Move Over Matcha & Turmeric ! It's time to meet Moringa !

The Biggest Wellness Trend of 2018 ..there's a new green superfood that's about to rock your health world this year.

With every year comes a new haul of health fads and trends, 2018 is expected to shine on moringa, leaving matcha and turmeric in the background. 

This year's shift of interest is in a product that’s expected to have even stronger anti-inflammatory and general health benefits called Moringa Oleifera… know as the “Tree of Life” for its extraordinary vitamin and nutrient density. 

In Eastern countries it has been used for generations to treat and prevent diseases such as  diabetes, heart disease, anemia, arthritis, liver disease, and respiratory, skin, and digestive disorders.

Moringa has seven times the amount of vitamin C as an orange, four times the amount of Vitamin A than carrots, twenty-five times the amount of iron than spinach and is estimated to contain two grams of protein, Vitamin B6, Riboflavin and Magnesium which can affect different aspects of your health.  The powder even makes you feel fuller longer which can cause you to eat less throughout the day.

It's used as a traditional remedy for many ailments, and here are scientifically backed health benefits of consuming moringa leaf:

1. It is Nutrient Dense
Moringa is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It contains significant amounts of vitamin A, C, and E; calcium; potassium; and protein.

2. Free Radical Fighter 
Antioxidants fight free radicals, molecules that cause oxidative stress, cell damage, and inflammation.

Moringa contains antioxidants called flavonoids, polyphenols, and ascorbic acid in the leaves, flowers, and seeds.

A study found that leaf extracts had higher antioxidant activity, free-radical-scavenging capacity, and higher inhibition of lipid, protein, and DNA oxidation than flowers and seeds.

This means it prevents the damage and degradation that free radicals cause in the cells of different organs in the body, keeping them healthy and functioning at their best.

3. Anti-inflammatory 
Inflammation can lead to chronic diseases like diabetes, respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and obesity. Moringa reduces inflammation by suppressing inflammatory enzymes and proteins in the body, and moringa leaf concentrate can significantly lower inflammation in the cells.

4. Diabetes / High Blood Sugar 
Moringa leaf powder has been effective at reducing lipid and glucose levels and regulating oxidative stress in diabetic patients, which means it lowers blood sugar and cholesterol and improves protection against cell damage.

5.  Cardiovascular Benefits 
Moringa leaf powder has heart-healthy benefits, particularly in blood lipid control, the prevention of plaque formation in the arteries, and reduced cholesterol levels.

6. Boosts Brain Health 
Moringa supports brain health and cognitive function because of its antioxidant and neuro-enhancer activities. It's also been tested as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease with favorable preliminary results.

Its high content of vitamins E and C fight oxidation that leads to neuron degeneration, improving brain function. It’s also able to normalize the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline in the brain, which play a key role in memory, mood, organ function, responses to stimulus such as stress and pleasure, and mental health, for example in depression and psychosis.

7. Liver Protective 
Moringa contains high concentrations of polyphenols in its leaves and flowers that protect the liver against oxidation, toxicity, and damage.

Moringa can reduce liver damage and fibrosis and reverse oxidation in the liver. Moringa oil can also restore liver enzymes to normal levels, reducing oxidative stress, and increasing protein content in the liver.

8. Has Antimicrobial and Antibacterial properties.
Moringa has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that fight infections. It's been effective against types of fungi that cause infections on skin and strains of bacteria responsible for blood and urinary tract infections and digestive problems.

9. Enhances Wound Healing.
Moringa has blood-clotting properties in its leaves, roots, and seeds that benefit wound healing and can reduce clotting time, which means it reduces the time it takes for scratches, cuts, or wounds to stop bleeding.

How to Use It
You can drink it as a tea or add moringa powder to your smoothie. The leaf powder was deemed safe in human studies, even in larger doses than normal. The powder has a mild flavor, so it makes for a light moringa tea with a slightly earthy taste.
But you might want to stay clear of seed extract consumption, as they have shown a level of toxicity in immune cells.

Moringa can have laxative effects in large quantities, so a safe dose to introduce it into your food or diet and avoid digestive problems is ½ to 1 teaspoon per day.