Nutritional Values of Moringa

 The following analysis of dried Moringa leaf powder is per 100 grams of edible portion.

Moringa contains all the essential amino acids.

Protein (g) 27.1

Fiber (g) 19.2

Calcium (mg) 2,003

Magnesium (mg) 368

Phosphorus (mg) 204

Potassium (mg) 1,324

Copper (mg) 0.57

Iron (mg) 28.2

Sulphur (mg) 870

Oxalic acid (mg) 1.6%

Vitamin A-B carotene (mg) 16.3

Vitamin B – choline (mg) – 
Vitamin B1 – thiamin (mg) 2.64

Vitamin B2 – riboflavin (mg) 20.5

Vitamin B3 – nicotinic acid (mg) 8.2

Vitamin C 0 ascorbic acid (mg) 17.3

Vitamin E tocopherol acetate mg) 113

Arginine (g/16gN) 1.33%

Histidine (g/16gN) 0.61%

Lysine (g/16gN) 1.32%

Tryptophan (g/16gN) 0.43%

Phenylanaline (g/16gN) 1.39%

Methionine (g/16gN) 0.35%

Threonine (g/16gN) 1.19%

Leucine (g/16gN) 1.95%

Isoleucine (g/16gN) 0.83%

Valine (g/16gN) 1.06%

Links:

www.moringanews.org/doc/GB/Posters/Broin_poster.pdf

http://www.moringatree.co.za/analysis.html

www.moringasource.com/nutrition.php

http://www.naturalnews.com/022272.html

Notes on Winter Herbs

As we welcome everyone who visits Shamanic Gardener, we especially appreciate comments and questions. Our last post before the Autumn Equinox generated a lot of questions about finding Moringa (Moringa oleifera).

Moringa is not easy to find at American nurseries and seed companies; it’s up to all of us to ask for it at our favorite garden centers and seed companies. Although there are numerous online sources for moringa powder, I recommend purchasing seeds and growing your own. Every community garden, local food bank, church soup kitchen, health center, yoga center, etc., could be growing hedges of moringa trees to provide a free source of nutritional food.

Presently I buy my seeds from ECHO, http://www.echonet.org, in North Fort Myers, Florida. The moringa tree grows very quickly from seed. Because the long roots tend to grow straight just under the surface of the ground they can be carefully dug up and cut into shorter pieces for a substitute to horseradish – it’s commonly known as the ‘horseradish tree’. The tree will die back from freezing temperatures, but when the weather warms, the main trunk sprouts several more trees. People are having success saving the tree over the winter months by placing it in a container to place in a sunny, warm room of the house.

The photo of a moringa hedge is from: http://www.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=1169#

Vegetarian Awareness Month

In celebration of National Vegetarian Awareness, October 2011 – Here is an easy recipe for Weight Watcher’s Vegetarian Chili.  Photo taken at the Silverlake Farmer’s Market, Los Angeles.  Share your favorite Vege-Burger.

Ingredients

• 3 carrots, diced
• 2 1/2 cups diced peeled butternut squash
• 2 yellow squash or zucchini, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 jalapeno
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (15 ounce) can red beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/3 cup barbecue sauce

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients in the slow cooker, except honey and barbecue sauce. Then mix well
2. Cover and cook 4-5 hours on high, or 8-10 on low
3. Add the barbecue sauce and honey, stir and serve

                            ENJOY

Moringa Leaf Harvest

It is very easy to harvest and dry Moringa Tree leaves in just a couple days. Whenever you want some dried leaves, just snap off a branch from the tree and spread the leaves on a thin cloth or a large dinner napkin; if it is humid, a thin cloth allows the air to circulate more easily. Leaves are then spread evenly over the napkin.

The leaves are gently pulled off the tiny branches in the same way you gently pull off leaves from a thyme or rosemary twig. If some tiny twigs are dried with the leaves they are also edible and very easy to remove or re-crush. I store mine in glass jars or in large washed-in-dishwasher yogurt containers. Enjoy the incredible nutrition by sprinkling in your teapot, over salads and breakfast omelets, pour some into the batter of your homemade muffins or biscuits or add more nutrition to shakes and smoothies..