Hundreds of kilometers from San Juan, Puerto Rico, in a town called Utuado, moringa is grown free of contamination. There, the enigmatic shrub, whose leaves, branches and stems hold mysteries and enigmas favorable to health, according to science, is cultivated through good agricultural practices and organic farming methods.

Paolo Di Pietro, a young professional of Dominican origin, grower and distributor on the neighboring island, now adds to its nutritional properties its qualities for beauty and skin care.

For the expert, a graduate in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico Utuado campus, moringa oil keeps the skin young due to its anti-aging effect and is generally used in ointments.

For the author of the book "Moringa, tree friend of mankind", 90 percent of skin changes are due to prolonged exposure to sunlight: "Ultraviolet light not only damages the DNA of skin cells, but also inhibits the mechanisms that repair damaged skin cells, and as the skin becomes less elastic it also becomes drier and the underlying fat padding begins to disappear, with the loss of support from the padding and connective tissue the skin appears less flexible, thus forming wrinkles".

Di Pietro assures that after many years of research, scientists, dermatologists and plastic surgeons have discovered a variety of natural ingredients and vitamin extracts found in the leaves, fores and branches of moringa: "They significantly help to slow down and even reverse the signs of skin aging."

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MORINGA-BASED PRODUCTS
Moringa is a fast-growing, drought-resistant, multi-purpose tree and is currently attracting increasing international interest from governments, NGOs, scientists and the private sector as a water purifier, cosmetic oil, vegetables and even as a pasture for animal husbandry.

Di Pietro, in addition to growing and selling seeds of the miraculous plant, markets a line of cosmetic products made from moringa, such as shampoo, bath soap, ointments, moisturizing creams and oil, for Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

These products, distributed by his company "Moringa Naturals Products", received international quality certification: ISO 9001: 2008, Halar Kosher.

Moringa oil
Moringa oil with antioxidants or free radical neutralizers can be temporarily applied to the surface of the skin to slow their penetration into the deeper layers and provide more extracellular antioxidants or the benefit of neutralizing free radicals. A combination of antioxidants is more effective than an individual antioxidant on an equal weight basis due to the cascading antioxidant mechanism; moringa oil with more than 46 antioxidants combined is an effective antioxidant.

This oil, which is currently marketed in Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo, is highly nutritious for the skin and similar in composition to olive oil, but much lighter; it is a powerful natural antioxidant with skin softening properties that give the skin an excellent appearance.

Paolo Di Pietro, owner of "Moringa Natural Products", says he has verified in his specialized studies.

"Moringa oil soothes and softens the skin; it moisturizes and revitalizes chronically dry skin sometimes subject to itching or flaking; it also has nourishing and emollient properties used in skin and hair care products."

The expert also considers that moringa oil "is rich in oleic acid, with excellent moisturizing, cleansing and nourishing properties".

Moringa tea 
Moringa tea has a high nutritional value from moringa leaves, he expresses, it is the most sought after herbal tea worldwide. "Our company deals with moringa planting and the production of value-added moringa products.

To have a variety in our nutritional drink there are different natural flavors incorporated. Moringa tea is the nutritional refreshment that comes in the following flavors: the original moringa flavor, lemon flavor, apple flavor with cinnamon, herbal flavor, mint flavor, pomegranate flavor, strawberry flavor and ginger flavor," he says.

Moringa capsules
Moringa oleifera" capsules differ from most nutritional supplements in that they are a true and total dietary supplement, he says.

In that regard, Di Pietro has proven that 100% of pure moringa leaf powder is presented in moringa capsules that are becoming the most popular selling supplements worldwide and are recognized by health enthusiasts for their nutritional content. Moringa capsules provide a convenient way for consumption and can be taken anywhere. These capsules are generally packaged in 120 units per bottle.

Our company offers moringa capsules in bulk and private label," he says.

Industrial processing in Puerto Rico
According to Di Pietro, the company processes moringa leaves and seeds under hygienic conditions. The moringa leaves are carefully washed and dried in the shade, without exposing them to the sun. In this way the fresh green colors and nutrients of the leaves are maintained. "Our company has an in-house laboratory where each batch of product is tested for microbial contamination and nutritional values," concludes the expert.