Everyone’s talking about Miraculous Moringa.
Known as Kelor here in Bali, the leaves, pods and flowers are jam packed with goodness…..
‘7 times the Vitamin C found in oranges, 4 times the Vitamin A of carrots, 3 times the iron of spinach, 4 times as much calcium as milk and 3 times the potassium of bananas. It’s a super source of plant based protein.’
Now I’m not a huge fan of the fast moving ‘superfood’ train, however, I do see the value in eating locally sourced food, especially the nutritious heroes. But I do get excited when food and science come together to find doable solutions for those who need it most.
As a fast growing, drought tolerant tree native to India and Asia, Moringa has been called the “miracle tree”. There’s numerous programs to use it to help tackle malnutrition and be a good source of sustainable income for farmers in developing countries.
The benefits are seemingly too numerous to list and as I’m no expert, I’m suggesting you read up here. But before we all rush off and add it to our smoothies it’s always good to check if it comes with any medical warnings. Check in here.
Try it when you’re in Bali. The fresh leaves are used in a the most delicious curry.
You’ll find it served up in raw food or plant based food cafes, and the powder used for tea and added to smoothies everywhere.
But I love that it’s not only a nutritional knockout, it’s here to save our skin and our hair.
In fact you’ll find it popping up as an ingredient in luxury cosmetics. The hip beauty brands are all over Moringa Oil.
But you don’t need to spend a fortune to have a “Moringa Miracle”.
Five minutes in the kitchen with a few simple ingredients, a fork, a bowl and a bag of Moringa Powder is all you need. I tested out a couple of home-made recipes.
The result?
I had nothing less than a personal “Moringa Miracle”. Seriously. As a face mask it’s a glow getter and I can hear my hair begging for another treatment next week.
Next ‘self-care’ moment… try these recipes for yourself.
(Both are fantastic, giving you choice as avocadoes are not always in season.)
Moringa Powder Banana Face & Hair Mask
- 1 tbspn Moringa Powder
- ½ banana (mashed)
- 1 tbspn honey
- 2 tspn tea tree oil (I used coconut oil)
Directions: Mash banana to a pulp. Mix in all other ingredients.
Moringa Powder Avocado Face & Hair Mask
- 1 tbspn Moringa Powder
- 1 ripe avocado (mashed)
- 1 tbspn honey
- 1 tspn fresh lemon juice or water
Directions: Mash avocado to a pulp. Mix in all other ingredients.
Once you have your mix do this…
Hair: Apply to damp clean hair, and massage into scalp. Put on a shower cap, let it sit for 20 mins. (I sat in the sun, to let the humidity add to the process). Grab a book. Relax. Rinse out thoroughly and wash hair as normal. Repeat every week for best results.
Skin: Clean your face as normal. Apply mask generously, don’t rub, avoid eye area. Leave on for 15-20 mins. Rinse off with warm water and moisturise as normal. This treatment is also good to help keep blemishes under control. Apply to problem spots.
You’ll find Moringa Powder in health food stores in Bali or online.
The high quality Sarining Bhuana label is available in Ubud at the Saturday Farmers Market, Bali Buda, Alchemy, Down to Earth and the Eco Shop, and in Sanur at Manik Organik.
I bought Moringa Powder from Bali Buda to test it out. I plan to dry my own supply as it grows in my village area. I’ve booked myself in for a few more facials and hair masks!
We whipped up a Bali curry using Moringa leaves this morning. Delicious!
