Last week I wrote about the remarkable therapeutic properties of Moringa oleifera. This tree is native to northern India and Africa and has for centuries been used to fight disease and treat many ailments.
As I explained last week there are many health benefits when taking Moringa oleifera, however one of the most interesting is the anti-inflammatory effect Moringa oleifera has on the body. It is believed Moringa oleifera contains some of the most powerful and effective anti-inflammatory compounds in natural medicine.
Many sufferers of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and overall joint pain say they receive a significant reduction in pain and sometimes complete remission. Because of these anti-inflammatory qualities, Moringa also works well in prevention and treatment of gout. Moringa oleifera can act as an anti-inflammatory as well as alkalising the body. Many will be aware, lowering acid levels by alkalising your body is important in treating and preventing gout and arthritis.
Cycooxygenase-2 is one of the key enzymes in our body which assists the body in producing the inflammatory compounds which are necessary when we suffer an infection or an injury. These inflammatory compounds in such cases are essential for the healing process. However when the body generates excessive amounts of these key enzymes, we then suffer from chronic inflammation and pain. The phytonutrients contained in the Moringa oleifera may directly help the body to restrain and control those key enzymes which cause joint pain or those nagging pains caused by exercise or general wear and tear i.e. old age!
In addition to these key enzyme inhibitors Moringa oleifera is believed to contain other pain relieving qualities including bio-active compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids and polyphenols which may reduce inflammation and encourage bone and joint health.
When we think of inflammation I guess most will automatically think of arthritis however low grade chronic inflammation can also play an ongoing part in other diseases such as autoimmune disorders, for example rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and polymyalgia rheumatica where our body’s immune system mistakenly sets up an inflammatory response although there’s no inflammation to fight off. Other inflammatory diseases include inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease, colitis and ulcerative colitis. Moringa oleifera, because of it’s anti-inflammatory qualities may be beneficial in treatment of these diseases.
Some migraine sufferers find if they follow an anti inflammatory diet their migraine headaches subside. When migraines are caused by low grade chronic inflammation, taking a supplement like Moringa oleifera may also be worthwhile.
Low grade chronic inflammation is believed to be the source of many diseases including cancer, obesity and heart disease which could therefore mean it’s the foremost cause of deaths in the western world.
Quite often there will be no indication of chronic inflammation until illness occurs. Chronic inflammation can be present in your body for years with no obvious signs. It is low grade and systemic quietly and insidiously causing damage to your tissues without you even being aware until of course you become unwell.
It is obvious how extremely important it is to prevent chronic inflammation in our body. Supplementing with Moringa oleifera may be a great way to prevent chronic inflammation. As I wrote last week Moringa has many other health benefits – it is extremely high in nutrients. It is a nutrient dense food source used by UNICEF and other aid agencies to help to treat malnutrition.
Because Moringa is so nutrient dense, most people will find taking Moringa will increase their energy levels – I’m sure most of us would love a little extra energy to get us through the day. Moringa oleifera comes in a powder as well as a capsule.
Diet is also vitally important when addressing and keeping inflammation in check. An anti-inflammatory diet is similar to an alkalising diet. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables. Remember the ideal diet is 80% alkaline and 20% acidic. A list of acid/alkaline foods is available in our store. Also available are free test kits to test the acid/alkaline level in your body.
If you want to know more about Moringa Leaf Powder call in to see Bev and the team at Go Vita, Your Health Shop at 5 North St, Batemans Bay or phone on 44729737. Don’t forget to tune into Bev and Marianne on 2EC every Wednesday at 12.30pm
This article is provided for information purposes only - all comments and enquiries are to be directed to Go Vita Batemans Bay
