products 

Recommended Dose:

The appropriate dose of moringa depends on several factors such as the user’s age and health. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses.

Side effects and precautions:

• Moringa leaves, fruit and seeds might be safe when eaten as food. However, it’s important to avoid eating the root and its extracts. These parts of the plant may contain a toxic substance that can cause paralysis and death.
• It is unsafe to use moringa is you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Chemical in the root and flowers can make the uterus contract and this might cause a miscarriage.

Beneficial bacteria: where have the good bugs gone?

Louis Pasteur theorized long ago that having the right bacteria in the digestive tract was essential to good health. Today, research has proven Pasteur right. Each of us has more than 1000 different types of beneficial bacteria that live in our digestive tracts helping us to break down food and absorb nutrients. Additionally, beneficial bacteria help the body build long lasting immunity to a host of illnesses and disease, including allergies, irritable bowels, viruses, bacterial infections and cancer. In fact, the entire bacterial colony in our gut weighs up to 1.5 kg and is so fundamental to overall health that it has been referred to as the “forgotten organ”. Unfortunately, modern medicine has created a villain for these friendly and helpful bacteria, namely antibiotics. Antibiotics indiscriminately destroy both bad and good bacteria. The casual overuse upsets the digestive tract’s delicate bacterial balance giving an edge to more harmful microorganisms such as yeast for e.g. Candida albicans. Other disturbers of the bacterial balance are bad diet, stress, environmental chemicals- e.g. chlorine and fluoride added to tap water that have the nasty habit of killing off our beneficial bacteria.

Beneficial bacteria can help with treatment for nearly all bowel disorders including Crohn’s disease, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Candida albicans overgrowth. Constipation is perhaps the most common intestinal problem that stems from a bacterial imbalance Whenever a food allergy is felt to be behind a medical problem, probiotics (beneficial bacteria) will prove beneficial. Apart from beneficial bacteria helping disorders of the gut, they also influence other illnesses throughout the body. Arthritis for reason scientists fully don’t understand but the wrong bacteria in the digestive system can cause or worsen arthritis. Research has suggested that an overload of toxins in the digestive tract and liver could be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Harmful bacteria in the digestive tract create many toxins whose excess may kill brain and nerve cells in the body and in turn lead to these ailments. Hyperactivity in children may also be caused by such toxins.

There are many different kinds of beneficial bacteria, described here are the three well known ones- Lactobacillus acidophilus,  Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria primarily live in the small intestine. It is also found in the vagina. It inhibits the growth of the Candida albicans yeast, E.coli and other harmful bacteria. Bifidobacterium mainly resides in the large intestine. It contributes to lowering cholesterol levels, preventing food poisoning, helpful in combating lactose intolerance by digesting lactose and making many B vitamins. It also lowers blood levels of ammonia which is toxic to the body. Further, it offers body maximum protection against many strange or new bacteria that can cause traveler’s diarrhea. Lactobacillus bulgaricus: this probiotic stimulates the immune system more than acidophilus. In an encouraging study of one hundred cancer patients the bulgaricus strain known as LB-51 showed very impressive results as an adjunct treatment for a range of cancers. It enabled the patients to live long, stopped or slowed tumor growth, and halted the cancers spread through the body.

There are ways to support growth of beneficial bacteria. Eating fermented foods such as plain unflavored yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, kimchi, kombucha tea help as they contain lots of good bacteria. Eating foods with fiber helps as the beneficial bacteria in the large intestine feed on it. Avoiding alcohol, antibiotics, food high in sugar and minimizing stress help protect the health of beneficial bacteria. Taking high quality probiotic supplements can also help in maintaining good gut health. For maximum benefit consume the probiotic supplements regularly, at least once a week. The use of probiotic supplements is absolutely crucial if you have been on a course of broad-spectrum prescription antibiotics.