MALUNGGAY HERBAL CAPSULES
Scientific Name: Moringa Oleifera
I am a breast feeding mother and I am afraid I am losing my milk, or that I am not producing enough milk?
-How is she gaining weight? (Most peds will let you come in free just for a weigh)
- Does she seem hungry? If so, let her nurse as often and as long as she wants for a few days and see if that fixes the problem.
Malunggay’s medicinal magic
LAST WEEK’S commentary on “The Miracle of Malunggay,” elicited a very large response through e-mail.
One was from Dr. Edwin Balbarino (09285054224), whom we wrote about last Dec. 1, 2006. Currently managing the Visayas State University, Isabel campus, Balbarino advocates the use of vetiver, the miracle grass. Now, he is doing the same thing for malunggay.
Balbarino makes an important point. Though malunggay (scientific name: Moringa oleifera) is nutritious, it should also be made more delicious, thus increasing its acceptability and commercial viability.
He writes: “Here in Leyte, malunggay juice is extracted and mixed with lemonsito juice to produce iced candies or cold drinks for children who normally do not like eating vegetables.”
He intends to work with Rafael Espino (09282876644), director of the Department of Agriculture’s high-value crops program on “malunggay production, processing and utilization research.”
But the most common issue that came up in the deluge of e-mail on malunggay was the one raised by Ruben Sanidad, who wrote: “I’ll appreciate it if you can inform me of the health benefits of malunggay.”
Health benefits
This chart is an excellent graphic representation of malunggay’s health benefits.
Also, according to Dr. Lydia Marero of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), “one hundred grams or 1 cup of cooked malunggay leaves contain 3.1 g protein, 0.6 g fiber, 96 mg calcium, 29 mg phosphorus, 1.7 mg iron, 2,820 mg ß-carotene, 0.07 mg thiamin, 0.14 mg riboflavin, 1.1 mg niacin, and 53 mg ascorbic acid or vitamin C.”
Marero wrote in her article titled “Malunggay Miracle Vegetable,” that the malunggay leaves “are incomparable as a source of the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cystine, often the natural minerals humans lack.”
“Due to its high vitamins A, C, and E, which are very potent antioxidants, malunggay is a very good quencher of unstable free radicals that can react with and damage molecules that cause aging,” she added. “They also prevent the onset of various chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer, and heart and kidney diseases.”
In addition to its antibitiotic and antifungal properties, there are many more health benefits from malunggay. On Sept. 14, the Inquirer’s Amy Remo reported: “A recent study conducted by experts at the Bureau of Plants Industry states that the fruit of the malunggay helped immensely to increase the sperm count of men who ate it.”
Breastfeeding women
Breast milk is the best milk for our children. No expensive milk formula comes close as a substitute.
Often, the problem of most women is how to increase breast milk during the breastfeeding months.
Malunggay leaves and pods can help the mother’s health and pass on strength to the fetus or nursing child. One rounded soup (table) spoon of leaf powder will satisfy about 14% of the protein, 40% of the calcium, 23% of the iron and nearly all the vitamin A needs of a child aged one to three.
Six rounded spoonfuls of leaf powder will satisfy nearly all of a woman’s daily iron and calcium needs during times of pregnancy and breast-feeding (source: http://malunggayherbtea.multiply.com/).
National focal point
However, despite its health benefits, a project involving the malunggay plant reportedly failed to take off.
At the weekly MAP-Agribusiness and Countryside Development Foundation meeting held on Oct. 9, malunggay was not accepted at the desired level because of its taste. This is where Barbarino’s point of making malunggay more palatable comes in.
To be successful, malunggay must be profitable. Taste is one of the key factors that should be addressed to ensure widespread use and profitability.
Other factors should likewise be identified and addressed by malunggay stakeholders to ensure that the health benefits of the plant reach the millions of Filipinos who need them.
Though there are many focal points for malunggay in different areas, it is recommended that the DA’s Biotechnology Program: Malunggay Bionet Biocommerce under Director Alice Ilaga (09178439538) must take the lead in coordinating efforts to promote and sell malunggay products.
Please get in touch with me or call me at my cellphone # 0917.3676568 for supporting facts regarding what Herbal capsules does for the body.
