The moringa plant has been used for its beneficial properties for thousands of years. Among its many benefits, moringa has been shown to provide high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, balance hormones, improve digestive health, and protects and nourishes the skin.
Moringa also helps relieve fatigue from its high concentration of iron and magnesium, plus Vitamin A which increases absorption of these minerals. Boosting an ORAC value of 157,000³, it has 6x the antioxidants of goji berries.
Antioxidants are essential in helping our bodies fight off free radical damage from our environment. By protecting our bodies this way, we can help reduce and even reverse signs of aging and also fight off disease.
Moringa aids in digestion due to its calcium content, which supports the function of digestive enzymes. The natural fiber content in Moringa also helps support the digestive system.
Blend Moringa into your morning smoothie for an easy way to incorporate this awesome adaptogen into your daily routine.
Adaptogenic herbs are plants that have been used as rejuvenating and restorative tonics in the ancient herbal medicine systems of different cultures around the world. They are characterized by their relative safety as well as their generalized action on the whole body, rather than individual organs or disease conditions. Their use brings about both physical and mental wellbeing and equips the person to handle stress and difficult situations.
Our body has specific homeostatic mechanisms that regulate everything from body temperature to blood glucose levels with the help of a biofeedback system. When blood glucose level rises following a meal, the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas pushes more sugar into the cells to bring it down to a normal range. When blood glucose is low, it is replenished by a reverse mechanism. Likewise, the hypothalamus in the brain controls the body temperature by releasing extra energy to warm up the body and activating sweat glands to cool it down as and when necessary.
Adaptogenic herbs emulate the natural homeostatic system of our body while enabling us to adjust to both physical and mental stress, including stress due to emotional problems in life, hectic schedules, strenuous activities, extreme heat and cold, debilitating diseases, and injuries. They are known to influence:
- Production of stress hormone
- Nervous system and neurotransmitters
- Body’s immune system
- Inflammatory responses of the body
- Glucose metabolism
- Energy production and release
Of all the medicinal plants known to man, only a few are recognized as adaptogens because, as per definition, the herbs should promote general health, with special focus on stress reduction, and they should have high levels of safety. This term was only coined in 1947 by the Russian pharmacologist Dr. Nikolai Lazarev, but adaptogenic herbs were often used by warriors, athletes, and travelers embarking on long and difficult journeys over mountains and rough terrain.