Malunggay, the Miracle Vegetable

            In United States, they have an apple a day to keep the doctors away. But here in the Philippines, we have what we call Malunggay. In United States, they call it Moringa and Sajina in Indian Subcontinent and Asia. The scientific name of Malunggay is Moringa oleifera Lamk.

           Leaves, pods and flowers of Malunggay are all edible. Here in the Philippines, we have several dishes cooked with Malunggay like tinolang manok (chicken ginger stew with vegetables), pinakbet (meat vegetable stew with shrimp paste) and mongo soup.

       Malunggay has many nutrients. Each ounce of Malunggay contains 3 times the iron of spinach, 7 times the Vitamin C found in oranges, 4 times the Vitamin A of carrots, 3 times the potassium of bananas and 4 times as much calcium as milk.

 1 cup of cooked Malunggay leaves contains:

• 3.1 grams protein
• 0.6 grams fiber
• 2,820 mg Beta-carotene
• 96 mg calcium
• 53 mg Vitamin C  (ascorbic acid)
• 29 mg phosphorus
• 1.7 mg iron
• 1.1 mg niacin
• 0.14 mg Vitamin B₂ (riboflavin)
• 0.07 mg Vitamin B₁ (thiamine)

         Malunggay is a practical solution to malnutrition and other health problems. Studies shows that people who consume Malunggay regularly have an strengthened immune system, controlled blood pressure, sugar level of diabetes managed and reduced arthritis pains. Even lactating mothers are advised by health workers to eat Malunggay leaves because it is proven to produce more milk.