Moringa for Malnutrition
Ranked #191 in Health, #4,346 overall
Leaves of Life - from a Tree!
Well, of course, you would!
Is there really a way to do it - on a worldwide scale? Absolutely!
Well, what is it?
I am about to tell you...
You know, introducing someone to anything new involves - enlightenment, education, experimentation, exhibition, and implementation.
THEN, comes ENTHUSIASM! I could not be more enthusiastic about Moringa, and its unique ability to overcome worldwide hungerif I tried...
This should not be allowed to happen again.
Starvation in action - the hunter awaits its prey...
Do you remember this photo? I wish I didn't. The photo won a Pulitzer Prize award. It was taken during the Sudan famine. It is not precisely known what happened to the little girl. The photographer, Kevin Carter, came under such condemnation for not helping her, that he fell into a deep depression. Three months after the photo was taken, Kevin committed suicide. His motivation for that act will never be fully known. He left a diary behind, in which he had written a prayer to God, promising to always appreciate the food he had - no matter what. It is tragic enough to see the little girl - a victim of starvation - even if she lived. What a horrific tragedy!
See the greenery in the background? Even in the midst of the drought, something is growing! If only she had known how to find a Moringa tree, and eat its leaves...
Photo credits: Kevin Carter: Pulitzer:1994
Malnutrition - You Have Met Your Nemesis!
When you think of starving children, and worldwide hunger, what countries first come to your mind? I don't know about you, but everyone to which I have asked this question, has given me the same response.
Africa and India. Remember those two...
Additionally, there are many other countries, worldwide, where people are malnourished, and large segments of their populations live in poverty. Cambodia, Haiti, China.....just to name a few. What is so hard to understand, is - WHY?
In Africa, Moringa trees grow freely. In India, the same is true. Moringa is grown in Haiti - it is called the "Benzolive Tree", and it can be found in numerous nations, worldwide. One of the reasons that it is not exploited is just plain ignorance. They simply don't know how to utilize it.
A lot of people, worldwide have Moringa trees growing right in their immediate vicinity, but do not eat the tree's bounty. We are working hard, to change that. The tree can keep them ALIVE!
Photo credits: Associated Press: BBC News
We Are Not Looking for Donations!
This Lens was NOT designed for donations.
As I state below, 100% of any income generated by
this Lens, goes to charity. It was designed expressly
to address the issue of worldwide malnutrition, and
offer one practical, viable solution - that we happen
to know - works! Below, we will give you some links to
several different organizations, who are helping to
promote the Moringa tree, and its benefits - worldwide.
While we do sell Moringa products, the links below will
take you to associations that are actively helping
others, in impoverished nations, learn how to plant
Moringa - and benefit from its bounty.
This Could Be Your Child...
This photo is from the Sudan, in an article from 2009.
Look closely at the photo, and then, take a look farther down the page, at some of us in America.
Generally speaking, on a daily basis, we individually ingest enough food - to keep a family of four alive. It is appalling, to look at photos of children, who are starving to death, in our world so overflowing with food.
What would you bet, that the leaders of the nations whose populaces are starving to death - are NOT "starving to death" themselves?
It hurts my heart, to see this.
It tears at my heart to think about this.
It breaks my heart, to know that it is REAL.
Photo credits: From this article:Scrape TV Article
October 11 2009: Geneva Switzerland: Emil Uliya, International Correspondent
The Leaders in Some African Countries
Where the children starve...
Yes, that's right. Not one of them appears to be malnourished. They are a few of the heads of countries in Africa, where people starve to death - THEIR people. Something is terribly wrong, with this "picture". While those in charge, languish in beautiful domiciles, their "subjects" - yes, that's what they are, because they are subject to the existing government - starve to death. This is nothing less than heinous.
Photo credits - the countries listed are from left to right:
Kenya: Laura Bonavia: Master of Arts, 2005: R.S. Zaharna: International Public Relations: American University
Zimbabwe: The Entrepreneur Newspaper 2008©
Ethiopia: Ethiopian-News March 18, 2010
Sudan: Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty
Niger: Reuters Photo Daily Mail UK
Chad: Time Magazine: Friday, February 15, 2008
Moringa For the Masses...
If more people knew about Moringa, and planted and ate Moringa...we would have a healthier world. The African Moringa tree, called Moringa Stenopetala, is one of the few, that can actually withstand a drought. That is a very precious attribute to have in a tree, when famine looms.
The most striking examples that I have seen about Moringa's worth, are the ones that show mothers and babies, previously severely malnourished - restored to health with just a small amount of Moringa or Moringa leaf powder added to their diets.
Please check out my other Lenses about Moringa, they are listed below, to see why YOU should be eating it - and spread the word!
Death by Fork in the USA
Some prime examples of people in our nation, who are "well-fed".
I realize that everyone doesn't look like this, but really - what a stark contrast to the photos above! The children in the photos above, needed food - nourishing food. A small amount would have gone a long, long way to restoring them to health. Here, in the US, people that look like those in the photos, are commonplace. Look around you - they are everywhere...
Where is the balance? Why do we have these diametrically opposed extremes? Can we not, as PEOPLE, help those less fortunate than we are? Where is justice? Where is mercy? Where is compassion?
It is hard enough, to see an adult in starvation mode, but children are starving to death. Doesn't anyone in their own countries care enough to save them? Are those in power so oblivious to human suffering? Can't they see that their own people would "follow them to the ends of the earth", if they cared?
I am NOT advocating that governments parcel out food to everyone. That just encourages laziness and complacency. What I AM advocating, is that more of us find out what types of edible landscaping are easy to grow, in countries where people are victims of malnutrition, and teach them how to grow it!
Are they worth it? You tell me.
Three did not make it...
In 1998, over a period of eight months, there were 45 malnourished children brought to one of the clinics in Africa. Their ages ranged from under a year, to five years of age. Of these children, 20 were severely malnourished, and the remaining 25 were moderately malnourished.
Their mothers were given packets of Moringa leaf powder, and instructed to add it to their childrens' diet. For the babies using bottles, the mothers added the powder to their formula. The older children had it added to their diets. Of all of the children given the Moringa leaf powder, all but 3 of those who were severly malnourished, recovered.
What if one of those children were yours? What if that was your niece, your nephew, your grandchild? Wouldn't you tell everyone you knew, how the leaves from a tree - saved the life of that child?
This is recounted from the book The Miracle Tree, page 120, referred to elsewhere in this Lens.
Photo credits: Government sites, Unicef, and various organizations fighting malnutrition.
Moringa Made the Difference
From the excellent, comprehensive book on Moringa, The Miracle Tree, comes a success story from 1997, for this young mother. Her daughter, Awa, was born two months prematurely, and weighed just 1.5 kg, or 3.3 pounds.
The mother, Maïssata Diedhiou, was very weak, constantly dizzy, and not able to produce enough milk for Awa. From the people at AGADA, she was given "Nebeday" powder, which is what they call Moringa in that part of Africa. She added it to her food, and the dizziness subsided, her milk supply was increased, and both she and the baby started gaining weight.
This photo was taken when Awa was 5 months old, and weighed 5 kg, or 11 pounds. That is still a small baby, but a healthy one - thanks to the help of the miraculous nutrition found in the Moringa leaf powder!
Photo credits: The Miracle Tree, page 123, from the book of the same name, featured on this Lens.
Mother and Child - Happy and Healthy!
Take a good look at proud mama, and her healthy infant, in the center of the photo. I took the photo from the book referred to in this Lens, so it is a bit "grainy", but - you get the idea!
The mother, Mariama Kamara, gave birth to a strapping, 4 kg, or 8.8 pounds, baby boy. At nine weeks, when she came into the clinic in Tendouck, Africa - the baby weighed in at 7 kg 500 g, or 16 ½ pounds. Moringa was a regular part of her diet throughout the entire pregnancy, and she continued to eat it, after the baby was born.
The director of the clinic at Tendouck, Mr. Adamou Ba, said that in twelve years at the clinic, he had only seen one other baby who weighed that much at birth. What do you bet THIS mother is going to spread the word about Moringa?
Photo credits: The Miracle Tree, page 122, from the book of the same name, featured on this Lens.
Why Moringa?
Moringa is the choice to overcome malnutrition, because:
It is one plant that will grow readily, in the areas of the world where malnutrition prevails.
In times of draught, a Moringa tree can survive. Not many other plants do.
Moringa provides all of the essential amino acids and several more.
The raw leaves provide an excellent supply of Vitamin C, also an essential nutrient, since our bodies do not manufacture their own.
The protein content in Moringa is usable.
The calcium content in Moringa is usable.
Moringa seeds are easy to obtain.
Moringa is easy to grow, especially in hot climates.
The nutrition obtained from Moringa of all varieties is superb.
The tree is considered a "survival tree" - because you can survive healthily, from its bounty.
These are just a few of the reasons - there are many, many more...
The Wonderful Book on The Miracle Tree...
For anyone with an interest in Moringa, this book is a must! I have owned and given away, copies of this book, for several years. If you are interested in helping to overcome malnutrition, and wish to educate yourself about my dearly beloved Moringas, this book is a must!
Inside, you will learn about the nutrients to be found in the leaves, the seeds, the pods, and the dried Moringa leaf powder. The powder is what is used extensively, by the health clinics that have been established in Africa, to help the people in their communities learn how to effectively use the Moringa tree.
The standby, on Moringa, it runs the gamut of subjects from nourishing infants and children, to enhancing crop production, to manufacturing Moringa oil from the Moringa seeds.
Edited by Lowell J. Fugile, the book was published in Dakar, Senegal, in2001. The proper title of the book is: The Miracle Tree: The Multiple Attributes of Moringa. It was a combined effort of many contributors, including CTA, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (ACP-EU). Their address is: CTA, Postbus 380, 6700 AJ Wageningen, The Netherlands. Another organization involved, is CWS, the Church World Service, founded in 1946. Their address, here in the US, is: CWS, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y., 10115.
The contributing authors are:
Mark Olson, an online acquaintance of mine. I call him "Mr. Moringa". He laughs.
Armelle de Saint-Sauveur
Gaelle Hartout
Dr. Geoff Folkard
John Sutherland
Reya Al Khalili
Nikolaus Foidl
Harinder P. Makkar
Dr. Klaus Becker
K.V. Sreeja
and of course, the editor Lowel Fuglie.
Photo credits: Emily Tack - photo taken of one of my own copies.
List of Organizations to check into...
You can make a difference, between this sad photo >
...and the photo of the healthy babies in the photos above.
The links here, are to organizations that I am not affiliated with, in the least. They do not even know that I am doing this. Each of them is attempting to teach people in other countries how to plant and grow Moringa, to help eradicate malnutrition and teach people how to support themselves with its products.
Disclaimer: Every once in a while, someone tells me that they are linking to my Moringa websites. If that has been done on any of these links, I am unaware of it. Once again, this Lens is to educate you about Moringa, and how it can save lives, and help people in impoverished countries support themselves!
There are a lot more, to add. As I find good ones, I will pass them along!
- Trees for Life Organization
- This organization helps people plant trees, and eat from their bounty.
- Ethiopian Child Organization
- A friend of mine is affiliated with this organization. He hasn't a clue that I am referring people.
- Moringa Today
- This organization is doing what I do - spreading the word about our dearly beloved Moringa.
- Moringa Mama's Blog
- No, this is not my blog, even though I am also called "Moringa Mama". There is a LOT of information on Moringa, here.
- Moringa Community
- This is an ongoing project to help people use Moringa, in Ghana, Africa.
- Moringa Facts
- Well, the name says it all. This is a good one-stop source for those of you who would like to learn more about Moringa.
- Uganda Pen Pals
- The Lensmaster who suggested THIS link, I DO know. This might just give you a good idea of how life is, in Uganda - one of the places that Moringa grows, naturally.
- White Tiger Farm
- I do know the founder of this organization, albeit through emails, only. He has a Moringa project in the works, which may prove extremely interesting.
Our Other Moringa Lenses
Please take a moment, and educate yourself. That way, you can effectively spread the word - and possibly save some lives!
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Why I Love Moringa
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Of all the edible greens available, Moringa is my favorite, hands down. Compared to lettuce, spinach, kale, mustard greeens - whatever greens you like to eat - Moringa is the King of them all - well, at least I think it is! While there is a lot of sc...
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The Moringa Tree
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All right, now really - when was the last time you heard about, read about, or saw an edible tree; I mean a tree that you could plant from seed, and actually - eat? Never? Well, THAT is about to change! Once you become acquainted with Moringa, you wi...
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Moringa Stenopetala - the African Miracle Tree
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In Africa, the Moringa Stenopetala tree is often called "Mother's Helper". Why do they call it that? Good question. Is it because it cuts a woman's housework in half? No, that's ridiculous. Is it because helps to keep track of her children? I don't t...
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The Drumstick Tree
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Rapidly gaining worldwide attention, especially in the edible landscaping arena, is a fast-growing, extremely valuable tropical tree - commonly called "The Drumstick Tree". It is more accurately called the Moringa Tree, and it is one of the most bene...
From "Stan" our Moringa Stenopetala seed
He grows into the African Moringa Tree.
If You Can - Why Don't You Grow Moringa?
Did I hear you say that you don't have any place to grow it, or you live in a climate where it just will not thrive? That's okay. You can still do something to combat the hunger that plagues the world! You can tell other people about it, and encourage them to investigate it for themselves.
Maybe you know someone, from your church affiliations, who could benefit from it. Tell all of the missionaries you know. Perhaps you know someone who is going to the Holy Land - tell them about it. Do you know anyone who has lost their job, who is struggling to feed their family? Share it with them!
If you live in an area with a tropical climate - do you belong to any civil service organizations? Do they have any spare planting space on their grounds? Get them to plant it, and give the plants to the needy in the community. Get yourself involved, somehow.
Moringa has been highly regarded for thousands of years, as the "Tree of Life". Why don't you give someone the gift of "life" - and make a difference in the brief time that you have, here on earth?
Yes, these are hard times, but hard times seem MUCH easier - when you are helping others, who are less fortunate than YOU!
Moringa for Malnutrition on Zazzle
100% of any money generated from this particular Lens, is to go to charity. In our ongoing efforts to educate people about Moringa, and teach them how important it is, we have a few Moringa Mugs up on Zazzle, along with some other Moringa materials. Moringa has for too long, been an "unsung hero", and we are devoted to singing its praises!
Moringa Mugs on Zazzle
Google Blogs About Moringa
Have you heard about Moringa?
Please tell us, if you are familiar with Moringa. We have seen some spectacular results, from eating it - in ourselves, and many, many others. If you know anyone who could benefit from it, tell them!
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David
Aug 10, 2010 @ 12:54 pm | delete
- Hi
I really love this stuff, has completely turned my life around, I got mine from moringamutual a non profit making organization working on setting up moringa growing cooperatives in africa.... there prices are affordable too!
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secura moringa network
Aug 3, 2010 @ 8:01 am | delete
- Secura International Corporation is producing moringa capsule in an affordable cost. www.securaportal.com
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secura moringa network
Aug 3, 2010 @ 7:59 am | delete
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judy Wright
Jul 28, 2010 @ 8:26 am | delete
- Hello, At the present time I have 4 Moringa Trees started. I am sooo thrilled. The leaf does have a little bite to it. One fell down and broke. I was so upset but after a short time a new tree sprouted right out of the broken section...Loved it
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abilash
Jul 23, 2010 @ 1:52 pm | delete
- this tree is kinda common in India too....not a day passes without it in our foods...it tastes really good....
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DongMei
Jul 18, 2010 @ 7:19 pm | delete
- I had never heard of this tree but it sounds like a wonderful plant to make governments aware of. Your pictures are heart breaking - but need to be shown.
You are doing a very good thing with your lens.
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francis harding
Jul 16, 2010 @ 12:21 pm | delete
- francis harding since i learnt about the magic i always tell people about the magic tree me and my family drink from the tree every morning i make them boil the leaves and put in a flask for all to drink i will like to find organisation to work with.
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Plato
Jul 16, 2010 @ 8:41 am | delete
- It used to be a seasonal vegetable when I was a child. We cooked the flowers of the tree. I have heard that eating Moringa fruit is very beneficial for bloating & for joint aches & pains. In fact I had once watched a documentary on PBS that documented the use of flour made from Morina fruit used as milk substitute in children in Africa, & it reversed the severe malnourishment symptoms in them. We need to promote use of local flora for nutrition instead of destroying the local crops of the 3rd world countries & enforcing on them the western foods like corn & olive oil & broccoli & brussel sprouts under the deceptive scheme of "health benefits" The only people that benefit are the corporations & the developed countries that are actively destroying the native crops of the poorer countries to control their food supply. This is the latest scheme to propagate slavery under the guise of charity & progress.
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skiesgreen
Jul 12, 2010 @ 9:50 pm | delete
- Thank you for bringing this plant into focus. I had never heard of it and obviously as the world's population spins out of control we will see more and more of this kind of hunger and death from malnutrition. *-*Blessed*-* and featured on Sprinkled with Stardust and also on Killing the World and Child Abuse.
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LauraSchofield
Jul 12, 2010 @ 11:47 am | delete
- This is very interesting - I work with a community activist in Uganda (where there is also great hunger) and I was not aware of this. I'll definitely look into it. Meanwhile, if anyone is interested in forming a friendship with a child in Africa, please visit this page - http://www.squidoo.com/uganda-pen-pals. I coordinate this penpal program with my friend. Thank you for your efforts to spread the word about the moringa tree.
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burgessvillian
Jul 12, 2010 @ 11:43 am | delete
- This is the first time that I haver heard of Moringa. I have however heard of starvation and if this tree can help these people then I think it is awesome.
I come from Canada and there is no one that should starve here unless they let it happen. Even homeless people can go to certain places that give out free food every day.
There is enough food in the world to feed all every day. The countries that have starving people are letting it happen. Just look at the their government officials and military personnel.Are they starving too?
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Why I Love Moringa