Moringa is a plant, not a dance
Seed catalogs are designed by clever folks who can read my mind and somehow know how to make me buy things. Therefore, I have two healthy dwarf moringa plants on my deck. “So, now what?” I asked myself.
In southeast Asia, moringa trees grow almost 40 feet tall, and locals use the leaves, flowers, seed pods, seeds and fruit for nutritional and medicinal benefits. Moringa is valued from Somalia and Ethiopia eastward across southern Asia to the Philippines and throughout Oceania including the northern coast of Australia. It is now grown in Central America and establishing a presence in Florida.
Literature about Moringa oleifera make it sound like it’s better than anything else for everything. It is packed with your favorite alphabets, periodicals and antioxidants, plus is high in protein. The delicate tripinnate leaves appear cute and unassuming but waiting in there are quercetin and beta-carotene for countering malicious free radicals and vitamins A, C, E and a bunch of Bs to boost immunity and defend the constitution.
And there’s more! Compounds in the leaves have anti-inflammatory properties for inflamed folks or those with arthritis. The leaves also moderate blood sugar levels and assist in lowering cholesterol levels for a healthier heart. But how about this – the leaves contain flavonoids and terpenoids and other phytoconstituents which support a healthier brain for improved cognitive function. This doesn’t mean moringa makes you smarter, but if you’re not smart, you can’t blame moringa.
However, many reports indicate improved clarity and memory after consuming moringa.
In addition to all those handy benefits, moringa leaves are a source of tryptophan, an amino acid we need but can’t produce, which contributes to healthy production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which balances our moods and defends the constitution. Moringa does it all! It’s like the Willie Mays of leafy things.
The Whole Seed Catalog 2023 informs us, “Dr. Avtar Singh of Beauscape Farms has developed a dwarf moringa, easy to grow and nutritious.” That’s all it took to hook me. I have two in a pot and will bring them inside during winter. I don’t know yet how much I will harvest from my first-year dwarf moringas, but not enough for long-term regular consumption. Folks have known about the health benefits of moringa for millennia, so plenty commercial products are available. Powders and capsules abound online, but fresh is best.
So what to do with fresh moringa leaves? Dried leaves make a tasty tea. Fresh leaves are versatile culinarily, but before you eat the leaves, pause to respect the chemical treasures in the green leaves you are holding – riboflavin, tryptophan, quercetin, magnesium, calcium… wow! Those little green leaves look more important now. So sprinkle them on a salad, for example. It’s best to use them soon after harvesting.
Add chopped leaves when rice, beans, sauces, soups and casseroles are almost done. Leaves keep their nutrients better if you cook them only a bit. Or don’t cook them at all, just sprinkle on top. If you’re of the generation that made smoothies all the time, you’ll appreciate moringa. Add either fresh leaves or powder or both to your morning smoothies, and maybe your light bulb will turn on.
I need to say a word on behalf of burritos. You say much about yourself with the music you choose and how you fill your burritos, so add moringa leaves to your burrito and listen to music from its native lands.
Add a spoonful of powdered moringa leaf to a glass of water occasionally. It’s like a vitamin drink. You’ll figure out other ways to use the powder in your culinary adventures, and why not, because it moderates moods and blood pressure, assists with heart health, boosts brain functioning and protects the constitution.