Friday, April 22, 2011

the miracle tree

magine if you will, a tree so full of nutrients, it can rebuild weak bones, enrich anemic blood and even enable a malnourished mother to nurse her starving baby. Imagine if there was a tree than can purify dirty water, can treat diabetes and control high blood pressure. Imagine if this same tree is drought-resistant and can grow under harsh conditions in countries suffering from poverty and hunger.

There is such a tree...it's called Moringa Oleifera, known also as The Miracle Tree. There are 13 varieties of Moringa, Moringa Oleifera is the most well known. Every part of this tree is edible, from the leaves, trunks, stems, all the way down to its root. The flowers can be eaten or used to make tea and provide good amounts of both calcium and potassium. The young pods can be cooked and reportedly have a taste reminiscent of asparagus. The green peas and surrounding white material can be removed from larger pods and cooked in various ways.