Malunggay Scientific Name : Moringa Oleifera
Also known as: "Malunggáy" in Philippines, "Sajina" in India, "Shojne" in Bengal, "Munagakaya" in Telugu, "Shenano" in Rajasthani, "Shevaga" in Marathi, "Nuggekai" in Kannada, "Drumstick Tree, Horse Radish Tree, Ben Oil Tree" in English, "La mu" in Chinese.
Malunggay
(Moringa Oleifera), is a popular plant known for nutritional value as
well as a herbal medicine. Malunggay is a plant that grows in the
tropical climates such as the Philippines, India and Africa. Malunggay
is widely used as vegetable ingredient in cooking, as herbal medicine
for a number of illness and other practical uses. The Malunngay plant
can grow to as high as 9 meters with erect white trunks. The compund
leaf has about 3 to 9 leaflets. Malunggay has white fragrant flowers
that pruduces long pods with 3-angled winged seeds.
Malunggay
may be propagated by planting its seeds about an inch in the ground or
matured malunggay stem cuttings of about 3 feet in length may also be
planted into the ground. Planted malunggay cuttings grows faster
compared to planted seeds.Malunggay - Miracle Tree
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- Nature's Medicine Cabinet
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
-
How Malunggay Nourishes Us
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.
