Moringa oleifera.
You’ve probably seen it grow wild in a backyard or added to a simple soup. In Indonesia, it’s often tied to mystical superstitions or dismissed as “just some village plant.”
But did you know?
This humble leaf is actually globally celebrated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has labeled it a “Miracle Tree” since 1998, and in parts of Africa and South Asia, moringa is part of national nutrition intervention programs.
Meanwhile in Indonesia?
We shrug it off as outdated, unworthy of modern interest.
Here’s the irony:
We import quinoa and kale, but we ignore the superfood growing in our backyard.
According to researcher Dudi Krisnadi in his book "Kelor: Menuju Ketahanan Pangan dan Gizi Keluarga", moringa contains:
• 7x more vitamin C than oranges
• 4x more calcium than milk
• 15x more potassium than bananas
• 25x more iron than spinach
• 42 types of natural antioxidants
If moringa were native to France or Korea, we’d probably be importing it at double the price, calling it “elixir green” or “nature’s miracle.”
But because it’s too familiar—too local—we fail to see its value.
Even more compelling, moringa has been:
• Proven to reduce blood sugar levels (West Java Health Agency, 2022)
• Used to improve breast milk production (UNPAD study, 2019)
• Effective in boosting immunity and healing wounds (Indonesian Ministry of Health, 2016)
So the real question is:
What more does moringa have to prove before we take it seriously?
Maybe it’s time we stopped idolizing imported wellness trends and started celebrating the power of our own local biodiversity.
🌿 Moringa isn’t just soup material.
🌿 It can be transformed into supplements, herbal tea, face masks—even cosmetics and skincare.
🌿 And yes, it could be one of our strongest weapons against malnutrition and stunting.
Let’s stop laughing at moringa—and start building with it.
📚 References:
• WHO. “Moringa Oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence.” WHO Nutrition Reports, 1998.
• Dudi Krisnadi. Kelor: Menuju Ketahanan Pangan dan Gizi Keluarga, 2021.
• Indonesian Ministry of Health. “Moringa as Family Herbal Medicine,” 2016.
• Universitas Padjadjaran. Moringa for Breastfeeding Mothers Study, 2019.
• West Java Health Agency. “Moringa Movement for Diabetes Prevention,” 2022.