Moringa is a highly nutritious plant native to India, Pakistan and Africa. This nutrient-dense superfood is rich in iron, calcium, vitamins and antioxidants, as well as the same essential amino acids as any other complete protein such as meat.
Moringa has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. Known as the “Miracle Tree”, it is said to prevent 300 diseases including diabetes, malnutrition and is used to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, anemia, stomach and intestinal conditions and bacterial infections.
Moringa is a tree that sprouts small leaves that pack a hefty punch when it comes to its health benefits. Research has found that the leaves of the moringa plant provides:
7x the Vitamin C of oranges
4x the Calcium of milk
4x the Vitamin A of carrots
3x the potassium of bananas
2x the protein of yogurt
Moringa is also considered to have the highest protein ratio of any plant. Scientists believe moringa to be a better source of plant-based protein than soy, as it is non-allergic.
High in iron, moringa is used to treat anaemia. With a high potency of Vitamin A and Vitamin E, it helps keep skin healthy and helps fight signs of ageing. It is also a rich source of calcium and magnesium, making it essential for maintaining strong and healthy teeth and healthy bones.
Ravenhawks Magazine put two moringa superfood powders to the test.
Aduna Moringa, sourced from Africa, is a fine, unadulterated moringa powder. The vibrant green powder is moringa in its purest state and the rich, earthy taste vouches for that too.
Aduna recommend you start with one heaped teaspoon a day, gradually working up to four teaspoons a day. When you take superfood powders like Aduna Moringa in its original, most natural state, you may experience the effects on a cellular level pretty much instantly. I took Aduna Moringa the hardcore way, as it were, choosing to mix a teaspoon simply in a glass of water.
The powder is very fine and does not easily mix well in water by stirring, so use a small handheld whisk, if you can. Ingesting moringa in this way, I found it to permeate the cells of my body quickly giving a gentle energizing and cleansing effect.
Aduna Moringa, as a standalone superfood, has an alkalizing effect which is much gentler on the stomach than some other greens or mix of superfoods. Its taste is also a lot more palatable compared to other green superfoods. Aduna Moringa has a distinctive earthy taste, similar to spinach.
For those who require Calcium, but do not have dairy in their diet due to allergies or just not gelling well with cow’s milk, Aduna Moringa is an alternative way to get Calcium, one which is not as world-renowned a source as dairy and one that also tastes better than a glass of cow’s milk. You may disagree but that is my taste buds take on it.
Aduna Moringa is a splendid introduction to mother nature’s “Miracle Tree”. The product is packaged in a tub with vibrant artwork that emulates iconic African wax prints. Aduna represents Africa from root to tip so to speak. When choosing a superfood powder, it is very rarely about the taste alone but rather the quality of the product and its benefits for your health. It is also about the company that you chose to purchase from too and their respect for the land and its native peoples.
Aduna is based on a very simple, award-winning business model. Designed to create demand for the under-utilized, natural products, cultivated by small farmers in Africa, Aduna help create sustainable livelihoods for small producers in Africa.
Minvita Moringa Superfood Powder
On the other end of the spectrum or world as it were is Minvita Moringa Superfood Powder, which is sourced from India, the world’s largest producer of Moringa. Minvita Moringa Superfood Powder is also a superfood powder in its most purest state. The moringa leaves are washed, shadow dried under atmospheric conditions, and then powdered.
Minvita Moringa has an earthy taste. It is an easy way to take your greens compared with other sharper-tasting greens such as wheatgrass. Minvita Moringa is palatable and just as easily ingested in a glass of water as it is in a smoothie.
If the spinach-like taste of moringa is not to your desire but the nutrient and mineral-composition of moringa is just what your body requires, I found mixing a spoonful of Minvita Moringa powder in a smoothie of banana, coconut milk and lemongrass to be a tasty treat. The zing of the lemongrass balances out the earthiness of the moringa, while the banana aside from being yum, is comfortingly grounding.
Minvita ensure that their products are “harvested in a sustainable manner to ensure no impact on the local environment”. Minvita’s Superfood Powder range comes in generous tubs, which while not as visually “grabbing” as Aduna’s product range, are nonetheless quality products.
Overall, what you have with Aduna Moringa and Minvita Moringa Superfood Powder are two natural products from companies that care about the environment and the indigenous peoples that harvest the plants they sell. There are other brands that sell Moringa powder, but as with anything, follow your gut as to which resonates with you. Aduna and Minvita were the two that intuitively stood out. Either way, if you choose to add moringa to your diet by way of Aduna or Minvita, you will be making a choice that has huge benefits for your body as well as the environment.
Disclaimer: The statements made at Ravenhawks Magazine about the ability of these products to prevent or cure disease are our own opinions. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.
This article originally appeared on Life & Soul Magazine
Rosalyn Medea is a writer, intuitive reader and spiritual life coach. She writes about sustainable life&style, music, arts and spirituality. She also helps people be their true selves and integrate their spirituality in to their daily lives.