Yes, all of us are going ga ga over super foods ! We are willing to dole out any amount for that measly pack of organic micro greens, will import that special batch of matcha tea leaves straight from Kyoto, munch on air fried kale chips and garnish dishes only with Swiss chard.
And if you want to lay your hands on the superfood of Hollywood stars, ( who are actually growing saplings at home so that they have a life time supply of it)  , it is totally within your reach .

And very easily in this case, because India is the worlds largest producer of the holy grail of superfoods- moringa.
Moringa or moringa oleifera or the drumstick is a majestic looking tree which graced probably every South Indian home till all backyards were grazed down to make way for monstrous buildings. The leaf looks very similar to fenugreek or methi leaves, easy to get confused if you spot them at your local saagwala, so make sure you ask specifically for it.

And why should you be asking for it, a HUGE list of reasons apparently , and I can’t even enlist all of them here. But I will try anyway, because if there is one ingredient that should be a part of your daily intake, it is moringa in any form.

So here goes!

1. Treats stomach disorders
2. Protects liver
3. Skin and hair care
4. Boosts immunity
5. Treats diabetes
6. Has anti-fertility effects
7. Protects from kidney problems
8. Heals wounds
9. Reduces hyper-tension
10. Improves eye health
11. Acts as an anti bacterial agent
12. Improves bone health
13. Treats neuro -degenerative diseases
14. Protects cardiovascular system
15. Treats anaemia

It’s almost impossible to list everything without an extensive PDF file that would run into pages, so basically you get a gist here- it takes care of you from head to toe literally !

Moringa leaves and pods ( drumstick) are a powerhouse of essential proteins, vitamins and minerals. Its mineral wealth includes calcium, potassium , iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.

So now that you are bowled over by all these facts and have actually got yourself this whole bunch of fresh nutritionally dense leaves which are totally safe by the way,( compared to your normal  greens which are grown at ground level and get attacked 100 % by the deadly sprays , moringa leaves grow high up on the trees and actually escape the wrath of the pesticide effect. ) you can go ahead and cook it in any way you want and reap the benefits.
You can eat them raw if the leaves are young and tender, or cook them slightly to make it tastier and better assimilation of nutrients.

Check out Nandita Iyers moringa based recipes if you are finding it hard to find your way around it, the recipes are simple , healthy and nutritious.

http://www.huffingtonpost.in/nandita-iyer/14-ways-to-cook-and-eat-drumstick-moringa-leaves_a_21441257/

Its great if you can get hold of the fresh leaves, but even if you cannot, moringa powder contains immense benefits, maybe a few that cannot be found even in the fresh leaves

The below reference will give you an idea about the nutritional benefits of moringa powder when compared to its popular opponents.

25 times more iron than spinach, apologies to Popeye

7 times more vitamin C than oranges , ok oranges you still win because of the yummy factor
10 times more vitamin A than carrots, unless you eat an obscene amount of gaajar halwa
17 times more calcium than milk , for moms who think milk is the solution to all woes in their childs life
9 times more protein than yoghurt , great news for all vegetarians and vegans
15 times more potassium than bananas , and without all the calories that the fruit contains

Even to the best of our ability it is impossible to always procure fresh moringa leaves and also cook something everyday with it, which is where the powder is a no brain solution, just make sure you consume a spoon everyday by adding it to your smoothie, soup, juice, atta or like me- just block all your senses and gulp it down with hot water in the morning.

An amazing product is the Organic India Moringa powder , they organically harvest the leaves in their own farms ( I have seen the actual video of a person who visited their farm ) dry and powder it under stringent conditions. This is not a sponsored recommendation, I have tried around 4 brands of moringa powder available in the market and found this one to be the most effective.

The product is available in a powder and capsule form ( those who feel queasy at the thought of downing green liquids can opt for this) .

Shop here for the powder – https://www.organicindiashop.com/organic-foods/moringa-powder-100-gram-115.html

And like any natural product, do not expect miraculous overnight results- all in good time , my dear , all in good time !