Moringa – Chef Jiwa Raga’s Superfood
Intrigued by Chef Jiwa Raga’s new-to-me superfood, I did a little research to investigate exactly what MORINGA is and discovered that it’s ‘MAGIC’ sourced from the Moringa OLEIFERA TREE which is native to South Asia.
The leaves were once eaten by the ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians, and they have been used in traditional medicine for centuries among various cultures. In the Ayurvedic system of medicine, MORINGA is thought to cure or prevent up to 300 diseases, and more recently the findings from over 1300 different modern scientific studies have begun to validate these claims.
WHY YOU SHOULD USE MORINGA?
Chef Jiwa Raga – Executive Chef at The Lombok Lodge for more than 12 years – proudly explains why you should choose Moringa;
‘… Moringa leaves can be a part of your diet several ways. If you’re nearing your threshold for matcha drinks and foods, it’s time to meet its green powdered cousin: moringa tea. It’s not actually new (of course, neither was matcha), and it has been used in Asia and Africa as a medicinal herb for years. Moringa might look just like matcha and have a similar name, but it has completely different health claims and tastes way different — though the hype is just as real…’.
‘…Moringa a powered tea made out of dried moringa tree leaves. Nutritionally speaking, the tea is chock full of vitamins and minerals. It’s high in fiber than Matcha, contains all nine essential amino acids, and is loaded with protein as well as vitamins A, C, and E. Moringa used as a herbal medicine relieves symptoms of arthritis, epilepsy, diabetes, heart disease and kidney stones. Moringa leaves are rich in protein, vitamin B6, vitamin C and iron. Moringa can help you fight skin issues.
Moringa powder has many impressive health benefits. Few plants can boast such a rich nutritional composition. The powder is rich in vitamins A and C, carotenoids, amino acids, polyphenols, potassium, protein, calcium and much more. In fact, it would likely be easier to list the nutritional values that the plant does not possess rather than which ones it does. This is where moringa has matcha beat.
Moringa is also rich in: Calcium – Good for your bones . Iron – Improves the ability of blood to transport oxygen. Copper – Helps maintain immune function and healthy blood vessels. Vitamin A – Keeps your eyes healthy. Magnesium – Combats depression and reduces inflammation. Zinc – Improves immune function.
The many health benefits of MORINGA is that this magical powder is rumored to have is lengthy. It’s said to rival turmeric with its anti-inflammatory effects, and have positive effects on the digestive system…’
MORINGA MIRACLE TEA & HEALTH BENEFITS
Weight Loss, Heart Health And Other Health Benefits You Cannot Miss. MORINGA is growing in popularity these days, it’s healing properties have long been praised in Ayurvedic medicine. Applied topically or taken internally, it’s said to cure various diseases. Moringa powder is composed of pulverized plant leaves. MORINGA, commonly called drumstick, is also quite popular for the super popular ‘MIRACLE TEA.’ This tea is made with the leaves of moringa which is a favourite of many health-conscious people. It helps with fat loss, controls blood pressure and also improves the quality of the hair and skin. Moringa leaves can also be consumed with warm water with a mixture of lemon and honey.
DIABETICS
MORINGA leaves are rich in protein, vitamin B6, vitamin C and iron. MORINGA leaves have Quercetin which is an antioxidant that helps to lower blood pressure and another antioxidant is Chlorogenic acid which stabilizes blood sugar levels. The Chlorogenic acid found in MORINGA may help the body process sugar better and affect insulin too.”
WEIGHT LOSS
MORINGA is also known as the ‘Miracle Plant’. Leaves of the tree contain abundant vitamins, minerals and polyphenols and they can indeed help you to accelerate your weight loss goals. 100 g of moringa powder contains 34 g of fibre. Fibre, especially soluble fibre, is recommended for people looking to lose weight as it suppresses appetite and makes you eat less than usual. Fibre also lowers the level of hunger hormones that the body produces.
SKINCARE
MORINGA leaves are ground into powder form to make it last longer in transit to other areas of the world. Oil from the seeds is commonly found in skincare, but the leaves (and the powder made from them) is where most of the nutrients are found.
HORMONE REGULATING
One of the most highly favored benefits MORINGA powders and teas are said to have is a hormone-regulating effect. Much like matcha, MORINGA is packed with antioxidants, making it a free-radical fighting machine for the body and mind. Oxidative stress can do damage to the skin and internal organs, so superfoods that are this rich in antioxidants are quintessential in keeping the immune system functioning at its highest levels. Whereas MORINGA has plenty of antioxidants of its own, matcha has more EGCG and caffeine (Moringa has none). It also tastes better.
CANCER FIGHTING
Polyphenols in MORINGA leaves have and may reduce your risk of conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.Other rich sources of polyphenols include fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee — which is one of the reasons why diets rich in these foods have been associated with better health.
ARE THERE DOWNSIDES TO TAKING MORINGA?
The biggest downside to taking MORINGA is the taste. It is often referred to as the “horseradish tree” because of the similar appearance of the roots, as well as the taste. Whereas matcha lovers will add the green tea powder to lattes, smoothies and countless types of breakfast bowls, you’ll really only see moringa users adding it to their smoothies in small doses. The typical dose of moringa powder is ½ teaspoon every day.
Many people can experience diuretic effects if they take too much of the powder. The health benefits definitely make it worth the not-so-pleasant taste, especially when it’s covered up by a delicious smoothie. But there’s no need to overdo it by drinking it every day for extended periods of time.
THE BATTLE OF THE GREENS – MORINGA VS OTHER SUPERFOODS
There is indeed a the ‘Battle of the Greens’ and MORINGA dominates it. Moringa is an undefeated Nutritional Champion!
Try it for yourself. A diet full of kale, spinach, matcha and whatever the next “it” food may be is certainly a diet worth having. But imagine just how much further you can take your health if you add MORINGA TO your daily routine. Imagine all of the amino acids working to support your brain, tissue and skin so that you are a glowing ray of sunshine in all of your endeavors. Imagine the ease with which you can move through your day as the antioxidants dutifully fight off the free radicals that come your way. MORINGA is the clear winner in the Battle of the Greens by a landslide. Let’s have look to the battle;
#1 MORINGA VS. KALE
Kale is a leafy green vegetable closely related to brussell sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower. It is found in a wide variety of places around the world, even at the Organic Garden of The Lombok Lodge Private Villa Estate. Kale is also widely available in most grocery stores. A versatile food, Kale can be served steamed, boiled, or raw.
Nutritionally, kale is known for its high levels of iron, calcium, beta carotene, and vitamin C. It’s also a good source of plant protein. Furthermore, the carotenoids and phytochemicals in kale may protect against certain diseases, including cancer. Kale was thrust into the spotlight almost a decade ago and has been the Green Du Joir ever since, and for good reason. Kale is packed with iron and is an incredible source of antioxidants. It provides a serious dose of fiber and a lot of cancer-fighting properties. Even so, MORINGA has more.
MORINGA has twice as much protein than kale and four times as much calcium. It has 6 times more iron and nearly double the fiber. MORINGA is also a better source of B vitamins and, let’s face it, is a whole lot more versatile
#2 MORINGA VS. SPINACH
In case you didn’t know, March 26th is national spinach day…so get ready! Before you get too excited to chow down on your famous sailor’s favorite treat, you might want to consider trying MORINGA! Your mom told you spinach is good for you, Popeye swears his reputation by it, Shirley Temple sings about it in “You Gotta Eat Your Spinach, Baby” and even Urban Dictionary defines “Eat Your Spinach” as ‘taking care of your body’.
Throughout pop culture, spinach has been drilled into our minds as the ultimate green super food. That was until kale popped onto our radars. OR- better yet, until MORINGA decided to be the biggest kid on the block. In Round One, moringa delivered a decisive knock out punch against Kale… let’s take a look at how moringa fares against spinach in the Battle of the Greens.
For some reason spinach has been known as a great source of iron but the truth is that there is at least one green source of iron that blows spinach out of the water. You guessed it: MORINGA. In fact, one serving of MORINGA POWDER will give you half of your daily recommended iron!
Not only that, MORINGA has more calcium, protein, B vitamins and vitamin C than spinach, as well. While spinach is certainly a great ingredient for your green smoothies it seems that moringa is always a better choice.
#3 MORINGA VS. MATCHA
Just like matcha, you’ll often see the MORINGA powder added into smoothie recipes to get the numerous health benefits, but you can even find tea bags for a convenient way to get a daily dosage of the superstar leaves. Matcha; The catkins, which are the antioxidants make them super healthy. But due to the high price point and limited availability, it’s highly recommended to use moringa. The more, MORINGA has “10 times more fibre, 30 times more protein and 100 times more calcium” than matcha.
Matcha has been the current obsession all over the world. You must have stumbled upon this favourite flavour of many through lattes, chocolates and ice-creams. Moringa is a stronger alternative to matcha, so I highly recommended the nutrient-rich moringa instead of matcha. Matcha comes from the same plant as green tea, but since it’s made from the entire leaf, it packs in a more concentrated amount of antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds.
Matcha is a super trendy green tea that offers heaps of benefits. It is best known for its extensive list of antioxidants, all fighting free radicals and preventing cancer. Yet, MORINGA has more.
Matcha is best known for its cancer-fighting antioxidant catechin, which truthfully is pretty impressive. MORINGA, however, is packed with vitamins A, C and E, which are powerful antioxidants that are abundant in each serving of moringa. More than that, though, are the following – Beta-carotene (and other carotenoids) for vision support and healthy skin; – Lycopene for prostate support – Flavonoids for cardiovascular support;– Proanthocyanidins for *ahem* urinary tract support– Astaxanthin for beautiful skin as well as a healthy brain.
MORINGA AT THE LOMBOK LODGE
At The Lombok Lodge Hotel Organic Tea Garden, Medana Bay
At the Organic Garden of The Lombok Lodge Private Villa Estate, Gondang Village
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Moringa Smoothie Bowl – Breakfast Menu
Adele’s SirtFood Breakfast Juice with Moringa – Sirtfood Menu
Moringa Gazpacho for Lunch
The Lombok Lodge Moringa Miracle Tea – Afternoon Tea Menu
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Moringa Scrub at The Lombok Lodge Spa
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Fresh Moringa Powder – at The Lombok Lodge Boutique
Enjoy Moringa!
Stay Happy! Stay Healthy!
Ben
Owner The Lombok Lodge Hospitality ®
Whatsapp: https://wa.me/32477296093
* Disclaimer: The information included at this blog post for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.