Moringa Green Superleaf Powder

Our In-House pharmacist has written two article about Moringa Green Superleaf Powder:

• Moringa Powder - Health Benefits, and More
• Adaptogens - What Are They And Which Ones Should You Choose?

None noted. 

Organic Aduna Moringa Leaf Powder.

Aduna Moringa Nutritionals:

Per Serving (10g) Per 100g
Energy 128.1kj / 30.6kcal 1281kj / 306kcal
Fat 0.6g 6g
Of which: Saturates .17g 1.7g
Carbohydrates 2.6g 26g
Of which: Sugars 0.79g 7.9g
Fibre 2.4g 24g
Protein 2.5g 25g
Salt 0.017g 0.17g
NRV% NRV%
Vitamin A 151μg 18.9% 1510 μg 189%
Vitamin E 8.1mg 67.4% 81mg 674%
Vitamin K 119μg 158.7% 1190μg 1158%
Vitamin C 2.3mg 2.9% 23mg 29%
Thiamin (B1) 0.08mg 7.3% 0.8mg 73%
Riboflavin (B2) 0.1mg 7.9% 1.1mg 79%
Vitamin B6 0.1mg 7.2% 1mg 72%
Vitamin B12 0.2μg 8.1% 2μg 81%
Potassium 145mg 7.3% 1450mg 73%
Calcium 198mg 24.7% 1980mg 247%
Magnesium 49.5mg 13.2% 495mg 132%
Iron 4.5mg 32.2% 45mg 322%
Zinc 0.25mg 2.5% 2.5mg 25%

What is Moringa?
The Moringa Tree or Moringa Oleifera to use its scientific name, is a medium-sized tree that is native to Africa and Asia. It is also known as the ‘drumstick tree’ or the ‘miracle tree.’ Every part of the moringa tree is valuable: its seeds can be used to purify water; its bark, roots and flowers all have incredible medicinal properties and its leaves are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet.  Aduna Moringa is made from the finest quality young moringa leaves which are harvested, naturally dried and ground into a powder. Aduna Moringa contains 5 essential vitamins at source or rich source levels and is also high in fibre, protein and antioxidants - it really is one of nature’s most prized creations. Learn more about the benefits of moringa here.

How is Aduna Moringa Powder made?
Aduna Moringa is a natural powder made from dried moringa leaves. Although the processing of moringa leaves is simple, the quality is dependent on the delicate conditions needed for harvesting and drying - therefore, not all moringa is made equal.  To ensure nutrients are not damaged by the sunlight, Aduna Moringa is harvested before dawn. The leaves are washed in purified water before drying. At this stage, the nutritional values of the leaf increases greatly - up to 10 times more than the fresh leaves! The dried leaves are then ground into a ready-to-use green powder, perfect for giving your food and drinks a nutritional boost.

What does Aduna Moringa Powder taste like?
Aduna Moringa Powder has a green, spinachy flavour which is often compared to the taste of matcha. Unlike other green superfoods like spirulina and chlorella, moringa isn’t an algae so it doesn’t have a strong, overpowering flavour and is easy to incorporate into your daily diet.

How do I use moringa powder?
Aduna Moringa has a green spinach-like taste and is easy to incorporate into your daily diet. Try blending it into smoothies (along with other superfoods if you like), mixing it with apple juice or using it as a ‘superfood seasoning’ on your lunch or dinner. You can use it the same way as you would any veg, herb or seasoning. As Aduna Moringa Powder is 100% pure leaf powder, there’s nothing you can’t mix it with.

What are the health benefits of consuming moringa?
A single serving (10g) of Aduna Moringa Powder is packed with a variety of vitamins and minerals. It is a rich source of complete protein with all 9 essential amino acids (incredibly rare for a plant) iron, vitamin E and K and a source and vitamin A and calcium. Moringa is also 24% fibre. It has one of the highest antioxidant contents of any food. We like to think of it as nature’s multivitamin.

How much moringa powder should I take each day?
Moringa is one of the most nutrient dense superfoods on the planet, containing 5 vitamins & minerals at source or rich source level per 10g serving as well as protein, fibre and antioxidants. As it is so nutritious, we recommend beginning with ¼ or ½ a teaspoon a day and gradually building up to a full serving to give your body time to adjust. 

Where do you source your moringa from?
As with all of our ingredients our priority is to source moringa directly from small-scale producers, creating sustainable income flows for rural households. We are currently sourcing our moringa primarily from small-scale producers in Southern India while we work to build the capacity of our partners in Africa to enable them to meet our stringent quality standards.

If I heat moringa powder will it lose its nutrients?
As with most foods, heating moringa powder can lead to a reduction of nutrients, particularly the vitamins, however as moringa is so nutrient-rich, heating it will still provide you with nutritional benefits. For optimum results, we recommend stirring or sprinkling moringa into your foods after they have been cooked to ensure the nutrients aren’t lost.

What are the nutritional differences between moringa powder and fresh moringa leaves?
When moringa leaves are shade-dried like Aduna Moringa, the nutritional content increases by over 10 times so generally speaking dried moringa leaf powder has far superior nutritional value than fresh leaves. The only nutrient that is reduced by the drying process is the vitamin C content which is higher in fresh leaves. Additionally, moringa in its powdered form is much easier to incorporate into your diet (check out our easy ways to use moringa) especially if you are living in a climate where it doesn’t grow and has a much longer shelf life.

Can I take moringa instead of vitamins/supplements?
It is widely considered that nutrients from food-based sources are more bioavailable to the body and are generally better absorbed than artificially formulated supplements which need breaking down before the nutrients can be utilised.  Aduna Moringa is a pure leaf powder which means it is easily recognised by the body and in turn, readily absorbed. Thanks to its impressive nutritional profile – a rich source of protein (unusual for a plant) iron, vitamin E and vitamin K, 24% fibre and a source of vitamin A and calcium – it can be seen as a natural multi-vitamin.  However, it is important to remember that a 10g serving of moringa powder doesn’t contain all of the nutrients our bodies need such as vitamin B12 or vitamin C at source level. To be a source of a vitamin or mineral, it needs to contain over 15% of your daily requirement (NRV per serving). Therefore, it’s best to seek other natural sources for any additional vitamins or minerals your body lacks. Most people use moringa in combination with baobab powder which is rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps the body to absorb other essential nutrients in moringa, such as iron.

Why have I read conflicting information about the amount of vitamin C in moringa?
It is often reported that moringa powder is rich in vitamin C however, this is inaccurate. While it is true that fresh moringa leaves are high in vitamin C (containing 200mg per 100g), when moringa leaves are dried to form a powder, the vitamin C levels diminish considerably. Dried moringa powder has on average around 2mg of vitamin C per 100g, which is not enough to be classified as a source (it would need 12mg per 100g). Aduna carry out extensive nutritional analysis on all our products and aim to be fully transparent about the nutritional content of our range. If you are looking to up your vitamin C levels naturally, Aduna baobab powder contains 225mg vitamin C per 100g.

Is your moringa high quality?
Moringa powder is available to buy all over the world, however, not all moringa powder is made equal and the quality and nutritional content can vary widely. As moringa is mostly grown in developing countries where infrastructure can be poor and resources limited, harvested leaves are often washed with unpure water which can contain bacteria and other microbes. We have tested moringa from a huge number of suppliers all around the world and very few have passed our rigorous quality controls. When buying moringa, it is important to use an organic certified moringa brand to ensure the powder is free from any harmful substances.  Aduna is certified by the UK's leading organic certification body, Soil Association. All our moringa products are made from 100% organic, pure moringa leaves and every batch undergoes in-depth microbial analysis to guarantee the highest possible quality.  Aduna Moringa is produced using a method known as shadow drying which provides the highest nutritional values compared to other methods such as oven and sun drying. We do not use any harmful pesticides and our products have no additives or preservatives. 

Are there any side effects I may experience from consuming Aduna Moringa powder?
There are no known side effects to consuming moringa - however, as with all foods, everyone’s body responds differently. It is important to remember that moringa is simply a vegetable so in the same way people can feel bloated after eating brussel sprouts or might be allergic to carrots, you could experience symptoms (such as stomach upset or dizziness) after eating moringa especially when just starting out which can be a side effect of your body getting used to the nutrients and eliminating any toxins. Over time, these side effects should gradually disappear. We recommend starting with ¼ or ½ a teaspoon a day to see how your body reacts and increase your intake from there.  If you are worried about adding moringa powder to your diet, ask your doctor or medical practitioner for advice. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or on medication, consult a doctor before use. Enjoy as part of a healthy, balanced diet and active lifestyle.

I take other green superfoods, how does Aduna Moringa compare?
Unlike most other superfoods, Aduna Moringa has not been spray-dried, freeze-dried or processed in any way. It is a 100% natural and organic nutrient-dense leaf that is a rich source of protein, (including all 9 essential amino acids - unusual for a plant), iron, vitamin E and vitamin K. It is also 31% fibre and a source of vitamin A and calcium.  Popular green superfood powders such as chlorella and spirulina, contain on average 3-4 vitamins or minerals at source or rich source levels per serving (based on their NRVs or Nutrient Reference Value) whereas Aduna Moringa contains 6. Learn more about how NRVs are calculated and the nutritional profile of Aduna Moringa here.  Additionally, moringa has a spinachy earthy flavour that is easy to incorporate into your meals - think of it as a vegetable powder that can be added to pretty much anything.

Can I take moringa while pregnant or breastfeeding?
If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, we recommend seeking medical advice before taking moringa.  If you are breastfeeding, moringa is perfectly safe to take and in fact has been scientifically proven to increase breast milk! This is because the leaves are a natural galactagogue, a substance that promotes or increases the flow of a mother’s milk. Learn more about the benefits of moringa when breastfeeding here.

Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep out of reach of young children. Do not exceed the daily dose.  If pregnant, or breastfeeding, or if you are taking medication, or on medical care, consult your physician prior to use.  While we work to ensure that product information on our website is correct, on occasion manufacturers may alter their ingredient lists.  Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and/or different information than that shown on our website.  All information about the products on our website is provided for information purposes only. We recommend that you do not solely rely on the information presented on our website.  Please always read the labels, warnings, and directions provided with the product before using or consuming a product.  In the event of any safety concerns or for any other information about a product please carefully read any instructions provided on the label or packaging and contact the manufacturer.  Content on this site is not intended to substitute for advice given by medical practitioner, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional. Contact your health-care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem.  Information and statements about products are not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.  The customer reviews are only moderated for offensive content – they should not be regarded as medical or health advice; no reliance should therefore be placed on them; and they are not endorsed by Victoria Health. If you have any health problems or questions regarding the suitability of any product please contact a health professional. Products are not medicinal unless otherwise stated. Victoria Health accepts no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products by manufacturers or other third parties. This does not affect your statutory rights.