What Are Moringa Cookies?
Moringa Cookies are cookies made with Moringa oleifera leaf powder. More commonly known as drumstick tree or horseradish tree, Moringa oleifera is a plant that grows in the Himalayas. It was nicknamed the miracle tree because of its nutritious and medicinal properties. Its leaves are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds and are a functional ingredient in various foods, including cookies [1, 2, 3].
Moringa Cookies are simply wheat flour (the dough’s base ingredient) plus Moringa oleifera leaf powder and many other ingredients mixed and baked into cookies. Moringa oleifera leaf powder, at least in the amounts and concentrations used in dough, does not affect the product’s water activity or flour functionality and may change the colour of the cookies only slightly. [4].
What Do Moringa Cookies Do?
The nutritional quality of Moringa oleifera makes Moringa Cookies contain a good amount of protein, phenolic content and antioxidant activity with enhanced in vitro protein digestibility versus a conventional cookie [4].
For example, Moringa Cookies enhance postprandial glycemia — blood sugar levels after a meal — and, as a result, reduce hunger, potentially helping people with diabetes or those who would like to control their weight [5].
The cookies also contain essential amino acids, carotenoids, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and fibre, contributing to their nutritional value [3].
Additionally, Moringa cookies have a high content of bioactive compounds with anti-diabetic, antibacterial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory efficiencies [6].
Benefits of Moringa Cookies
Moringa Cookies are a nutrient-rich snacking choice. Adding decolourised Moringa oleifera leaf powder (D-MOLP) improves their nutritional properties but does not significantly impact their water activity or flour functionality [4].
Another essential benefit of moringa cookies is that they are a good source of proteins. Increasing the protein content in the cookies by adding DMOLP makes them a source of proteins with excellent biological value, considering their amino acid content specifications [4]. The third benefit of protein-enriched cookies is their high lysine content [4].
Rich in phenolic content, Moringa Cookies contain chlorogenic, ferulic and fumaric acids, all of which have antioxidant characteristics, to help combat the harmful effects of free radicals in the body [4].
Besides adding nutrition, the Moringa Cookies also have therapeutic effects. They improve postprandial glycaemia (blood sugar after a meal) in those who use them and could help diabetic patients [5].
But there is more. Moringa might also be good for reducing hunger. In one experiment, participants who ate moringa leaf powder-coated cookies reported feeling less hungry afterwards [5].
Furthermore, moringa cookies contain good dietary fibre for optimal digestive health [7].
Should I Take Moringa In The Morning or at Night?
The timing of taking Moringa Oleifera, a medicinal plant traditionally used in managing diabetes and other health conditions, can depend on the specific effects you want.
We already know that Moringa can significantly affect glycemic control, so it can still bring blood sugar down further [8]. So if you’re taking Moringa for its benefits to blood sugar levels if you eat at that time, then a morning serving makes sense – generally, that’s when blood sugars can be highest.
However, a rodent study showed that Moringa could delay sleep onset, which makes it prudent to take it earlier in the day to prevent any interference with sleep [9].
However, note that these (limited) studies are confined to animals (mainly rats), in vitro and in vivo, and that long-term trials in humans would be necessary to elucidate the optimal time to take Moringa [8].
As with any supplement, it's always best to consult a healthcare provider before taking Moringa, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking other medications.
What Does A Moringa Leaf Taste Like?
However, tasting the leaves of Moringa oleifera reveals what can be considered their most prominent feature: their taste. This may vary considerably according to the particular cultivar of the plant: the higher the level of glucosinolates, the sourer the taste of the leaves can be [10]. The taste of the leaves has nothing to do with the level of glucosinolates in the leaves [11].
Preparation can also impact the flavour of the mung bean. For example, pretreatment with alkali has increased the functional properties of Mung bean flour used to produce a puffed snack of good textural characteristics with improved nutritional quality [7].
In reality, however, taste can depend on whether the Moringa is wild or domesticated. Taste tests show apparent differences between wild-type Moringa oleifera and the domesticated variety. At the very least, domestication entails increases in the level of some glucosinolates and a marked reduction of others, resulting in apparent changes in taste [10].
How is Moringa Powder Used?
Moringa can be processed as powder, a supplement, or a food additive. Moringa powder can be added to different foodstuffs as a supplement, imparting beneficial nutrients into the final product. For instance, moringa powder can be added to bread, pastries, snacks and drinks to enhance their nutritional content (e.g., protein and essential amino acids, minerals and fibre) [12]. Suitable formulations of moringa powder can also be used as a natural preservative, preventing lipid oxidation and chemical reactions that lead to the rancidity and deterioration of food products [13].
Besides food, the powder can be used as a pharmaceutical excipient in several formulations, such as uncoated tablets and modified to improve its properties [14].
Another application is Moringa powder in the cosmetic industry, where it is used as a moisturising and cleansing substance for the skin and to treat acne and hair (as a moisturising hair treatment or against dryness and dandruff) [1].
However, it must be noted that whereas Moringa powder could be advantageous in many ways, its sensory aspects may reduce consumer acceptance of fortified products. Moreover, some of its safety data are inconsistent [13], and human studies are needed to evaluate the advantages and risks.