Moringa (Drumstick Leaves ) Tea

Health Benefits of Moringa Tea

1. May Help Combat Malnutrition

In Asia and Africa, the moringa tree is often called “the tree of life” or “the miracle tree”. That’s because the nutritional content and hardiness of the drought-resistant tree make it a great candidate as a staple food in the most impoverished regions. The plant can be used to feed livestock and may even be used for water purification in certain instances.

For many poor countries, civilians suffer from a lack of nutrition. This may be due to a host of factors including war, lack of clean water, poor cultivating soils, and little access to nutritious foods. Moringa leaves are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that may help combat hunger and enable undernourished individuals to increase their body weight.

In addition, cultivating moringa trees can help create new jobs. The tree grows so quickly, it can be harvested every month. The trees are so hardy, they do not need to be fertilized, further making the cultivation of this crop attractive in impoverished nations.

It’s important to note that some moringa products such as moringa oleifera leaf extract and moringa leaf powder are less potent than the raw or cooked leaves. To combat malnutrition, the leaves are generally consumed raw or cooked and served similarly to cooked spinach.

2. Packed With Antioxidants

Moringa leaves are chock full of antioxidants that have been shown to offer a range of health benefits. Antioxidants help to eliminate free radicals in the body and prevent the onset of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been linked to serious diseases from heart disease to Alzheimer’s disease and certain types of cancer.

Antioxidants in moringa leaves include beta-carotene and vitamin C. The antioxidant activity of these ingredients has been linked to better immune health both in animal studies and human trials. Moringa leaves also contain quercetin — an antioxidant that may help reduce high blood pressure in certain individuals. In addition, moringa leaves contain chlorogenic acid, which research shows may help regulate blood sugar levels.

3. May Lower Inflammation

Inflammation is an essential response to stimuli in the body. Chronic inflammation; however, can cause serious health issues including high blood pressure, chronic pain, and higher risk of stroke.

Most vegetables and plant products contain anti-inflammatory compounds. These compounds are classified differently based on their chemical composition and some have been shown to be more effective than other sin reducing inflammation.

Moringa tea and moringa powder contain inflammation-fighting agents known as isothiocyanates. A small animal study published in Pharmaceutical Biology found that moringa extract helped to reduce pain caused by inflammation. Two subsequent lab studies found that phenolic glycosides and other compounds in moringa demonstrated immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities.

4. May Inhibit Arsenic Toxicity

In many impoverished nations, arsenic is a major problem when it comes to the water supply. The chemical may also leach into groundwater and contaminate food crops. Arsenic toxicity symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, and watery or bloody diarrhea. Acute arsenic poisoning can be fatal by causing complete organ failure.

A few small studies have shown promise in the use of moringa to prevent arsenic poisoning. These studies have largely been conducted in controlled lab experiments and on small rodent studies. More research is needed to establish the use of moringa as a treatment for arsenic toxicity.

One study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine found that dietary supplementation with moringa leaves inhibited the triglyceride and glucose increases associated with arsenic. The leaves also inhibited cholesterol changes typically witnessed during arsenic poisonings in mice.

A second animal study published in Environmental toxicology and Pharmacology found that moringa seed powder exhibited therapeutic effects on rats suffering from arsenic poisoning. The moringa seed helped to restore healthy glutathione levels an reactive oxygen species in the rat’s blood.