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Opinion

Tapping our very own, Part I

PERSPECTIVE - Cherry Piquero Ballescas - The Philippine Star

Who would have imagined that our whole country may soon be lighted up with ocean water? Thanks to Aisa Mijeno, our young inventor, for bringing inexpensive and sustainable, eco-friendly light into the homes of every Filipino using what we have right in our midst–salt water. The Philippines is surrounded by so many bodies of water and so much water resources are still waiting to be tapped and utilized to serve our people!

If more and more Filipinos tap into our own resources, I have always believed that we can be self-sufficient and reliant and we can go beyond present poverty if only we know and appreciate what resources we have and we move on to develop these to serve our people. Everyone has to share their talents, from academe, business, government, civil society, all Filipinos united together to tap, develop, and enjoy utilizing our very own natural resources.

Take the case of what used to be known as the lowly malunggay or what is now more commercially known as moringa. If only there will be those who will process our malunggay as powder, then inexpensively distribute this so that it can help so many of our mothers have a better milk substitute because malunggay has more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, and all the essential amino acids with moringa protein better than soy protein as it is non-allergic. Many of the present expensive milk brands cannot compete with the genuine, natural, nutritionally-rich malunggay.

For sure, many of our own researchers may already have known the following information about malunggay shared by John Summerly, a nutritionist, herbologist, homeopathic practitioner and a leader in the natural health community which you can check out in the internet. More have to know, however, about our malunggay.

For more information, you may want to check out more about malunggay here: http://preventdisease.com/news/15/102615_All-Essential-Amino-Acids-More-Iron-More-Calcium-Moringa-Purifies-Water.shtml?utm_ source=102615&utm_campaign=102615&utm_medium=email

Many Filipinos cook malunggay leaves as part of their nutrition and diet. However, not all know that for one serving of malunggay leaves, one "can find 92 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, 36 anti-inflammatories 18 amino acids and 9 essential amino acids. It contains: 22 percent daily value of Vitamin C, 25 percent daily value of Vitamin B6, 41 percent daily value of Potassium, 61 percent daily value of Magnesium, 71 percent daily value of Iron, 125 percent daily value of Calcium, 272 percent daily value of Vitamin A and contains the powerful antioxidant Quercetin to help lower blood pressure. Its chlorogenic acid may help moderate blood sugar levels after meals."

"Not all know that malunggay "helps lower blood pressure and is a sleep aid. Not all also know that the various parts of malunggay have many uses. The "immature green pods (drumsticks) are prepared similarly to green beans, while the seeds are removed from more mature pods and cooked like peas or roasted like nuts. The leaves are cooked and used like spinach, and they are also dried and powdered for use as a condiment. The leaves treat fevers, bronchitis, eye and ear infections, and inflammation of the mucus membrane. In Malawi, Africa, the dried moringa leaves treat diarrhoea."  "Flower juice improves the quality and flow of mothers' milk when breast feeding and is also useful for urinary problems as it encourages urination. In Haiti, villagers boil moringa flowers in water and drink the tea as a powerful cold remedy. In Senegal and India, roots are pounded and mixed with salt to make a poultice for treating rheumatism and articulars pains. In Senegal, this poultice is also used to relieve lower back or kidney pain."

"The seeds of moringa contain 40 percent edible oil known as Ben oil. This clear, sweet and odorless oil is rich in antioxidants and is similar to olive oil in terms of its nutritional profile.It has an indefinite shelf life as it does not turn rancid like other oils. The University of Botswana describes how extracts from seeds of the moringa oleifera tree can be used for water purification. A procedure that uses a natural extract from seeds of the moringa oleifera tree is used in Africa. "

Can we all imagine the other possible uses of all our other natural resources in our midst? We already know now more information about our coconut (called the miracle tree), papaya, guyabano and more. Join us inform more of our people how our truly rich resources that we have in our midst that can lead our people and our country beyond poverty, to healthy lives, and to eco-friendly, sustainable self-sufficiency.

[email protected]

vuukle comment

AISA MIJENO

DAILY

IN HAITI

IN MALAWI

IN SENEGAL

IN SENEGAL AND INDIA

JOHN SUMMERLY

MALUNGGAY

MORINGA

PERCENT

QUOT

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