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The drumstick is a type of edible plant part. The tip of the fruit of this plant, which is usually the size and shape of a large and long carrot, has been prepared and eaten as either a boiled or roasted vegetable dish in various cultures.
Here in India, our love of vegetables and fruit is rooted in the rich culinary tradition of the region. Moringa oleifera is one such plant that has delighted Indians with its nutritional benefits as well as tantalizing taste. Known for its twisted pods, drumstick are a mainstay in many Indian dishes – sambhar, avial, meat curries etc. – that can add a truly unique flavor.
The Moringa tree is named from the Tamil word, murungai. It bears twisted pods that are used extensively in Indian dishes for more than a hundred years. Their flavor is found in delectable dishes like sambhar and avial, as well as meat curries, soups, and pickles.
Moringa oleifera, or drumstick, is a drought-resistant tree that belongs to the family Moringaceae. It is native to tropical regions of South Asia and India is the largest producer of its fruit with an annual production of 1-1.3 million tonnes. The tree is also grown in other Asian countries like the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and Taiwan, as well as the world’s center for vegetable research.
The Moringa tree has several common names, including drumstick tree (refers to the long, slender seed-pods), horseradish tree (refers to the root that is similar to horseradish), and ben oil tree (refers to oil which is obtained from the seed).
Drumstick is a popular seed-bearing tree with thick, glossy leaves which are widely used as vegetables because of the vital nutrients they provide. It’s also used as a medicine in Siddha for its medicinal properties, which we’ll explain more about below.
Moringa trees are slender, deciduous trees that grow to be 10-12 meters tall and 45cm in diameter. Young shoots have a purplish hairy bark, drooping branches that are fragile, and leaves look like feathery foliage of tripinnate. The flowers are surrounded by five unevenly (thinly on some parts) veined petals that are yellowish-white in color. The tree usually begins to flower 6 months after first planting it; however it can happen more than once a year if there is good rainfall in its environs.
Moringa is a pinkish-white flower with many white, comma-shaped petals. Moringa is a sun-loving plant that grows in dry climates and can be grown without too much water.
Drumstick leaves are used in the regions of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan as an appetizer or side dish, while the roots and seeds are small dishes in Kerala. Drumstick leaves can be cooked down with rice to produce a flavorless porridge that is a common complimentary dish at Indian tea time. The drumstick tree is valued for its medicinal properties, such as its ability to heal constipation and ulcers.
Nutritional Facts
Drumstick plants are helpful for providing large and rare varieties of vital minerals and nutrients. The pods, leaves, flowers, barks, roots, and seeds also contain bio active compounds like beta-carotene.
Seeds Nutrition
Many people enjoy eating the seeds that are extracted from the beans and the mature pods can be roasted and enjoyed as a snack. However, they come with a high dose of vitamins C and B which is really beneficial.
Use Of Drumstick
The drumstick tree is often praised as a symbol of life as a whole because virtually every part of the tree can be used. The edible parts of the tree include leaves, stalks, stems, unripe—”green”—fruit or seed pods, fragrant flowers, and young seeds and roots. These are wholesome and delicious when made into dishes.
This plant has a soft, pithy wood, which is mottled light brown to dark grey and orange. The seed produces an edible oil called ben oil that can be used for cooking or as an ingredient for soaps. Sometimes the seed cake is used as animal feed or lawn fertilizer, and the roots are cooked like potatoes or ground into flour. The bark and sap of the root are key ingredients in traditional medicines.
Drumstick Wellness Incentives
- Strengthens Bone
- Augments Immune System
- Promotes Gut Health
- Kidney Health
- Regulates Hypertension
- Lowers The Risk Of Cancer
- Cures Edema
- Improves Liver Health
- Fights Infection
- Promotes Good Vision
- Regulates Diabetes
Benefits Of Drumstick For Pregnancy And Lactation
Our findings showed pregnancy can increase your appetite, so you may want to add drumstick to your diet. Drumstick is rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which can promote a woman’s health and make her feel energized. There’s even scientific evidence that the richness of folate in drumsticks can avert neural tube defects like spina bifida, which can cause serious birth defects.
Enhances Skin Health
Products for skin care often include common ingredients like Moringa and Drumstick extracts. Moringa boosts health and skin glow, while Drumstick extracts hydrate and cleanse the skin.
Delays Sign of Ageing
Moringa oil and leaf powder are natural remedies for wrinkles, blemishes, and firm skin. Apply the bark-flavored leaves to skin and leave it on for fifteen minutes before rinsing. This makes your skin more even in tone and gives you a youthful glow.
Cure Acne
One of the best ways to avoid acne break-outs is by preventing your pores from becoming clogged. Both moringa leaf and pod powder have potent antibacterial properties. The collagen protein in drumstick will also act on your large pores, tightening the skin. If you take either of these treatments, not only will your skin feel more refreshed, it will be clearer and more healthy too.
Drumstick is designed to improve sperm count and vitality.
Drumstick vegetables are known for their nutrient-dense make up. They’re a well-known way to improve vitality and sexual vigour. Drumstick possesses aphrodisiac properties which can help with improving libido and treating erectile dysfunction. A study published in the American Journal of Neuroscience found that drumstick has amazing aphrodisiac property and improves testosterone levels, which boosts sexual virality and libido. Additionally, Ayurvedic medicine recommends including drumstick flowers to improve sperm count and ED treatment.
Sometimes it can be difficult to increase your fertility and semen production, but this easy-to-find vegetable can help naturally. By adding it to your diet with sambhar, sauces, soups, and curries, you’ll feel healthier in no time.
Drumsticks come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used for various purposes. Depending on where it comes from, the plant has different properties that may be used to help with certain diseases. In indigenous systems of medicine, including in South Asia, these properties might be harnessed to treat diseases like cancer or asthma. Some potential uses of drumstick include:
How To Use Drumstick?
Drumstick can be used in the following ways:
Drumsticks might address muscular spasms, as well as act as an anti-septic and a diuretic. Drumsticks are low in calories and extremely beneficial for the CNS. The bark on the stem and flowers of a drumstick may help reduce high blood glucose levels.
If you want to make regular chicken drumstick consumption part of your lifestyle, then consult your Ayurvedic doctor first. They will be the best person to prescribe you the right amount and form of chicken depending on your personal health.
Always consult a qualified doctor before taking any herbal supplements. Don’t discontinue or replace an ongoing treatment of modern medicine with an ayurvedic/herbal preparation without first consulting with a qualified doctor.
Side Effects
Some Moringa tree parts may not be safe to consume. This includes the pods and seeds, which may cause effects like stomach issues or vomiting. However, other parts of the tree like leaves, flowers, and roots are completely safe for consumption. Drumstick tree leaves, seeds, pods, flowers are also healthy when eaten as a part of a balanced diet.
Eating large amounts of drumsticks may lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate due to the alkaloids they contain. Consuming the bark of drumsticks might also lead to uterine contractions. It is not advisable to take drumstick with thyroid medication. Large amounts of moringa might also interfere with blood sugar levels, so watch for hypoglycemia symptoms if you are taking it as supplements. In addition, it is not recommended to take drumstick supplements with hypertensive drugs as it can lower blood pressure.
