A lot of various foods, natural chemicals and supplements had sprung up over the years, with a large percentage of them been green; and standing out amidst them is the moringa and the spirulina.
Both moringa and spirulina represent part of the many exceptional and nutritional super foods.
Subsequently, both greens are considered to be nutrient-dense leaves with the two been specifically and exceptionally providing diets that are fully loaded with proteins.
More so, just like the moringa, the spirulina also contains a lot of valuables in minerals and vitamins.
Apparently, both greens had a lot of benefits with moringa been around for a long time, and the spirulina been a blue-green algae found in saltwater, as well as the freshwater having a long time history been traced down to the Aztec civilization.
As you read on this article, you will be getting to know more about these two nutritional powerhouses, as we compare them alongside each other.
Moringa vs Spirulina: Botany
The Moringa tree is scientifically referred to as “Moringa oleifera”, and been drought-resistant, it’s generally grown because the pods in its seed are a kind of edible vegetable.
It can grow up to 20 feet, having long and thin leaves. The moringa leaves are greenish color and are put together in pairs on the branches.
Spirulina is a very small blue-green algae plant belonging to the photosynthetic bacteria which entirely referred to the Cyanobacteria and Prochlorophyta taxonomic groups.
The genus Spirulina as commonly been called is used to describe the dried biomass of Arthrospira platensis, and other two species named Arthrospira maxima and Arthrospira fusiformis respectively.
Moringa vs Spirulina: Nutrients
In regards to nutritional evaluation, report has it that both moringa and spirulina are exceptional sources of complete protein, with the two super greens containing all the needed amino acids.
Nevertheless, spirulina takes the protein crown in this aspect to be king over moringa. Spirulina also had more of iron, zinc, vitamins B1, B2, and B3 than moringa.
In the other hand, moringa took back the lead when it comes to minerals and vitamins, having more of calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, and so on than spirulina.
Moringa vs Spirulina: Benefits
In both moringa and spirulina, you have greens that are nutrient-dense and fully loaded with benefits. They have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation.
They have low calories so they help to reduce much weight. They help to deal with high blood sugar issues, boost immune system, lower cancer risk, remove toxins and impurities from the body, improve cognitive function, and supplement cardiovascular health; among others.
Moringa vs Spirulina: Economic Importance
In medicine, agriculture, food, industries and many more, the economic importance of moringa had been proven over the years across the continents.
More so, moringa had via its products and by-products reportedly proven to enhance nations’ food productions, industrial growths, as well as biodiversity.
In this contemporary era, spirulina on this other end had been reportedly unveiled by NASA to grow in space, in order to be used as supplement in astronauts’ diets.
Similarly to this, it had also been reportedly learnt that scientists had come across a means to also grow spirulina in giant glass tubes.
Subsequently in aquaculture and poultry industries, spirulina has also been reportedly used as feed supplement.
It’s also so diverse that it’s pointed out to be on every continent and can naturally sprout in alkaline lakes.
Read also: Moringa vs Kelp
What are Moringa and Spirulina good for?
Both Moringa and spirulina are outstanding sources of complete protein because they contained all the necessary and needed amino acids.
They’re both fully loaded with abundant antioxidants, vitamins, phytonutrients, minerals, detoxifying phycopigments, and bioactive plant compounds that are capable of mineralizing the body as well as removing impurities and toxins from the body.
Also read: Moringa vs Spinach
Conclusion
Both greens are ‘super’, but by comparing them side by side in terms of nutritional contents, moringa still comes out top. Nevertheless, your choice is dependent on what you actually need.
You might decide to go for spirulina, since you will get more protein in it than moringa, as well as a reasonable amount of vitamins and minerals too.
Hence, if what you’re looking for is a green that generally does many things, then moringa might be the better choice to be considered.
Reference
- Moringa oleifera: A review on nutritive importance and its medicinal application
- Moringa oleifera is a Prominent Source of Nutrients with Potential Health Benefits, retrieved from :https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8373516/
