Moringa General Health Benefits

Moringa oleifera, also known as “the tree of life,” is a plant that has been praised for its health benefits for thousands of years. Think of moringa as a widely cultivated vegetable with nutritional properties found in most green foods, only better. Traditionally, it was used to cure wounds, pain, ulcers, liver disease, heart disease, cancer, and inflammation.
The National Library of Medicine classifies Moringa an important herbal plant due to its immense medicinal and non-medicinal benefits. My unscientific review aims to provide insight into its commercial applications.

Moringa as a Superfood

The leaves derived from the moringa tree are considered a “super food” by many, though virtually all parts of the moringa tree are consumable. Essentially, every component of the moringa tree can be cultivated, including the leaves, flowers, roots, branches and bark, pods, seeds, and the oil derived from them.

Moringa leaves are an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals.¹ One cup (21 grams) of fresh, chopped leaves contains:

Protein: 2 grams
Vitamin B6: 19% of the RDA
Vitamin C: 12% of the RDA
Iron: 11% of the RDA
Riboflavin (B2): 11% of the RDA
Vitamin A (from beta-carotene): 9% of the RDA
Magnesium: 8% of the RDA

So far, scientists have only investigated a fraction of moringa’s many reputed health benefits. In various forms, it can be ingested for nutritional and medicinal purposes, applied topically to the skin as a poultice, used to purify water, and as an ingredient in beauty treatments.

Naturally low in fat, its health benefits and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may range from speeding up wound healing to managing blood glucose², and it contains no cholesterol.

Listed below are known nutrients derived from various moringa tree components and their general health benefits:

Protein is a fuel for processing your energy and carries oxygen through your bloodstream to your entire body. It also helps to make antibodies that fight off infections and illnesses, maintain healthy cells, and create new ones.³
Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, is important for normal brain development and keeping the nervous and immune systems healthy
Vitamin B1, or thiamine, promotes the health of the nervous system, brain, muscles, heart, stomach, and intestines. It also allows electrolytes to flow in and out of muscle and nerve cells.
Vitamin B2 helps break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s energy supply.
- Riboflavin is a provitamin, or a precursor of Vitamin B2, that helps convert carbohydrates into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is created by the human body from food. The compound ATP produces energy as the body requires it, and is vital for storing energy in muscles.
Vitamin B-3, also known as niacin, is one of the eight B vitamins. It helps our bodies to convert the food we eat into energy, to utilize proteins and fats, and it keeps the skin, hair, and nervous system healthy.
Vitamin C is a vital nutrient for health. It helps form and maintain bones, cartilage, skin, and blood vessels. As an antioxidant, it also supports the immune system. Additional benefits include:
- Helping the body to produce collagen, L-carnitine, and some neurotransmitters
- Antioxidants that remove unwanted substances known as reactive oxidative species (ROS) from the body
- Iron absorption
- Boosting the immune system
- Enhancing wound healing
- Producing collagen, the main component of connective tissue that makes up 1–2% of muscle tissue. Collagen is also a vital component in fibrous tissues such as:
  - Tendons
  - Ligaments
  - Skin
  - Cornea
  - Cartilage
  - Bones
  - Gut
  - Blood vessels

Iron helps to preserve many vital functions in the body, including general energy and focus, gastrointestinal processes, the immune system, and regulating body temperature. It also promotes growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that provides oxygen to muscles. Your body also needs iron to make some hormones.
Calcium is our body’s most abundant mineral, with 99% of calcium in bones and teeth. It is also necessary for building strong bones, maintaining healthy communication between the brain and other parts of the body, and plays a role in muscle movement and cardiovascular function.⁴
Potassium is an electrolyte that the body needs to stay healthy. Foods that contain potassium can help manage blood pressure by reducing the negative impact of sodium.⁵ It also helps manage blood pressure by relaxing the walls of the blood vessels.
Provitamin A is present in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based products.
- Beta-carotene is a provitamin, or a precursor of vitamin A that occurs most often in dark-colored fruits and vegetables and oily fruits. It is, in itself, an antioxidant, but the body can also convert it into vitamin A as needed.
Magnesium is one of seven essential macrominerals that contribute to bone and cardiovascular health and the prevention of diabetes, migraines, and premenstrual syndrome. It also aids in mood disorders and muscle cramping. These macrominerals are minerals that people need to consume in relatively large amounts.
Phosphorus is a mineral that the body uses to build bones and teeth and to make proteins that grow and repair cells and tissues. Phosphorus also plays a role in how the body processes carbohydrates, or sugars. In addition, it contributes to bodily functions that involve:
- the nervous system
- kidney function
- muscle contraction
- heartbeat regulation

While a sensible diet is the best way to stay healthy, moringa can be a terrific supplement that ensures your regular diet is not without essential vitamins and minerals for maintaining your health and wellness.

Moringa in Topical Applications

Moringa oil is derived from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera. The seeds have a high oil content and contain many nutritional compounds, including monounsaturated fats, protein, sterols, and tocopherols.

Moringa oil is produced through a variety of industrial processes, including solvent extraction and cold-pressing. It’s available as an essential oil and as a cooking oil. It’s also an ingredient in hair and skin products.

Suggested moringa topical applications include:

Cleanser and moisturizer. Moringa oil contains oleic acid, a suitable cleansing agent that can also moisturize skin and hair.
Anti-inflammatory. Moringa oil contains bioactive compounds which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, including tocopherols, catechins, quercetin, ferulic acid, and zeatin. Many of these compounds are used to treat acne breakouts.⁶
Poultice. Moringa leaves used as a poultice was used in ancient times as a quick remedy for inflammatory conditions such as glandular inflammation, headache, and bronchitis.⁷

Note: As with any essential oil concentrate, always dilute with a carrier oil before topical use on skin and hair.

Moringa for Water Purification

Seeds from the Moringa tree have unique water purification properties. Several studies strongly suggest that the seed extract can separate unwanted particulates from water sediment impurities. The unprocessed seed powder also shows antimicrobial potential for treating sediment by separating over 90% of the bacteria from raw water.⁸

Moringa seed extracts could be promising alternatives to chemical water treatment, food preservatives, and antibacterial treatments, especially where pathogens have become resistant to front-line antibiotics. The low-cost and high availability of this seed material also represents an important opportunity in developing sustainable water purification, and could help provide clean water to small communities in developing countries.

References:

Healthline, “6 Science-Based Health Benefits of Moringa Oleifera,” published 6 February 2023 by Atli Arnarson BSc, PhD: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-moringa-oleifera#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2 ↩︎
Medical News Today, “Why Is Moringa Good For You?,” published 28 April 2023 by Bethany Cadman; medically reviewed by Sade Meeks, MS, RD, Nutrition: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319916#:~:text=Moringa%20contains%20a%20range%20of,also%20have%20cholesterol%2Dlowering%20properties. ↩︎
Web MD Health & Diet Guide, “Benefits of Protein,” published 21 September 2022 by Jon Cooper: https://www.webmd.com/diet/benefits-protein ↩︎
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, “Calcium – Fact Sheet for Health Professionals,” published 6 October 2022: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/ ↩︎
American Hearth Association, “A Primer on Potassium,” published 25 May 2018 and reviewed by science and medicine advisors: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sodium/potassium ↩︎
Healthline, “Moringa Oil Benefits and Uses,” published 13 December 2019 by Corey Whelan and Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-moringa-oleifera#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7 ↩︎
National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Moringa oleifera: An Updated Comprehensive Review of Its Pharmacological Activities, Ethnomedicinal, Phytopharmaceutical Formulation, Clinical, Phytochemical, and Toxicological Aspects,” published 20 January 2023: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9916933/#:~:text=A%20poultice%20made%20from%20Moringa,relieve%20joint%20pain%20%5B19%5D. ↩︎
Technology Networks, Analysis & Separations, “Key Water Purification Properties of Moringa Seeds Revealed,” published 20 November 2019: https://www.technologynetworks.com/analysis/news/key-water-purification-properties-of-moringa-seeds-revealed-327454 ↩︎

Portfolio