Opting Organics Will Soon Turn 2!

Opting Organics will soon turn 2 this November! Expect more stories to share on organic and natural products! I have been opting organics by using only products through a brand that I trust the moment it was introduced to me way back 2009 since I knew the owners and the integrity they have built for themselves as partners in nation building. For the past year that I started this blog, I have written and shared the following in Opting Organics:

 * experiences as I disciplined myself in opting organics even in the food I ate (honestly, I'm still working my way on it..any suggestions? :D)   

* Organic products in the Philippines and outside the country that I chanced upon 

 * related articles from experts such as Dr. Mercola to remind us the advantages of using organic products and natural products! 

* Organic and Natural seals were also introduced to assure that what we buy are genuinely organic (although there are still genuine ones who don't carry the certified organic seals) 

 * Essentials of plants and herbs such as moringa (malunggay), cucumber and turmeric were also featured 

 * people here and abroad who are opting organics for a healthier lifestyle. 

In addition to that, we will soon feature recipes using organic produce and from scratch every month and a lot more stories! Want to be updated on the latest organic bits? Feel free to click on the RSS Feed Burner on the upper right corner of this blog or click below: 

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and you may share it away through facebook, twitter and other social media sites. In the mean time, enjoy reading our previous articles and contact us for comments and suggestions!

Cheers to Organics! :)

THE TRUTH ABOUT MALUNGGAY SEEDS AND TREE

I will be talking about the so-called Miracle tree- Moringa Tree or here in the Philippines, it's simply called Malunggay! Although I have mentioned it in one of previous articles (Organic Plants in the Hood), I have not really elaborated it much. Before that, I have already been having a daily dose of Malunggay seed intake courtesy of our generous neighbors who gave a whole jar of seeds. They told me it helped inhibit their rheumatism and athritis as well as other ailments like diminishing hyperacidity! But lately, my mom and I seldom take it anymore since we became doubtful about the essence of the seeds. We promised to take it faithfully again after I have done my research on Malunggay seeds. Anyway, I have just done it tonight and indeed, everything in the Moringa or Malunggay is consumable from seeds to pods, leaves of course and even the flowers (Oh, but I don't know with the roots though)! The best part? Everything as well are nutritious! Let me quote the Nutritional Information from MoringaTreeOfLife.com:

"· One half cup of cooked leaves will meet your daily recommendation for Vitamins A and C

· One half cup of pods (raw) will supply your Vitamin C requirement for a day

· One ounce of raw leaves contains the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C

· Ounce per ounce it contains 6 to 7 times the amount of Vitamin C in orange juice

· Moringa leaves contain 3 to 5 times more beta-carotene than carrots

· 3 oz of moringa powder contains more than 10 times the recommended daily amount of Vitamin E

· Ounce per ounce Moringa leaves contain over 3 times the iron as found in spinach or roast beef

· Moringa leaves contain 3 times the amount of potassium as bananas
· Ounce per ounce Moringa leaves contain 4 times the amount of calcium found in milk"

By the way, the seeds also can be taken in raw just like we did! So, I'm ready to take malunggay seeds again as an alternative to supplement! Still, everything should be taken in moderation because according to Medical Healthguide:  "Although malunggay consumption is generally accepted as safe. But according to Indian traditional usage, Malunggay may have an abortificient effects.(Ref: Nath D, N Sethi, et al. (1997) Survey on indigenous medicinal plants used for abortion in some districts of Uttar Pradesh. Fitoterapia 68(3): 223-225)"

I suggest that if someone wants to eat healthy and organic, they should start with the Moringa or Malunggay especially for Filipinos since you can just buy it or even ask one from your kind neighbors! It makes their plant organic since rarely do people (just like our neighbors) plant such crops infesting it with chemical pesticides.

That's all for now and Cheers to health! :-)

Sources: 

MoringaTreeOfLife.com

MedicalHealthGuide.com

Imges courtesy of : 

fyi09.wordpress.com

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Malungay.html

Organic Plants in The 'Hood

I was on my way to grab something for lunch in a nearby Carenderia or Food Stall, when I looked up and noticed that trees and plants have grown over several of our neighbors' roofs. One of these is the malunngay or moringa. Lately, I am trying to look for some organically grown vegetables and fruits but it never occurred into my mind that there are some that I could just ask or maybe buy for a bargain in our neighborhood, planted in their yards! Amazing, isn't it? I could say that they are grown organically because according to our neighbors, they have not put any chemicals, pesticides or other unnatural fertilizers with the plants. Neither have I heard about neighbors complaining about pesticides or chemicals being sprayed on and/or them being affected with such.

At least for a start, I will be eating more of the nutritious malunggay with no harmful chemicals just within my reach!

Cheers to health! :-)