Moringa is a plant whose scientific name is moringa oleifera. It is a tree originally from India, where its fruits are used to feed humans and animals.
From the botanical point of view, this plant belongs to the moringácea family , has a single genus and thirteen different species. Its appearance is not very harmonious, but its growth is fast and its cultivation is highly productive. After planting, in a year, the moringa can reach a height of three meters. Its foliage is dense and its fruit has the shape of a longitudinal sheath. The seed of Moringa contains oil, more specifically an oil with oleic acid, similar to olive oil.
Moringa adapts to all types of environment: arid, semi-arid, tropical and subtropical zones.
It can even be grown in desert areas. Its cultivation allows, in turn, to combat soil erosion.
Moringa can be used in various dishes: combined with rice, in broths, in salads, in corn pies or combined with chicken.
health benefits
Its leaves are used as an important part of traditional medicine in several countries to cure various diseases. Thus, it is used to prevent malnutrition, childhood blindness associated with vitamin deficiencies, to counteract the effects of diabetes, to normalize blood pressure, in addition to being highly valued for its anti-inflammatory properties. Among athletes, it is highly appreciated, as it is a multivitamin plant. Its roots are used to cure diseases of the circulatory system or to prevent diarrhea . Moringa leaves have a high vitamin C content.
All parts of the plant are edible and, in this sense, have nutritional properties due to the proteins and minerals they contain. In some countries in Asia and Africa, this plant is highly appreciated to treat children’s malnutrition problems, as it provides iron, phosphorus and calcium. For all these reasons, the FAO carries out campaigns so that this plant can be used to minimize malnutrition in the world.
In animal feed
Moringa is revolutionizing animal nutrition in some territories. This is due to its high protein content and low cost . For this reason, it serves to feed all kinds of animal species, especially cattle, lambs and poultry. It should be remembered that of the known essential amino acids, most contain moringa.
