Magical Moringa tree

THE MAGICAL MORINGA TREE
I was very recently down in Durban, and coz you can't get country living out of me (even in a city) I had to take the opportunity of waking early and visiting the Shongweni Farmers Market in KZN.  It is only open from 6:30am till 10am!  What a wonderful experience.  Lots of adorable dogs, laughing children, people in gumboots, hay bales, and the smell of wonderful fresh produce.

Whilst strolling the market I came across a stall selling Moringa trees.  I was given the spiel all about how fabulously miraculous the Moringa tree is.  Well of course with my complete fascination in healing plants I just had to get one, then Google it later to see if what they say it is is actually what it is....  Jenny at the stall encouraged me to taste some leaves... and mmm.. yummy, a bit like baby spinach.  They can be added fresh to salads or to soups etc.  Jenny also made a tea from drying and crushing the leaves, which can then be put in a coffee plunger to get a very nutritious tea.  Then low and behold when I get home to the bush, one of the blogs I follow: Faithful to Nature  has a little write up all about this tree that I had only just heard about.






Latin name: 
Moringa Oleifera

Edible parts: 
Leaves, flowers, roots, pods and seeds










Nutritional Benefits:
The tree boasts a long list of Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, protein, anti-oxidants,
Vitamins:

Vitamin A (Arginine Carotene)       

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)    

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)           

Vitamin C            

Vitamin E

Vitamin K

Mineral Contents

Calcium

Copper  

Iron       

Magnesium         

Phosphorus        

Potassium           

Zinc       

Amino acids Contents

Arginine

Histidine              

Isoleucine            

Leucine 

Lysine   

Methionine         

Phenylalinine      

Threonine            

Tryptophan         

Valine   

Other Nutritional Values

Calories

Carbohydrates    

Protein 

Fibers    

Fat         

Antioxidant Properties

Health Benefits:

This is what the Moringa tree is reported to help heal:

- Increase the body's immune system

- Promotes a healthy circulation system

- Promotes a healthy cell structure in the body

- Helps in stabilizing Diabetes

- Supports normal blood glucose levels

- Natural anti-aging benefits

- Calms, moisturizers and nourishes the skin

- Anti-Inflammatory support

- Helps in reducing arthritis

- Promotes healthy digestion

- Promotes energy

- Decreases anxiety, depression and sleep related disorders

- Heightens mental clarity

- Naturally increases energy

My References and Additional Further Reading:

Please have a look at my Books and references page for where I got a lot of  the info for this post. 

This post links to:
Healing Plants and Recipes pinterest
Naturally Living Mamma
Natural Living Linkup
The Prairie Homestead

Terrific Tuesdays
Not so Wordless Wednesday
Whole Foods Wednesdays