The Health Benefits of Carrot

The carrot is an excellent vegetable as it has both nutritional and medicinal values which are essential for our optimum health.

The best thing of carrot is that it is easily assimilated by our body. Chinese practitioners said that carrot tastes sweet, and it is good for the health of spleen and stomach. It is also believed to improve impotence (lower sexual drive), sexual dysfunction, night blindness, long term cough (or call hundred days cough in Chinese medical prescription) besides strengthening kidney and eliminating excessive wind and cold in our body.

Carrot has proved its outstanding role in anti-cancer effect. The research revealed that people with lack of beta-carotene were more likely to have 2 times higher risk of cancer than normal people. It is wiser to eat an appropriate amount of carrot per day to prevent cancer. This is because beta-carotene in the carrot can be easily changed by our body into vitamin A, which is essential for healthy cell growth, strong immune system and protection against mascular degeneration (AMD).

The research also found that carrot contains bulk of folic acid, a group of vitamin B, which has good effect to fight against free radicals (substances that cause cancer) in our body. The lignin found in carrot too, helps to strengthen our immune system to fight against cancerous cells. Potash succinate, its anti hypertensive drug properties may also help to reduce the blood pressure. Therefore, it is also regarded as a good diet for hypertension’s patient.

As carrot is fat-soluble substance, its nutrition is absorbed better with the presence of oil. Therefore, it is better to dip one drop of olive oil into a glass of carrot juice so that our body can effectively absorbed its nutrition.

Carrots like other foods do contain sugar which may give rise to the blood sugar. However, if carrots are consumed in an appropriate amount they won’t give rise to an extreme blood sugar rise among people with blood sugar problems (both diabetic and hypoglycaemic). 8-ounce glasses of carrot juice per day have been seen as a successful cure among the patients who are terminally ill cancer. Your body appears to handling well with the natural occurring sugars found in carrot juice. There are still no scientific evidences supporting that appropriate consumption of carrot juice can cause negative impact to your body.  Nevertheless, I’d advise diabetic and hypoglycaemic to limit the intake of carrots because excessive intake of carrots may be detrimental to your health or may worsen your existing health condition.

Now, you may ask me, “ How much carrot juice should I take, chan?” It’s hardly to give you an accurate answer here since the intake of carrot juice  varies among the individuals. It’s always wiser to consult your doctor for any dieting alteration, particularly among the patients, those who’re engaging with diseases or those with serious health or physical problems. Basically, for a healthy person, it’s recommended to take two to three 8-ounce glasses of carrot juice daily.

Carrot Food Therapy for Certain Diseases is Listed as Follows:

For Hypertension’s Patient

Drink 100milliliter of fresh organic carrot juices everyday and it should be two servings per day. The therapy should proceed constantly for 30 days.

For Those Who Have Constipation

Blend fresh organic carrot juices with a juicer. Then, pour the juice into a glass. Dip a drop of olive oil into the glass. Mix it with an appropriate amount of royal jelly honey. Stir the mixture for a thorough mix. Each serving should be 80 milliliter, with every morning and night each.

For Those Who Have Night Blindness or Dry Dull Eyes

Get ready with 250gram of fresh organic carrots. Put two tablespoons of olive oil in the wok. Add in carrots. Fry with slow fire till it is thoroughly cooked. It should be one serving for a day. The therapy should proceed constantly for 7 days.

For Those Who Have Long-Term Cough (Hundred Days Cough)

Get ready with 200 gram fresh organic carrots and 13 pieces of jujube (Chinese red dates). Cook with slow fire. Make sure the amount of water is not too much or too little. There should be approximately 8 bowls of water (measured with a small Chinese bowl) for approximately 30 minutes. It should be one serving per day.

For Those Who Suffer From Scalp Itching and Dandruff

Get ready with 200 gram fresh organic carrots. Use slow fire to stew the carrots. Add in appropriate amount of sea salt according to your taste. It should be one serving for a day.

For the Following Diseases, Please Do According to the Suggested Prescriptions as Listed Below:

Note: Each prescription stated below should be taken for at least 6 consecutive months. Organic grown fruits and vegetables are recommended here so that you can help prevent additional toxins from being dumped into your body. “in between the meal time” here means 2 or 3 hours before the meal time, and you should avoid to take this juice before breakfast and 3 hours before your bedtime. If you’re in medication, make sure that you’re not taken this juice together with your medicine. In this case, you can take this juice 2 or 3 hours after the medication. Bear in mind that this juice should be taken immediately to avoid any chemical changes that might have occurred.

Scurvy: Put carrot (8 ozs.) and grapefruit (8 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Adenoids: Put carrot (10 ozs.) and spinach (6 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Rheumatism: Put carrot (8 ozs.) and celery (8 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Acne: Put carrot (10 ozs.) and spinach (6 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Tumors: Put carrot (8 ozs.) and beet (8 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Bright’s Disease: Put carrot (8 ozs.), parsley (2 ozs.) and celery (6 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Dermatitis: Put carrot (6 ozs.), beet (5 ozs.) and cucumber (5 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Colitis: Put carrot (8 ozs.), and apple (8 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Angina Pectoris: Put carrot (6 ozs.), beet (5 ozs.) and cucumber (5 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Diabetes: Put carrot (6 ozs.), celery (5 ozs.), endive (2 ozs.) and parsley (2 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Albuminuria: Put carrot (10 ozs.), beet (3 ozs.), and cucumber (3 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Coronary Thrombosis: Put carrot (8 ozs.), and garlic (2 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Arthritis: Put carrot (8 ozs.), celery (8 ozs.), and one grapefruit (chopped in small cube) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Constipation: Put carrot (8 ozs.), celery (4 ozs.), and apple (4 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Gallstones: Put carrot (6 ozs.), beet (5 ozs.) and cucumber (5 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Nervous Disorders: Put carrot (8 ozs.), celery (6 ozs.) and parsley (2 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Nephritis: Put carrot (8 ozs.), celery (6 ozs.) and parsley (2 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Diarrhea: Put carrot (6 ozs.), celery (5 ozs.) and apple (5 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Asthma: Put carrot (8 ozs.), celery (8 ozs.) and one grapefruit (chopped in small cube) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Cancer: Put carrot (12 ozs.), and cabbage (4 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Blood Pressure (High): Put carrot (8 ozs.), and pod of garlic into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Allergies: Put carrot (8 ozs.), and celery (8 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Anemia: Put carrot (8 ozs.), beet (2 ozs.) and celery (6 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Hernia: Put carrot (6 ozs.), celery (6 ozs.), spinach (2 ozs.) and parsley (2 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Note: For each stated prescription below, you’re recommended to take it for several consecutive days until the disease goes off. Organic grown fruits and vegetables are recommended here so that you can help prevent additional toxins from being dumped into your body. “in between the meal time” here means 2 or 3 hours before the meal time, and you should avoid to take this juice before breakfast and 3 hours before your bedtime. If you’re in medication, make sure that you’re not taken this juice together with your medication. In this case, you can take this juice 2 or 3 hours after the medication. Bear in mind that this juice should be taken immediately to avoid any chemical changes that might have occurred.

Hay Fever: Put carrot (8 ozs.), and celery (8 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Influenza: Put carrot (8 ozs.), and celery (8 ozs.) into the blender. Blend well until smooth before serving. Take this juice once a day in between the meal time.

Warning!

It’s very important to take note that carrots should not be taken together with wine, beer, or any alcoholic drinks. The reason is that the combination of both will cause substantial amount of alcohol and carotene entering your body at the same time, which will later lead to the production of toxins in your liver. When this situation occurs, you’re more likely to have liver disease. Similarly, carrots cannot be taken with black fungus at a time as the combination of both will cause dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). The intake of 500g carrots with any sea foods may also cause arsenic poisoning.

Although carotenoids found in carrots are beneficial to baby, attention should be paid for the volume of the intake. It’s always better to consult a registered doctor or dietician on the issue of how much carrot juice should be given to your child based upon their existing health condition. Excessive consumption of carotene (either from carrots or tomatoes) can cause hyperlipidemia, which can lead to orange-colored skin on the face and hands. Other symptoms which are observed among your child include loss of appetite, mental instability, anxiety, and sleep disorder accompanied by crying, screaming, nightmare and murmuring throughout the night.

We always think that goiter (a swelling in the thyroid gland, which can lead to a swelling of the neck or larynx) is caused by a deficiency of iodine. But do you know that the combination of carrots and oranges can also indulge or cause the development of goiter? Many clinical experimentations have shown that after entering your body, carrots (a type of cruciferous vegetables, which refers to edible plants in the family of Brassicaceae) can quickly produce a substance called Thiocyanate (common compounds that include the colorless salts potassium thiocyanate and sodium thiocyanate), and this thiocyanate will soon undergo a procedure of metabolism to produce an anti-thyroid substance called thiocyanate acid. The question on how much this so-called substance is produced is directly proportional to the volume of the intake of the carrots. When fruits such as oranges, pears, apples, or grapes are taken immediately or are combined with carrots at a time, the flavonoids from these fruits will be decomposed by the intestinal bacteria into hydroxyl benzoic acid (a crystalline derivative of benzoic acid) and ferulic acid (an organic compound that is an abundant phenolic phytochemical found in plant cell walls). Both acids are found to reinforce thiocyanate acid to inhibit the functionality of thyroid gland which might have contributed to a consequence of goiter. Therefore, you’re encouraged not to drink juices of/ eat oranges, apples or grapes straight away after the consumption of carrots.

Final Remark:

Again, it’s very important to take note that  carrot should not be taken together with an orange. This is because Thiocyanate compound in carrot will react chemically with substances in orange which can cause goiter (the enlargement of the thyroid). Similarly, carrot cannot be taken together with polygonum multiflorum (Chinese knotweed or flowery) and ginseng.

http://healthmad.com/nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-carrots/

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Health Benefits of Carrot:

1. Carrot can enhance the quality of breast milk.
2. Carrot can improve the appearance of the skin, hair and nails.
3. When taken daily it can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
4. Raw contain beta-carotene, a strong antioxidant that can prevent cancer.
5. Carrot juice when taken everyday prevent bodily infections and is claimed to be valuable for the adrenal glands (the small endocrine glands situated above the kidneys).
6. Carrot can help improve eyesight.
7. Carrot can help increase menstrual flow.
8. Carrots can regulate blood sugar.
9. Carrot can promote colon health, because carrot is rich in fiber.

Carrot is also helpful in the following cases : Obesity, Poisoning of the blood, Gum disease, Insomnia, Inflamed Kidneys, Liver, Gallbladder, Alzheimer’s disease, Colitis, Ulcer Painful urination

Vitamin and Mineral Content :

• Vitamin A – 12,000 I.U,
• Vitamin B; Thiamine B: .06 mg.
• Riboflavin: .06 mg.
• Niacin: .5 mg.
• Vitamin C: 5 mg.
• Vitamin D, E, G, & K
• Calcium: 39 mg.
• Iron: .8 mg.
• Phosphorus: 37 mg.
• Fat: 0.3 gm
• Carbohydrates: 9.3 gm.
• Protein: 1.2gm.
• Calories: 42

http://hubpages.com/hub/HEALTH_BENEFITS_OF_CARROT

See also:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=21
http://hubpages.com/hub/HEALTH_BENEFITS_OF_CARROT
http://home.howstuffworks.com/carrots3.htm
http://www.health-fitness.com.au/carrot-health-benefits/

Health Benefits of Kamias

Parts utilized
Whole plant.

Properties and constituents
• Considered antibacterial, astringent, antiscorbutic, febrifuge, antidiabetic, stomachic, refrigerant.
• Study on volatile components of AB fruits showed 6 mg/kg of total volatile compounds; 62 compounds were identified, nonanal and (Z)-3-hexenol were dominant.

Uses
Nutrition
Eaten raw.
Prepared as a relish and food flavoring.
Folkloric
· Skin diseases, especially with pruritus: Reduce the leaves to a paste and apply tolerably warm to areas of affected skin.
· Fruit juice used as eye drops.
· Post-partum and rectal inflammation: Infusion of leaves.
· Mumps, acne, and localized rheumatic complaints: Paste of leaves applied to affected areas.
· Warm paste of leaves also used for pruritus.
· Used for boils, piles, rheumatism, cough, hypertension, whooping cough, mumps and pimples.
· Cough and thrush: Infusion of flowers, 40 grams to a pint of boiling water, 4 glasses of tea daily.
· Fever: Fruit as a cooling drink.
· The fruit has been used for a variety of maladies: beriberi, cough, prevention of scurvy.
· Infusion of leaves also drank as a protective tonic after childbirth.
– In Malaysia, leaves are used for venereal diseases.
· In Indonesia, leaves used for boils, diabetes, mumps, fever.
· In French Guyana, fruit decoction or syrup use for hepatitis, diarrhea, fever and other inflammatory conditions.

Others
· Because of high oxalic acid content, fruit used to remove stains from clothing and for washing hands, removing rust and stains from metal blades.

Studies
• Hypoglycemic / Hypotriglyceridemic / Anti-Atherogenic / Anti-Lipid Peroxidative: Effects of Averrhoa bilimbi leaf extract on blood glucose and lipids in streptozotocin-diabetic rats: Study showed that AB extract has hypoglycemic, hypotriglyceridemic, anti-lipid peroxidative and anti-atherogenic properties in STZ-diabetic rats.
• Antioxidant / Antimicrobial Activities: The scavenging of NO by the extract of AC fruits was dependent on concentration and stage of ripening. Extracts showed antimicrobial activity against E coli, Salmonella typhi, staph aureus and bacillus cereus.
• Phytochemicals / Antimicrobial: Phytochemical screening of fruit extracts yielded flavonoids, saponins and triterpenoids but no alkaloids. The chloroform and methanol fruit extracts were active againsxt Aeromonas hydrophilia, E coli, K pneumonia, S cerrevisiae, S aureus, Strep agalactiae and B subtilis. In conclusion, AB fruits possess potential antibacterial activities that warrants further studies.
• Anti-diabetic: Study showed the aqueous fraction was more potent than the butanol fraction in the amelioration of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in a high fat diet-fed STZ diabetic rats and suggests the AF as the potential source for isolation of the active principle for oral antidiabetic therapy.
• Anti-bacterial: Study of the aqueous extract of AB leaves and fruits showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The antibacterial activity could be associated with the presence of bioactive compounds of the flavonoids type, like luteolin and apigenin. The results suggest further studies to isolate and identify the responsible compounds.

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kamias.html

Malunggay : The Miracle Vegetable

“Malunggay” in the Philippines, “Sajina” in the Indian Subcontinent, and “Moringa” in English, it is a popular tree. Many Asians use the leaves of Malunggay (Sajina) like spinach and also the fruit it produces as a vegetable, like asparagus. It only used to be known as a vegetable for lactating mothers. But new scientific studies say that malunggay’s medicinal and market possibilities.

Touted by scientists as a “miracle vegetable,” malunggay has been promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the past 20 years as a low-cost health enhancer in poor countries around the globe.

Malunggay trees are generally grown in the backyards. The small, oval, dark-green leaves are famous vegetable ingredient in soup, fish and chicken dishes. Scientifically, called ‘Moringa oelifera.’ this vegetable, despite its legendary potentials, is still relatively unknown.

“The sale of all forms of vitamins, minerals, and health supplements is a big business,” points out Moringa Zinga, an American company that promotes and sells malunggay products in capsules. “If you are a company selling hundreds of nutritional products, why would you sell a product that will wipe out all your other products? This is true for the pharmaceutical industries as well. These industries would rather that the general public remains ignorant about the moringa leaves.”

According to the Biotechnology Program Office of the Department of Agriculture, the malunggay has been found by biochemists and molecular anthropologists to be rich in vitamins C and A, iron, and high density lipoprotein or good cholesterol.

Due to its high calcium content (four times the calcium in milk), lactating mothers in the Philippines are often advised to consume malunggay leaves to produce more milk for their babies. The young malunggay leaves are being boiled and drink as tea.

Malunggay leaves are loaded with nutrients. Gram for gram, malunggay leaves also contain two times the protein in milk. Likewise, it contains three times the potassium in bananas and four times the vitamin A in carrots.

Health nutritionists claim that an ounce of malunggay has the same Vitamin C content as seven oranges. An important function of vitamin C not known to many is its being an antioxidant. In fact, it has been recognized and accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration as one of the four dietary antioxidants, the others being vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium. (A dietary oxidant is a substance in food that significantly decreases the adverse effects of harmful chemicals).

There are more health benefits. Vivencio Mamaril, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, told a national daily that in India, malunggay is used in treating various ailments. A 2001 study in India has found that the fresh root of the young tree can be used to treat fever. Asthmatics are advised to drink the infusion from the roots of the plant.

Tender malunggay leaves also reduce phlegm and are administered internally for scurvy and catarrhal conditions, while the flowers are used to heal inflammation of the tendons and abscesses. Unripe pods of malunggay are also reported to prevent intestinal worms, while the fruit also prevents eye disorders.

Other studies have shown that eating malunggay fruits can lead to higher semen count. This is good news for men who are having problems in siring children. They can now count on the malunggay to cork its magic on them.

Because of its nutritional content, malunggay strengthens the immune system, restores skin condition, controls blood pressure, re.ieves headaches and migraines, manages the sugar level thereby preventing diabetes, reduces inflammations and arthritis pains, restricts the growth of tumors, and heals ulcers. This information comes from Dr. Kumar Pati, an Indian doctor who is an expert in natural medicine.

The “next big thing” in Philippine agriculture. That is how the agriculture department considers malunggay. Malunggay can save lives, increase incomes, generate millions of jobs, utilize vast tracts of idle agricultural lands, make the Philippines globally competitive, impact local and international market, and help attain socioeconomic equity,” explained Alice Ilaga, director of the DA’s Biotechnology Program.

Besides being sold in the public market as a vegetable, is there really a market for malunggay products? “The Philippines is currently in the midst of developing the local market for malunggay and its products,” said a statement released by Biotechnology Program, which aggressively aims to develop the agribusiness potentials of various crops as part of the government’s poverty-alleviation program. “Despite being behind other countries such as India and Nicaragua, the Philippines’ malunggay industry is on its way to becoming a global competitor.”

In a press statement, Ilaga reported that the Nutrition Center of the Philippines is setting its sights on fortifying different types of food. “Given its nutritional value, it can be utilized in fortifying sauces, juices, milk, bread, and most importantly, instant noodles,” Ilaga says.

According to Ilaga, a multinational food company reportedly has expressed keen interest in putting up a processing plant in the Philippines for this purpose. “A noodle company is also eyeing malunggay for bio-fortification of noodles as part of its commitment to support the program to fight malnutrition, which is prevalent in the countryside,” she added.

The seeds of malunggay contain 40% oil, which is considered excellent massage oil. As part of its program to promote biotechnology, the agriculture department has strategically positioned itself for the commercial planting of seeds for malunggay oil production.

“The Philippines can penetrate the international market in producing malunggay oil from its seeds using advance technology to extract oil from enzymes,” Ilaga disclosed.

One local company that is leading in malunggay production is SECURA International. After entering into malunggay production for more than a year, it expects a bright future for the malunggay industry.

In an interview with a news dispatch, SECURA president Danny Manayaga admits that for the country to really take advantage of the market, it should first ensure that there is enough supply to support it. “‘The market is developing, but up to now, we still don’t know the extent of this market because we have not yet defined our capacity to produce malunggay,” he disclosed.

“We are involved with contract growers from different towns all over the country such as Valencia in Negros Oriental, Masinloc and Botolan in Zambales, Alaminos and Infanta in Pangasinan, and Bamban in Tarlac, which accounts for 150 hectares of our malunggay supply for our current market but it is not enough to sustain the demands for other products such as moringa oil,” Manayaga said.

SECURA needs at least 20,000 hectares to be able to support the available market for malunggay products. Currently, it is involved in processing dehydrated malunggay leaves to produce tea and as an additive to other medicinal plants to produce herbal tea. “This is the only active market that is running for malunggay now,” Manayaga said.

Unknown to many Filipinos, malunggay has the ability to purify water. “The crushed moringa seeds can clear very turbid water,” said Dr. John Sutherland, of Leicester University’s Department of Environmental Technology. He added that powdered malunggay seeds are appropriate for water purification in rural areas of tropical countries.

Planting malunggay trees can also help stabilize soil and contribute to fight against deforestation. The malunggay tree is highly resistant to drought and needs little care. It is fast-growing and lives for average of 50 years. Each tree can produce approximately 10,000 seeds a year. It also makes an excellent fuel and fertilizer.

A tropical species, malunggay can tolerate temperatures up to 48 degrees Centigrade, but 15 degrees to 35 degrees Centigrade is considered best. It grows in areas with annual rainfall of 760 to 2250 millimeters.

Is planting malunggay profitable? According to Ilaga, for a hectare of malunggay, the estimated net income per year is P150,000.

Source: http://www.agribusinessweek.com/malunggay-the-miracle-vegetable/

Malunggay Leaves

IF UNITED States has apple to keep the doctors away, here in the Philippines, it’s the common malunggay.

Touted by scientists as “miracle vegetable,” malunggay has been promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the past 20 years as a low-cost health enhancer in poor countries around the globe. In fact, during the Marcos administration, there was already a craze about malunggay, being a solution to the malnutrition problem in the countryside.

Perhaps not too many people know that the late President Ferdinand Marcos himself was a malunggay addict, consuming soup littered with green leaves in every meal in addition to the legendary ’saluyot’ and ‘labong’ (bamboo shoots) as his main fare.

Malunggay trees are generally grown in the backyards. The small, oval, dark-green leaves are famous vegetable ingredient in soup, fish and chicken dishes. Scientifically, it is called ‘Moringa oelifera.’ Despite its legendary potentials, malunggay is still relatively unknown.

“The sale of all forms of vitamins, minerals, and health supplements is a big business,” points out Moringa Zinga, an American company that promotes and sells malunggay products in capsules. “If you are a company selling hundreds of nutritional products, why would you sell a product that will wipe out all your other products? This is true for the pharmaceutical industries as well. These industries would rather that the general public remains ignorant about the moringa leaves.”

According to the Biotechnology Program Office of the Department of Agriculture, the malunggay has been found by biochemists and molecular anthropologists to be rich in vitamins C and A, iron, and high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol.

Due to its high calcium content (four times the calcium in milk), lactating mothers in the Philippines are often advised to consume malunggay leaves to produce more milk for their babies. The young malunggay leaves are being boiled and drink as tea.

Malunggay leaves are loaded with nutrients. Gram for gram, malunggay leaves also contain two times the protein in milk. Likewise, it contains three times the potassium in bananas and four times the vitamin A in carrots.

Health nutritionists claim that an ounce of malunggay has the same Vitamin C content as seven oranges. An important function of vitamin C not known to many is its being an antioxidant. In fact, it has been recognized and accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration as one of the four dietary antioxidants, the others being vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium. (A dietary oxidant is a substance in food that significantly decreases the adverse effects of harmful chemicals.)

There are more health benefits. Vivencio Mamaril, of Bureau of Plant Industry, told a national daily that in India, malunggay is used in treating various ailments. A 2001 study in India has found that the fresh root of the young tree can be used to treat a fever. Asthmatics are advised to drink the infusion from the roots of the plant.

Tender malunggay leaves also reduce phlegm and are administered internally for scurvy and catarrhal conditions, while the flowers are used to heal inflammation of the tendons and abscesses. Unripe pods of malunggay can prevent intestinal worms, while the fruit also prevents eye disorders.

Other studies have shown that eating malunggay fruits can lead to higher semen count. This is good news for men who may not be able to sire children. They can now count on the malunggay to work its magic on them.

Because of its nutritional content, malunggay strengthens the immune system, restores skin condition, controls blood pressure, relieves headaches and migraines, manages the sugar level thereby preventing diabetes, reduces inflammations and arthritis pains, restricts the growth of tumors, and heals ulcers. This information comes from Dr. Kumar Pati, an Indian doctor who is an expert in natural medicine.

The “next big thing” in Philippine agriculture. That is how the agriculture department considers malunggay. “Malunggay can save lives, increase incomes, generate millions of jobs, utilize vast tracts of idle agricultural lands, make the Philippines globally competitive, impact local and international market, and help attain socio-economic equity,” explained Alice Ilaga, director of the DA’s Biotechnology Program.

http://allbestofphilippines.blogspot.com/2007/10/malunggay-leaves.html

Malunggay is a Miracle Vegetable

By Dr. Lydia M. Marero
Food and Nutrition Research Institute

Malunggay, known scientifically as Moringa oleifera Lamk, is one of the world’s most useful plants.  It is used as food, effective flocculant or water treatment, antibiotic, source of oil, and coagulant for turbid waters.

It is also called mother’s best friend, and miracle vegetable by many who know malunggay’s beneficial uses.  It is cultivated in all countries of the tropics.  It is easy to plant and is available year-round.

Malunggay’s image was even used as the official logo of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, an agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

One hundred grams or 1 cup of cooked malunggay leaves contain 3.1 g. protein, 0.6 g. fiber, 96 mg calcium, 29 mg phosphorus, 1.7 mg iron, 2,820 mg ß-carotene, 0.07 mg thiamin, 0.14 mg riboflavin, 1.1 mg niacin, and 53 mg ascorbic acid or vitamin C.  The antioxidant activity of malunggay is about 71%, with µ-tocopherol (vitamin E) equivalent of 45.

Malunggay leaves are an excellent source of vitamin A and B, and minerals such as calcium and iron.  It is even an excellent source of protein, being higher than the amino acid pattern of Food and Agriculture Organization-reference protein, yet contains very low fat and carbohydrates.  The leaves are incomparable as a source of the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine, often the natural minerals humans lack.

Due to its high vitamins A, C, and E, which are very potent antioxidants, malunggay is a very good quencher of unstable free radicals that can react with and damage molecules that cause aging.  Antioxidants reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.  They also prevent the onset of various chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer, and heart and kidney diseases.

Malunggay contains the phytochemical niaziminin, which is found to have molecular components that can prevent the development of cancer cells (Faizi et al., 1992) and correlated with inhibitory ability against superoxide generation.  The first naturally-occuring thiocarbamates, novel hypotensive agents niazinin A, niazinin B, niazimicin and niaziminin A and B were isolated from malunggay.

Malunggay is called miracle vegetable because it is not just a food, it is also a medicine.  It may therefore be a functional food.  Malunggay promotes good eyesight, digestion, facilitates bowel movement, and is a cure for stomach ache.

It is also used to cleanse wounds and ulcers.  It helps alleviate scurvy, asthma, earache, and headaches.  For its high calcium content, lactating mothers are advised to eat malunggay leaves to produce more milk.

Malunggay is usually cooked with chicken as tinola, or with fish and other vegetables, mongo soup dishes, and blanched as salads.

[For more information on food and nutrition, you may write or call The Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute-Department of Science and Technology, Gen. Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Tel/Fax: 8372934, 8373164; E-mail: cvcb@fnri.dost.gov.ph; FNRI-DOST website: http//www.fnri@dost.gov.ph]

Therapeutics of Malunggay

Sometimes, people think that solutions to their problems are expensive and hard to find. But more often than not, real solutions to basic problems are abundant, cheap and even free. Health problems are especially solvable with natural inexpensive gifts from nature.

Moringa, for example, is a wonderful blessing for us all. Locally, it is called malunggay and is easily available everywhere. Unfortunately, it is little appreciated by many Filipinos. Today, I would like to share with the good news about Moringa, as written by Mark Fritz of the Los Angeles Times.

“Scientifically speaking, Moringa sounds like magic. It can rebuild weak bones, enrich anemic blood and enable a malnourished mother to nurse her starving baby. Ounce for ounce, it has the calcium of four glasses of milk, the vitamin C of seven oranges and the potassium of three bananas.

“A dash of Moringa can make dirty water drinkable. Doctors use it to treat diabetes in West Africa and high blood pressure in India. Not only can it staunch a skin infection, but Moringa also makes an excellent fuel and fertilizer.

“Memo to Popeye: Moringa has triple the iron of spinach and more impressive attributes than olive oil. Both Moringa and the common carrot are diamonds in the roughage department, but Moringa has quadruple the beta carotene, which is good for the eyes and effective against cancer.”

Fritz also reports on the positive results of using Moringa as a substitute for expensive whole milk powder in nutrition projects.

Source: http://www.malunggay.com/therapeutics.htm

Nutritional
• Flowers, leaves and pods eaten as a vegetable.
• Source of calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins A, B and C.
• High in HDL (high density lipoproteins); a source of amino acids, omega oils, antioxidants.
• Comparative content: Gram for gram, 7 times the vitamin C in oranges, 4 times the calcium and twice the protein in milk, 4 times the vitamin A in carrots, 3 times the potassium in bananas.
• 100 gms or 1 cup of cooked malunggay leaves contain 3.1 g protein, 0.6 g fiber, 96 mg calcium, 29 mg phosphorus, 1.7 mg iron, 2,820 mg beta-carotene, 0.07 mg thiamin, 0.14a mg riboflavin, 1.1 mg niacin, and 53 mg of vitamin C. (Dr. Lydia Marero of the Food and Drug Research Institute -FNRI)

Breastfeeding women
• Malunggay leaves and pods are helpful in increasing breast milk in the breastfeeding months. One tablespoon of leaf powder provide 14% of the protein, 40% of the calcium, 23% of the iron and most of the vitamin A needs of a child aged one to three. Six tablespoons of leaf powder will provide nearly all of the woman’s daily iron and calcium needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Folkloric
Decoction of leaves used for hiccups, asthma, gout, back pain, rheumatism, wounds and sores.
Young leaves increases the flow of milk.
Pods for intestinal parasitism.
Constipation: Leaves and fruit
Decoction of boiled roots used to wash sores and ulcers.
Decoction of the bark used for excitement, restlessness.
Pounded roots used as poultice for inflammatory swelling.
Juice of roots is used for otalgia.
Decoction of roots is use as gargle for hoarseness and sore throat.
Boiled leaves used to help increase lactation.
Seeds for hypertension, gout, asthma, hiccups, and as a diuretic.
Rheumatic complaints: Decoction of seeds; or, powdered roasted seeds applied to affected area.
Juice of the root with milk used for asthma, hiccups, gout, lumbago.
Poultice of leaves applied for glandular swelling.
Pounded fresh leaves mixed with coconut oil applied to wounds and cuts.
The flowers boiled with soy milk thought to have aphrodisiac quality.
In West Bengal, India, roots taken by women, esp prostitutes, for permanent contraception (Studies have shown total inactivation or suppression of the reproductive system).

Studies
• Moringa preparations have been cited often in scientific literature as antibiotic, antiinflammatory, hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic. However, many of the reports are not placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials.
• Antiinflammatory / Anti-tumor: Anti-inflammtory and Antitumor Activities of Seeds Extracts of Malunggay—A study showed the crude ethanol extract of dried seeds inhibited the carrageenan-induced inflammation in the hind paw of mice by 85% at a dosage of 3 mg/g body weight;  the mature green seeds by 77%. The crude ethanol extract also inhibited the formation of Epstein-Barr virus-early antigen (EBV-EA) induced by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). At a dosage of 100 ?g/ml, the extract inhibited EBV-EA formation by 100% suggesting its antitumor-promoting activity. <Abstract:http://www.stii.dost.gov.ph/pjsweb/data/antitumor_of_malunggay.htm&gt;
• Cancer: Possible Role of Moringa oleifera Lam. Root in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Study suggests a role for M Oleifera, shown to interfere with cytokine pathways.
• Asthma: Antiasthmatic activity of Moringa oleifera Lam: A clinical study: Study showed improvement in forced vital capacity, FEV1, and peak expiratory flow rate. It suggests a usefulness for MO seed kernel in patients with asthma.
• Antibiotic: 50 years ago, a study yielded Pterygospermin, a compound that readily dissociates into two molecules of benzyl isothiocyanate which has been shown to have antimicrobial properties. Unfortunately, many of the reports of antibiotic efficacy in humans were not from placebo controlled, randomized clinical trials. Recent studies have demonstrated possible efficacy against H. pylori.
• Hormonal properties / Abortifacient: Biochemical observations and histologic findings have been correlated with the anti-implantation action of aequous extracts, one possible explanation for its use as an abortifacient. source
• Antiurolithiatic: Study showed lowering of stone forming constituents in the kidneys of calculogenic rats with the use of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of MO suggesting antiurolithiatic activity.
• Antimicrobial / Water Purifyiing: Study of MO seeds paste for water purification yielded a steroidal glycoside, strophantidin, a bioactive agent in the seed. The seed paste was found effective in clarification and sedimentation of inorganic and organic matter in raw water, reducing total microbial and coliform counts by 55% and 65% respectively, in 24 hours, compared to alum with 65% and 83% reduction.
• Antipyretic / Wound Healing: Study of the ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of MO showed significant antipyretic activity in rats; the ethyl acetate extract of dried leaves showed significant wound healing on rat wound models.
• Analgeic: Previous studies have shown analgesic activity from the leaves of MO. This study on the alcoholic extract of MO seeds showed potent analgesic activity comparable to that of aspirin dose of 25 mg/kg BW.
• Hepatoprotective / Antioxidant: Study concluded that the alcoholic extracts of MO produced significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity, the aqueous extracts of the fruit less than the alcoholic extract.

Source: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Malunggay.html