Moringa health benefits

Whether you’re starting a new plan or want to incorporate fresh ingredients in your lifestyle, you might be wondering whether you should add moringa to your routine.

This nutrient-rich plant is known for its health benefits. Still, it is really worth sprinkling a pinch of moringa powder into your morning smoothie? We’ve got all you need to know below.

What is moringa?

Moringa goes by many names. You might have heard it called a drumstick tree, horseradish tree or, even a ben oil tree. Its full name is moringa oleifera, and you’ll most commonly hear it referred to only as ‘moringa’ when you’re browsing the health food aisles.¹ Moringa is a plant that’s native to North India. Most of the plant is edible, although it’s the leaves that are usually considered most nutritious.² We typically see moringa in powdered form or added to supplements. You can also buy moringa tea and dried (or fresh) moringa leaves at some health shops as well as moringa oil.³

What are the nutritional benefits of moringa?

Moringa is often dubbed the world’s most useful tree, and it’s easy to see why. Every part of this unique plant is packed with a variety of valuable nutrients, which could make it a great addition to your diet.

Moringa includes:

• Vitamins A, B, C, D and E
• Minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper
• Folic acid, pyridoxine and nicotinic acid
• Fibre⁴

These nutrients could all help to support your overall health and wellbeing. With this in mind, some moringa health benefits can include:

• Reduced inflammation
• Improved heart health
• Stabilised blood sugar
• Liver repair
• Better lung function
• Better digestion
• Improved skin health⁵

It’s worth bearing in mind that more research is needed to identify precisely how moringa can help with health and wellbeing. Remember that incorporating moringa into your diet won’t be a magic cure. However, anecdotal evidence does suggest it can be beneficial.⁶

How can you use moringa?

If you are keen to try out moringa health benefits for yourself, moringa powder is the most commonly available form of the plant. It tends to have a mild, slightly bitter, flavour that complements sweet or savoury dishes.⁷

You could try using moringa powder in the following ways:

• Sprinkled over salads or soups
• Blended into smoothies and sauces
• Stirred into juices
• Baked into brownies, cookies, cakes or bread⁸

If you try a different form of moringa, like dried or fresh leaves, you could steep this into tea or try it stir-fried with other healthy ingredients.

What are the potential risks of using moringa?

While there is a range of reported moringa health benefits, it’s essential to think about the potential side effects or risks too.

Research is limited for the use of moringa, and it’s always important to talk to your doctor before adding supplements to your diet. This is especially important if you take medication, as we don’t know how using moringa could interact with your treatment plan.

You might be best avoiding moringa if you:

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Have diabetes
• Have a liver condition
• Are taking blood pressure medication
• Are taking thyroid medication⁹

Like with any supplement or ingredient, stop taking moringa if you notice any unwanted side effects or problems.

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Last updated: 23 October 2020