Moringa Oleifera Shows Promising Antiarthritic Properties
Free radicals come in many shapes, sizes, and chemical configurations. What they all share is a voracious appetite for electrons, stealing them from any nearby substances that will yield them. The so called "Antioxidants" have the ability to act as an electron donor without turning into electron-scavenging substances themselves.
You may already know that Moringa Oleifera is packed with 47 antioxidants and 36 anti-inflammatory substances. As a matter of fact Moringa is one of the best natural sources of antioxidants, may be more than any other plant.
First let's talk briefly about Free Radicals and Antioxidants
What are Free Radicals?
Free Radicals are highly reactive chemicals that have the potential to cause cell damage. Free radicals that contain the element oxygen are the most common type of free radicals produced in living tissue. Another name for them is “reactive oxygen species,” or “ROS”. They are created when an atom or a molecule either gains or loses an electron (a small negatively charged particle found in atoms).
This electron theft can radically alter the “loser’s” structure or function, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that free radical damage may even lead to cancer.
What Are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are chemicals that interact with the free radicals, thus neutralizing and preventing them from causing damage. Antioxidants are also known as “free radical scavengers.”
And why is this so important?
The body makes some of the antioxidants it uses to neutralize free radicals. These antioxidants are called endogenous antioxidants. However, the body relies on external (exogenous) sources, to obtain the rest of the antioxidants it needs. These exogenous antioxidants are commonly called dietary antioxidants. Fruits, vegetables, and grains are rich sources of dietary antioxidants like beta-carotene, lycopene, and vitamins A, C, and E (alpha-tocopherol).
Recent studies have shown that there is evidence of the protective effect of extract of seeds of Moringa Oleifera, against inflammation associated with development of Arthritis in Rats. There are abundant studies suggesting that eating whole fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—all rich in antioxidants and their helper molecules—provides protection against many of these processes of aging.
Now, Chondroitin and Glucosamine have been sold and promoted for arthritis treatment for some time already, however is important to know according to scientific studies, that Knee osteoarthritis appears to respond better to Chondroitin+Glucosamine than other joints to this kind of supplements, however, the placebo effect might take an important part in arthritis in joints different than knee. Is it possible that this treatment helps the knee joint on rebuilding cartilage, but how would you prevent further damage due to inflammatory process?
As a conclusion of these preliminary studies we want to highlight that more discoveries are being made on the wonderful properties of this "Miracle Tree" so used in traditional Ayurvedic Medicine, and they are opening a new door for future new ways of treatment for arthritis and many other illnesses.
