Benefits of Moringa

The moringa is a fast growing tree well adapted to tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world including here in south Florida. Its leaves taste like peanuts with a slight bitter aftertaste. It thrives in extreme heat, humidity, intense sun exposure, and poor soil. Because it quickly grows a deep tap root seeking water that is sometimes scarce, moringa is capable of enduring long periods of drought. Since the bugs do not bother it moringa requires no pesticides. The seeds are even used to purify water..

Moringa is highly nutritious. Its leaves have:

• Two times the protein of eggs
• Three times the potassium of bananas
• Four times the calcium of milk
• Four times the vitamin A of carrots
• Seven times the vitamin C of oranges


In other words, it is like growing multivitamins in your backyard! Moringa’s characteristics means it grows easily in regions of the world where it is needed the most, earning it the much deserved nickname of “The Miracle Tree.” Here at Wheatgrass Central we have dozens of Moringa trees growing in our Organic Garden. The leaves are dehydrated and delivered to the kitchen and put in shaker bottles to be sprinkled on salads and for use in salad dressings

From the Organic Garden: Just the Basics

Organic gardening consists of growing food without the use of chemically synthesized fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides, and/or herbicides. This results in better tasting, more nutritious, and safer food to eat. Consuming conventionally grown food exposes you to highly dangerous and toxic chemicals which, ultimately weakens your immune system. For example, imagine preparing a nice salad plate for your lunch and then spraying it with a can of Raid prior to sitting down to eat! This sounds extreme yet, that is exactly what you are doing every time you consume conventionally grown food. When purchasing certified organically grown food you also greatly improve your chances of avoiding Genetically Modified food.

Here are some better alternatives to conventional gardening:

Instead of This	Use This
Chemically synthesized fertilizer (NPK) Bone Meal Pesticides Herbicides Fungicides Hybrid Seeds	Vegetative Compost, worm castings, and worm tea Ociean Solution and rock dust Beneficial Insects( lady bugs, praying mantis, etc.) Cardboard covered with mulch and vinegar spray Neem oil and milk spray Heirloom Seeds

The following list of foods called the “Dirty Dozen – Plus”, should always be purchased organic. These foods in particular have demonstrated a high pesticide residue when grown conventionally. In some cases, the pesticides penetrate deeply in the produce with no practical way of washing them off.

Apples                          Nectarines (imported) Corn

Strawberries                  Cucumbers

Grapes                         Cherry tomatoes

Celery                          Snap peas (imported)

Peaches                       Potatoes

Spinach                        Hot peppers

Sweet bell peppers        Blueberries (domestic)

What if there was a way to jumpstart your health?

Thousands of people have discovered the many benefits from having colon hydrotherapy. Having a healthy colon is a crucial part of experiencing overall health and vibrancy. Colon hydrotherapy is a method of removing waste from the large intestine, without the use of drugs. By introducing filtered water in the colon, the waste is softened and loosened, resulting in natural evacuation. This allows vital nutrients to be absorbed more easily and leaves you feeling rejuvenated and healthier. 

Grow Your Own Turmeric

Turmeric is my number one anti-inflammatory remedy for the relief of chronic and acute pain. It has been used for over 4,000 years to treat a variety of conditions. Turmeric is probably the most well researched medicinal plant in history for good reason. It has been the subject of over 700 peer-reviewed studies. Studies have shown that this wonder plant outperforms pharmaceutical drugs in its effects against many chronic debilitating diseases, and does so with virtually no adverse side effects. Here are some of the diseases that turmeric has been found to help or alleviate:

• Arthritis
• Alzheimer's disease
• Bacterial Infections
• Cancer
• Digestive problems
• Heart disease
• Viral Infections
• And many more…

Turmeric is a perennial plant that grows in India, Southern Asia, and the tropical regions around the world. It also grows well in here in South Florida at the Hippocrates Health Institute. Each year we grow dozens of turmeric plants in the Hippocrates Organic Garden for use in our kitchen and for the benefit of our guests. It is best eaten raw but, it can also be dried and ground to a powder to be used as a culinary seasoning, as a tea, or put in capsules and taken orally. It has a strong pungent taste and is one of the primary ingredients in curry for Indian flavored cuisine.

If you live in a tropical region like South Florida you can grow turmeric outdoors. In other parts of the world you can grow turmeric indoors as a potted plant. Either way, you should use rich, well-drained soil such as a good organic potting soil. Choose a sunny location or partial shade. Purchase the raw turmeric rhizomes online or from your local grocery store or Asian market. You can break off the branches of the rhizomes to create more plants. Plant the rhizome pieces two inches deep and twelve inches apart. Keep the soil moist but not too wet or the root may rot. Fertilize with compost tea or side dress each plant with compost once every two weeks.

It takes eight to ten months for the plant to reach maturity. During this time the plant will grow leaves 5 - 6 feet high. Eventually, the plant will start to turn yellow and the leaves will start to dry out. That’s when your turmeric is ready to dig up. Cut the dried leaves off from the rhizome and gently brush the dirt off. Do not rinse with water as this may cause the rhizome to rot. It is now ready to use. Save a few pieces of root and start more plants for the next season. You can store any excess in an air-tight container kept in a cool dark place where it will keep for up to 6 months.

Where Do You Get Your Protein?

Where does a cow get her protein? All plants contain protein. In fact, there is more protein per calorie in many plant-based foods than there is in animal flesh. Protein from plants is a high-quality source. It is more easily absorbed by the human body compared to animal-based protein without all of the nasty byproducts such as uric acid. Living foods are an especially good source of protein because it is in a pre-digested form due to all the enzymes activated by the sprouting process.

The published official government protein requirements are greatly exaggerated because most of the protein is not absorbed when taken in animal form. Anyone who consumes the amount of protein recommended by the US Department of Agriculture or the World Health Organization in animal form will ultimately end up with kidney problems, bladder problems, and cardiovascular disease. When you acquire your protein from plant based foods you do not need that much. In this case, you only need between 0.09 and 0.15 grams of protein per pound of body weight. This equates to about 15 grams of protein per day for the average person or 25 grams of protein per day for a very active person. The best sources of protein include:

• Sunflower Sprouts-23.5 grams/cup
• Pea Shoot Sprouts-21.2 grams/cup
• Adzuki sprouts-15.0 grams/cup
• Garbanzo beans (and hummus)-14.5 grams/cup
• Blue-green algae, chlorella, spirulina-14.1 grams/ounce
• Chia seed-12.0 grams/cup
• Hemp seed-10.0 grams/cup
• Flax seed-8.0 grams/cup
• Tahini-8.0 grams/3 tablespoons
• Almond butter-8.0 grams/2 tablespoons
• Peas-8.0 grams/cup
• Lentil sprouts-6.9 grams/cup
• Sesame seeds-6.5 grams/ounce
• Pistachios-5.8 grams/1 oz.
• Broccoli-5.0 grams/cup
• Spinach-5.0 grams/cup
• Kale-5.0 grams/cup
• Walnuts-5.0 grams/1/4 cup (2 oz.)
• Almonds-4.0 grams/2 tablespoons
• Avocado-4.0 grams/each
• Broccoli-4.0 grams/cup
• Collards-4.0 grams/cup
• Swiss chard-3.5 grams/cup
• Kale-2.5 grams/cup