No idli or dosa combo is complete without sambar, and no sambar is complete without drumsticks!! Drumsticks, also known as ‘murungai’ are one of those vegetables that give sambar its personality, and take its nutritional quotient to another level. Murungai means ‘twisted pod’ in Tamil, probably due to its long, twisted shape full of seeds inside.
Moringa (Moringa oleifera) is a vegetable that grows quickly and without difficulty and retains most of its nutrients in its leaves. Moringa is being recognized as a superfood the world over, because of the dense concentration of various nutrients (over 90 nutrients) in just a small quantity. Due to this, Moringa is considered one of the best ways to fight malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency in several parts of Africa.
Murungai or Moringa is grown in many homes across India, and it has an important place in traditional medicine. All parts of the plant are used, including flowers, fruit, roots, bark, seeds and leaves. But today, we’re going to be talking about the moringa leaves for babies – when they can have it, how they can have it and its nutritional benefits.
Can protect against toxic elements in food and water
To put the exact concentration of nutrients in perspective, here is a comparison of Moringa with other foods – it contains:
Seven times more vitamin C than from oranges
Twice the protein and Four times the calcium in milk
Four times more vitamin A than from carrots
Three times more potassium than from bananas
How to Introduce Moringa for Babies
Moringa leaves have immense health benefits for babies but are difficult to digest if given directly. The slightly bitter taste may also put them off.
Due to this, it’s recommended to start with a strained soup of moringa leaves after 6 months. Please follow the 3-day rule to make sure your baby has no trouble digesting it. Once you are sure your baby has no trouble with moringa leaves soup, you can introduce moringa powder in your baby’s diet. Go slow and increase the quantities very gradually or it could be an overload on baby’s gentle digestive system.
Moringa powder is made after the moringa leaves are washed, dried, dry roasted and ground. In most western countries, powder and capsules are the only way to get the nutrients of moringa. Moringa powder is considered to be much more nutritious than fresh leaves since it has a more dense concentration of nutrients; in fact it enjoys the status of a superfood in many nations. For babies over six months, moringa powder can be added breast milk or formula.
After your baby’s first birthday, you can introduce moringa leaves slowly. Start with leaves that are very tender, since they are easier to digest. If you can’t find tender leaves, be sure to pressure cook or steam the leaves till very well cooked, since the leaves take a while to become soft. Even then you may have to grind them to a puree.
When sourcing moringa leaves or powder for your baby, be very careful to get them from organic sources. Moringa leaves can get easily contaminated with genetically modified organisms or pesticides, so a reliable source cannot be compromised on. Wash the leaves several times to get rid of any soil or dirt. Use only the leaves of the plant; the roots contain toxic substances and are not recommended for consumption.
Moringa Recipes for Babies
1. Moringa Leaves Soup– This is the easiest way to introduce moringa leaves in your baby’s diet. GK Food Diary has a simple recipe that you can customize by reducing the spices if you like. You can also use this soup as stock when cooking for older children.
2. Moringa Oatmeal Puree – In this recipe from Mama Loves, you can use Moringa powder instead of the leaves and organic oatmeal to make this healthy and wholesome puree.
3. Minty Moringa Pea Soup – This soup from Aduna is slightly heavier than the basic moringa leaves soup but is quite hearty for the winters. You can skip chickpeas if your baby has trouble digesting it. Use homemade vegetable stock to keep it healthy and wholesome.
4. Moringa Rice Porridge – This porridge from Aduna makes a wholesome meal for older babies – just skip the garnishing ingredients. The garlic and pepper add lots of healing benefits from spices and the coconut cream adds the requisite creaminess and makes it lactose free.
5. Green Smoothie: Make your regular green smoothie healthier by blending together yogurt, soaked/cooked oats, ginger, flaxseed, moringa powder and frozen kiwi fruit slices.
6. Moringa Banana Smoothie – This is an excellent lactose-free smoothie recipe from A Healthy Leaf that even babies can try. Start with 1/2 tsp of moringa powder before taking it up.
For older kids, you can cook moringa leaves with scrambled eggs or pasta. They can also be added to dal or sambar. You can also add moringa powder to idli/dosa batter or into paratha dough. You can also steep it with your regular green tea. Even if it’s just a spoon of powder, you can instantly take up the nutritional level of the dish by several counts.
Hi, Dr. Pema. I am hoping to help a young girl with Malaria in Africa and a young boy with HIV in Africa. Shall I send them Moringa powder or tincture or oil? A 3 and 4 yr old girls have malaria. A 5 yr old boy has HIV. Please advise what form is best and how much daily for each. Thank you so much.
my 3 year old girl was given 5 spoon fulls of cooked fresh moringa leaves from our tree. she has a small hole in her heart but is otherwise a normal child. other sites indicated low blood pressure/blood sugar. (she is not diabetic). we are in quarantine in Vietnam and unable to leave. I am monitoring her heart rate which appears ok after half an hour consumption. I intend to monitor for for a few hours watching for gastritis and a bowel movement. It is Friday evening here at this time and I am a bit worried as she may have eaten too much. she like the taste and was desiring more but the wife stopped at 5 spoon fulls same as (5 chop stick bundles). she is currently asleep and not showing any gastric distress but the wife ate the entire soup bowl and has stomach upset, anti-acid pill help her a bit. she is sleep also. maybe she has a slow heart rate which could bring sleepiness/fatigue. how long are these effects last both in a 3 year old and the mother? Please respond soon. Thank you much.
Hi Hema, my son is 3.5 yrs old. My question is can I give the moringa pwd with honey. Also, what is the best time to give this like 1st thing in morning, or before after meal or before going to bed. Many thanks
Hi sir I’m from Philippines I would like to ask if it is okay to give a 1yr old a pure moringa juice before eating he just have a cough hope you can reply my thank you and God bless xoxoxo
You can give 1 tsp a day or in alternative days for your elder child. Please don’t give it for the younger one. Exclusive breast feeding or formula feeding is only recommended till baby completes 6 months. Moringa powder can be introduced only after 1 year.
My child is twelve year old
About dosage
She is thinking about having a tea with a teaspoon of moringa three times a day
Is that a healthy dosage for her age?
Than you
For 15 months old, can we directly give moringa leaves through dal, sambar or porridges or any other form. I haven’t introducted him moringa dish till now. So please suggest
You can start introducing the soup after 6 months itself and then you can introduce powder or puree. If baby has sensitive tummy, moringa leaf can be introduced bit late.
Does mornings powder help in improving eyesight? One of my friend who is an Ayurveda doctor told me to give it to my 4 year old kid to improve his eyesight
Very good info… I have prepared moringa leaves powder at home. .how can I give this powder to my 3 year kid.. is it ok if I give daily 1 spoon powder… Also please let me know how can i give her
You can give 3 grams of morniga powder, three days in a week. You can feed with warm water, add in salads, soups etc. Please check on the recipes given in the article dear.
Thanks
Our pleasure 🙂
Baby is bottled feeding. He is 3 mos old. Is it okay to give him moringga extract?
Hi,
Exclusive breast feeding or formula feeding is only recommended till baby completes 6 months.
Hi, Dr. Pema. I am hoping to help a young girl with Malaria in Africa and a young boy with HIV in Africa. Shall I send them Moringa powder or tincture or oil? A 3 and 4 yr old girls have malaria. A 5 yr old boy has HIV. Please advise what form is best and how much daily for each. Thank you so much.
Hi Janet,
Please ask them to consult with their doctor and then decide accordingly.
my 3 year old girl was given 5 spoon fulls of cooked fresh moringa leaves from our tree. she has a small hole in her heart but is otherwise a normal child. other sites indicated low blood pressure/blood sugar. (she is not diabetic). we are in quarantine in Vietnam and unable to leave. I am monitoring her heart rate which appears ok after half an hour consumption. I intend to monitor for for a few hours watching for gastritis and a bowel movement. It is Friday evening here at this time and I am a bit worried as she may have eaten too much. she like the taste and was desiring more but the wife stopped at 5 spoon fulls same as (5 chop stick bundles). she is currently asleep and not showing any gastric distress but the wife ate the entire soup bowl and has stomach upset, anti-acid pill help her a bit. she is sleep also. maybe she has a slow heart rate which could bring sleepiness/fatigue. how long are these effects last both in a 3 year old and the mother? Please respond soon. Thank you much.
Hi,
Kindly keep monitoring the child for any discomfort. It’s not to be worried if he is comfortable and active.
Hi Hema, my son is 3.5 yrs old. My question is can I give the moringa pwd with honey. Also, what is the best time to give this like 1st thing in morning, or before after meal or before going to bed. Many thanks
You can give after breakfast (after 30 minutes). It can be given thrice in a week.
Thanks a lot. Is it fine to give with honey.
Yes, if baby is above one year.
Hi sir I’m from Philippines I would like to ask if it is okay to give a 1yr old a pure moringa juice before eating he just have a cough hope you can reply my thank you and God bless xoxoxo
Thank you Kristine. Please give one spoon of juice only. You can give in alternative days 🙂
i can give it to my 3mos old baby and 7yr old son for their cough and cold? how many ml? also for their strong immune system.
Hi,
You can give 1 tsp a day or in alternative days for your elder child. Please don’t give it for the younger one. Exclusive breast feeding or formula feeding is only recommended till baby completes 6 months. Moringa powder can be introduced only after 1 year.
Noted Dr. Hemapriya thank you so much for the info.
Godbless you and more power..
My pleasure Gerlie 🙂
My baby has 7 month old can I start mornings powder in cerelac . Take the baby food my baby is mucus on chest can I give him mixed with cerelac
Yes, You can add half teaspoon of moringa powder twice or thrice in a week.
My child is twelve year old
About dosage
She is thinking about having a tea with a teaspoon of moringa three times a day
Is that a healthy dosage for her age?
Than you
Yes Cristina. But you can give a teaspoon of powder in a day 🙂
For 15 months old, can we directly give moringa leaves through dal, sambar or porridges or any other form. I haven’t introducted him moringa dish till now. So please suggest
Yes dear, You can add it in recipes. But while introducing give little and then gradually increase the quantity.
hi, why do moringa leaves be offered after one year of age? can we offer the leaves earlier?
Hi,
You can start introducing the soup after 6 months itself and then you can introduce powder or puree. If baby has sensitive tummy, moringa leaf can be introduced bit late.
Does mornings powder help in improving eyesight? One of my friend who is an Ayurveda doctor told me to give it to my 4 year old kid to improve his eyesight
Hi Priya,
Moringa leaves has vitamin A in it, so it’s good for eyes.
Thank you so much,for your information on how to use moringa for babies. Be blessed
Hi Rukia,
Thank you dear 🙂
Thanks for the information and recipes
We are glad to know that you have liked our recipes and information provided in them Nisha 🙂 🙂
Too good
Thanks dear.
Thank you so much for letting us know your thoughts Meghna 🙂
Very good info… I have prepared moringa leaves powder at home. .how can I give this powder to my 3 year kid.. is it ok if I give daily 1 spoon powder… Also please let me know how can i give her
Hi Meena,
You can give 3 grams of morniga powder, three days in a week. You can feed with warm water, add in salads, soups etc. Please check on the recipes given in the article dear.
Do you have this powder in your stock??
Hi Nazreen,
Sorry dear,We don’t have murunga leaves powder in Little Moppet store.