The newest superfood on the block

Surely we're all ready for kale to warm the benches and take a break from the spotlight? Kale smoothies, kale salads, kale chips...we can only eat so much of this greenery until we're ready some a new superfood - and we're in luck. Introducing, Moringa!

Jam-packed with vitamin C, calcium, and amino acids, Moringa is made from a horseradish tree, making it slightly bitter. Although new to us, this superfood has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine. Originating from India, this healthy ingredient comes in a powder form, similar looking to our beloved matcha. Like the rest, this superfood goes great in smoothies, juices and booster shots. But the benefits don't stop there. The plant can also balance your blood sugar (which helps with mood swings, controls cravings for that midnight Dom Road run and reduced inflammation), boost your energy and provide a caffeine-free kick. A study published in the journal, Ecology of Food and Nutrition found that Moringa leaves contain up to eight times the vitamin C of oranges, three times the potassium of bananas and four times the calcium of cow’s milk.

At this point, Moringa still sounds like your typical superfood that will work wonders for your health and most likely fall off the face of the earth after its hype. However, Mark Olson, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico says “with so much of the global population facing protein-energy malnutrition, a protein-rich food that grows well in a drought-prone area of high population density is very important." With protein-energy malnutrition as a pressing nutritional problem in many countries in Southern Asia, Latin America, and Africa , it is becoming an issue that we cannot ignore. It affects one-third of children in developing countries and those who face food insecurity. With our pantries already packed full of superfoods, it is benefits like these that set Moringa apart from the rest. 

photo credit: Moringafarms.com, Today.com