Moringa oleifera a plant base source of essential amino acids.

Proteins (chain of amino acids) are complex organic compounds. While most amino acids can be synthesised by the human body from the food we consume, the essential amino acids have to be consumed from external sources.

There are two classifications for Protein containing food. The classifications are complete or incomplete and are in accordance to whether the food has all the eight (8) essential amino acids or some of the essential amino acids. Unfortunately, most of the complete protein containing foods are animal based such as, meat, eggs, milk, poultry and, as we now know from scientific researches, too much consumption of meat products can contribute to many health problems such as cholesterol, hypertension, gout and so on. The other alternative is to consume soybean, the only know protein complete plant base food or to consume a combined diet of a number of incomplete plant based protein food such as beans, rice, and corn and so on.

Although soybean is a good source of complete protein, Moringa oleifera has higher content of essential amino acids. Regular consumption of Moringa health supplements will certainly help to keep the body's immune system in good form and efficient.

The table below shows the value of amino acids in 100gm of raw mature soybean seeds and in 100gm of fresh Moringa oleifera leaves:

Descriptions	Type of Amino acids	Soybean	Moringa oleifera
Arginine	Amino acids	3.2g	6.0g
Histidine	Amino acids	1.1g	2.1g
Lysine	Essential Amino acids	2.7g	4.3g
Trytophan	Essential Amino acids	0.6g	1.9g
Phenylanaline	Essential Amino acids	2.1g	6.4g
Methionine	Essential Amino acids	0.5g	2.0g
Threonine	Essential Amino acids	1.8g	4.9g
Leucine	Essential Amino acids	3.3g	9.3g
Isoleucine	Essential Amino acids	2.0g	6.3g
Valine	Essential Amino acids	2.0g	7.1g

Human beings tend to be lazy and are always looking for quick and easy ways to accomplish things. Consuming soybeans for its essential amino acids requires substantial efforts as soybean needs to be cooked before it can be consumed. With Moringa oleifera, you can actually consume it raw and fresh. It is as simple as eating it like a salad or if you have access to its dried leaf powder, it can be simply sprinkled over the food before consuming the food or in capsule form.

 Moringa oleifera leaves can be eaten raw. It is a little "spicey" and is best eaten raw with other salad leaves and some dressing such as Italian dressing.

Moringa dried leaf powder can be sprinkled over any food before it is consumed to enjoy the benefits of its rich source of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The powder can also be made into a dip as a side-dish or even be capsulised to be taken as a health supplement.

Moringa oleifera is a superb source of Essential Amino Acids...

Moringa oleifera is a wonderful source of not just one or two missing essential amino acids. It is, in fact, the only currently known plant base source that has all 8 essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesise and have to be obtained from diet.

Taking Moringa health supplements will insure that the human body gets all the essential amino acids from one source rather than getting these from many food sources.

Amino acids are proteins and every cell in the human body contains protein which are found in body fluids, muscles, organs and skin.

Amino acids are particularly important to life and have many functions in metabolism. Unfortunately, many of us are more familiar with the importance of vitamins and minerals that we forget about the importance of amino acids to maintaining good health.

Each amino acid has its own functions and benefits, such as, improve muscle development, increase metabolism, help resists allergic reactions, and so on. Amino acids are the building block from which proteins are made. To-date, there are some 22 amino acids, with each having its own unique characteristics that is capable of being fitted together into an almost limitless variety of proteins.

Amino acids have a direct interaction with vitamins and minerals. Amino acids enable vitamins and minerals to perform their specific jobs in the body properly. Even if the body absorbs vitamins and minerals, they cannot be effective unless the necessary amino acids are present.

Essential and Non-Essential Amino Acids
Amino acids are categorized as either "essential (indispensable)" or "non-essential." When protein is broken down by digestion the result is 22 known amino acids. Eight (8) are essential (cannot be manufactured by the body) the rest are non-essential (can be manufactured by the body with proper nutrition).

Conclusion

Amino acids are so important to the health and well-being of the body that everyone will benefit from some form of amino acid supplementation. This is especially so with suplementation of the essential amino acids which are not manufactured by the body.

There is also phosphorus, sulphur, zinc and selenium in Moringa oleifera.

Moringa oleifera is a wonderful plant. When eaten as Moringa health supplements, it can actually improve your immunity which I will explain in my later blogs. For now, I will continue to tell you about the wonderful vitamins, minerals and proteins (amino acids) that are found in Moringa oleifera. The last four minerals found in Moringa oleifera are:

Phosphorus

There is phosphurus in Moringa oleifera in the form of calcium phosphate which is a structural component of bones and 85% of total body phosphorus is found in the skeleton.

Phosphorus plays an important function as a structural component of cell membrane phospholipids (that is, compounds composed of fatty acids, phosphoric acid and a nitrogenous base) which is important for:

·  energy production and storage;

·  phosphorylation of numerous enzymes;

·  hormones and cell signaling molecules; and

·  to maintain a normal acid-base equilibrium.

Phosphorus deficiency is usually rare and its symptoms are:

·  bone mass loss;

·  muscle weakness;

·  malaise; and

·  pain.

Sulphur

Sulphur is an essential component of all living cells. It is responsible for the conformation of body proteins through the formation of disulfide bonds, thereby holding connective tissue together.

Sulphur is good and effective for wound healing, healing parasite infections, reduced severity of sun burns, reduced allergic reactions, improved lung functions (including asthma) and interstitial cystitis.

Sulphur, together with vitamin C, helps to maintain elasticity and suppleness of the skin. It also interferes with the storage of copper which is good since most people on average seems to have high copper consumption.

Zinc

Zinc is present in all body tissues and fluids. There is about 2g of zinc present in the human body of which 60% of it is found in the skeletal muscle and 30% in bone mass.

Zinc is an essential component of a large number of enzymes participating in the synthesis and degradation of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids as well as in the metabolism of other micronutrients. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of cell and organ integrity by stabilising the molecular structure of cellular components and membranes.

Zinc is essential in polynucleotide transcription and in the process of genetic expression. It also plays an important role in the immune system, affecting a number of aspects of cellular and humoral immunity.

Zinc deficiency in humans can cause:

·  growth retardation;

·  delayed sexual and bone maturation;

·  skin lesions;

·  diarrhea;

·  alopecia;

·  impaired appetite;

·  increased susceptibility to infections mediated via defects in the immune system; and

·  the appearance of behavioural changes.

Zinc has a central role in cell division, protein synthesis, and growth which are very important especially for infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant women to ensure that this group have sufficient zinc intake.

Selenium

Selenium is a new discovery and its significance in the nutrition of the human body has grown very quickly over the last 20 years or so. Selenium is known as a trace nutrient and its role has been implicated:

·   in the protection of body tissues against oxidative stress;

·   in the maintenance of defences against infection;

·   in the modulation of growth and development; and

·   in the metabolism of thyroid hormone.

The selenium content of normal adult humans can vary widely, for example 3mg in New Zealand to 14 mg in some Americans which profoundly reflects the influence of natural environment on the selenium contents of soils, crops and human tissues. About 30% of tissue selenium is contained in the liver, 15% in kidney, 30% in muscle and 10% in blood plasma.

During stress, infection, or tissue injury, selenoenzymes (selenium protein) may protect against the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide or oxygen-rich free radicals.

Selenium also works together with vitamin E to protect cell membranes against oxidative damage.

Selenium deficiency can cause the following situations:

·   muscular weakness and myalgia with possible development of congestive heart failure;

·   Keshan disease with the following typical manifestations:

o   fatigue after even mild exercise;

o   cardiac arrhythmia and palpitation;

o   loss of appetite;

o   cardiac insufficiency;

o   cardiomegaly;

o   congestive heart failure.

·   Kaschin-Beck disease, a selenium responsive bone and joint disease (osteoarthropathy).

Moringa oleifera has significant amount of Copper and Magnesium for good health

Did you know that copper is needed in the body to stay healthy? If you do not then read on.

Copper is required by the human body for producing haemoglobin (main iron component in red blood cells), maintenance of blood vessels, the production of collagen and melanin (a dark pigment found in skin and hair).

It promotes mportant functions such as: infant growth; host defence mechanisms; bone strength; red and white cell maturation; iron transport; and  brain development.

Copper deficiency can result in:

·  anaemia;

·  neutropenia;

·  bone abnormalities like osteoporosis;

·  hypopigmentation of the hair and skin;

·  hypotonia;

·  impaired growth;

·  increased incidence of infections; and

·  altered immunity.

Copper deficiency occurs mainly in young infants and it has also been diagnosed in children and adults. Many of these cases are described in malnutrition conditions.

Beware that too much copper can also be toxic that can result in the form of stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea.

100 gms of Fresh Moringa oleifera leaves has sufficient copper to meet 50% of the recommended RDA of an adult.

What about Magnesium?

Did you know that the human body contains about 760mg of magnesium at birth, 5g at age 4 to 5 months, and 25g when adult.

Magnesium in the body is distributed in the muscle and soft tissues (30 - 40%), in extra-cellular fluid (1%) and the remainder magnesium is in the skeleton.

Soft tissues magnesium functions as a cofactor of many enzymes involved in:

·   energy metabolism;

·   protein synthesis;

·   RNA and DNA synthesis; and

·   maintenance of the electrical potential of nervous tissues and cell membranes.

Magnesium in the body regulates potassium fluxes and its involvement in the metabolism of calcium.

Magnesium deficiency can cause:

·   anorexia;

·   nausea;

·   muscular weakness;

·   lethargy;

·   staggering; and

·   weight loss (only if deficiency is prolonged).