The Health Benefits of Malunggay
The versatility of the plant and the benefits of malunggay leaves are well known. Malunggay or moringa is a staple in many Filipino dishes. Usually added to soups like tinola or tossed in salads, malunggay is popular as a cooking aid and colorful garnish to home-cooked meals.
But there’s more to this plant than just a leafy green to add to your food. It is packed with plenty of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that it is known globally as a type of superfood. From fighting off diseases to improving hair and skin quality, here are the many benefits of malunggay.
What is Malunggay / Moringa?
The malunggay plant, also known as moringa oleifera, is a type of plant that can be found in many tropical and sub-tropical areas in the world. It is known as a multi-purpose plant because most of its parts – from the leaves, to the pods, fruits, flowers, and even the roots and bark – can be used for various purposes.
In the Philippines, malunggay has been used as an herbal remedy in many cultures over hundreds of years, because the plant is packed with vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients. It effectively combats malnutrition, especially for infants and nursing mothers.
In other parts of the world, it is known as a “Miracle Tree” due to the malunggay’s health benefits and many uses. Colloquially, in North India, where it is known to be native, the moringa tree is also referred to as the drumstick, horseradish, or ben oil tree. With nearly every part of the plant serving some purpose, either as food or ingredient for herbal medicine, its usefulness is truly undeniable, hence its popularity.
What are the health benefits of malunggay / moringa?
To say that malunggay is a superfood would be accurate, as it contains more than 90 nutrients and 46 types of antioxidants. At the same time, it can be consumed by everyone, so small children and adults alike can enjoy the many benefits of malunggay.
Here are just some of its many health benefits:
- Prevents diabetes by helping normalize blood sugar levels. Studies show that insulin-like proteins are found in moringa leaves. These can help lower blood sugar by helping the body process sugar better and improve how the body naturally releases insulin.
- Fights cancer. Malunggay has anti-cancer compounds (phytochemicals) that stop the growth of cancer cells. These can be found mostly in moringa’s leaves, bark, and roots.
- Improves sleep. If you’re stressed out or have trouble sleeping, malunggay can help you relax and sleep better because of its high magnesium content.
- Good for lactating mothers. Because malunggay has four times the calcium in milk, lactating mothers are encouraged to add malunggay leaves to their diet, so they can produce milk for their babies. The leaves can be added in soup or can be boiled and taken as tea.
- Treats inflammations. Particularly, conditions linked to arthritis, rheumatism, and joint pains. Malunggay has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent and treat certain inflammations.
- Boosts the immune system. Moringa contains minerals that aid digestion, ensuring that the body totally absorbs the nutrients in what you eat.
- Helps repair and restore the hair and skin. Because of its very high Vitamins A (four times than that of carrot) and C (seven times than that of oranges) content, moringa improves skin elasticity, keeping it supple, and also helps lighten the skin.
- Improves memory. Some medical experts believe that the antioxidants and other substances found in moringa can help treat stress and inflammation in the brain, which may promote memory.
Try the many benefits of Malunggay for you and your loved ones with Moringa-O² hair and skin care! Each product packs the moisturizing and nourishing effects of Moringa and combines it with Olive Oil and Omega (from Sunflower Oil).
So, what do you exactly get from moringa?
A cup of fresh moringa leaves weighing around 21 grams provides the following vitamins and minerals:
| Source of | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 grams |
| Vitamin B6 | 19% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) |
| Vitamin C | 12% (of the RDA) |
| Iron | 11% (of the RDA) |
| B2 (or riboflavin) | 11% (of the RDA) |
| Vitamin A | 9% (of the RDA) |
| Magnesium | 8% (of the RDA) |
Moringa is also packaged as dietary supplements in either powder or capsule form, so apart from using it in your food as a cooking ingredient, or in your self-care routine as a shampoo or lotion, there are many ways to take advantage of the benefits that it offers. However, it must be noted that the most excellent source of its nutrients and vitamins can be found in the malunggay’s leaves.
Apart from what has been listed above, the health benefits of malunggay leaves also include quercetin, an antioxidant that helps in decreasing and stabilizing blood pressure, and chlorogenic acid, which aids the regulation of blood sugar after eating.
A study shows that ingesting around 7 grams of powdered malunggay leaves on a daily basis for 90 days can impact the level of blood antioxidants in the body. Taking a similar amount at the same frequency also reduces blood sugar levels by an average of nearly 14% – an effect of isothiocyanates, a plant compound that provides anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.
And lastly, practical uses of malunggay extracts include food preservation. It helps prolong the shelf life of meat by reducing oxidation. While this is not a health benefit to your body, malunggay can still play a role in ensuring that you get to consume your food before it expires.
Moringa-O2’s Malunggay Products: The Herbal Hair Care and Skin Care Solution
Provided that you now know of malunggay’s health benefits, feel free to browse our products to enjoy the advantages that a natural hair and skin care system has to offer:
| Product Type | Product Category | Unique Features |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-hairfall Shampoo | Hair Care | -reduces hair fall -strengthens hair and scalp -promotes hair growth |
| Anti-hairfall Conditioner | Hair Care | -reduces hair fall -strengthens hair and scalp -promotes hair growth |
| Hair Relaxing Serum | Hair Care | -instant shine and softness -lightweight and non-greasy -hypoallergenic leave-on treatment |
| 2-in-1 Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner | Hair Care | -soothes scalp irritation -stabilizes sebum production -reduces irritation, itching, and flaking |
| Anti-Frizz Shampoo | Hair Care | -reduces frizz and smoothens hair -revitalizes the hair from root to tip -offers protection against UV sun damage |
| Anti-Frizz Conditioner | Hair Care | – reduces frizz and smoothens hair -revitalizes the hair from root to tip -offers protection against UV sun damage |
| Herbal Therapy Oil | Hair and Skin Care | -promotes hair growth -reduces hair fall -reduces dandruff and itching in the scalp |
| Herbal Facial Toner | Skin Care | -gentle cleansing action -minimizes pores -controls oil production |
| Herbal Moisturizing Lotion | Skin Care | -enriched with herbal actives -natural way to lighten skin -dermatologist-tested to address dry and sensitive skin |
| Herbal Moisturizing Soap | Skin Care | -multiple antioxidant properties -gentle cleansing action -dermatologist-tested to address dry and sensitive skin |
| Herbal Insect Repellent | Skin Care | -specifically formulated to combat mosquitoes and dengue -natural ingredients that make it chemical-free -DEET-free |
To maximize the health benefits of malunggay, try making the switch from conventional and synthetic hair or skin care products to natural and herbal products that contain moringa. Our herbal shampoos, conditioners, and other products aim to help you live a better and healthier life through organic compounds and nutrients that offer clinically-proven benefits.
If you have any questions or inquiries on the efficacy of moringa, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
