Moringa is a popular vegetable as it has many nutrients, especially preferred to add in kids’ meals. Besides, many mothers wonder whether they should let their children eat moringa or not. And if possible, how should they prepare it? Can moringa cause diarrhea in children? This article will answer all these questions below.
1. What is Moringa?
Moringa is a vegetable whose leaves look like spinach but smaller. People can smell a light aroma just touching the leaves. Moringa is a woody, tall tree. However, to get the leaves, we have to cut down Moringa trees regularly to make them lower and easy to harvest. It is very easy to grow them with just a branch.
Moringa is a nutritional food that many families choose to add nutrients to their daily meal.
2. Is moringa good for babies?
Moringa is a safe and nutritious vegetable. It is rich in amino acids, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds. Besides, this plant also contains high levels of vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, vitamins A, B, C and E. These substances are needed for bone and muscle growth, brain development, skin and hair.
Moringa can be used to make soup or cooked with minced meat, bone broth and other vegetables.
Therefore, many families give their children moringa, even when they just start to introduce solid foods. This is very good because there are many nutrients added, helping the child to develop healthily. So, how should we prepare moringa?
- For babies in the weaning stage, puree the young moringa leaves and cook with baby powder. When they can eat porridge, chop young moringa leaves and cook with porridge.
- When they can eat rice: Cook moringa soup for them. Moringa should be cooked with bone broth or minced meat for extra nutrition.
Currently, people have made moringa powder from the leaves of the tree. This is a very useful product, easy to use and can be taken anywhere when needed. You can use moringa powder in salads or other dishes for kids.
3. Effect of Moringa on children
With high nutritional content, moringa is not only good for children but also provides many nutrients for humans in general. Below are 10 uses of moringa:
Increase energy
Moringa has a high vitamin and mineral content. Eating moringa regularly helps provide energy for children to learn and play.
Improve the baby's immune system
Moringa regularly can help protect children from bacteria and viruses as it can strengthen the child's immune system.
Enhance metabolism
Children are still growing, so their metabolism is very good.However, the metabolic rate will decrease when children are sick, injured or have emotional problems. Regular use of moringa will ensure that the metabolism remains normal. In addition, eating moringa regularly also helps children grow in height and weight.
Develope of cell structure
Moringa contains amino acids, which helps cells in the body grow strongly. Young children's growth process is really fast, so adding this vegetable to their diet will bring a lot of benefits.
Benefit the kidneys and liver
Moringa is a very good detoxifier. This function of moringa has a positive effect on the kidneys and liver of the child.
Treat infections
Moringa has anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, when children often have coughs or common infections, adding moringa to their diet to alleviate those.
Good for eyes
In daily life, children are often exposed to electronic devices. This puts them at high risk for eye diseases such as short-sight. Moringa is a vegetable rich in vitamin A, thereby improving children's eyesight.
Heal wounds
Children are very active and naughty, so they are often injured. With small wounds, scratches, just apply a little of this vegetable powder to help the wound heal faster. In addition, moringa powder also works to fade skin scars.
Beautify skin
Moringa tree is a very good food for baby's skin because of its high content of vitamins A, C and E. In addition, moringa can help protect children from rashes, eczema and other skin diseases. Applying moringa juice on the skin can help children have shiny and smooth skin.
Good for hair
Moringa contains amino acids, which are an essential ingredient for the formation of the protein keratin. Keratin is a very important nutrient for hair to grow. In addition, moringa also has the effect of supporting hair growth and helping children's hair to be less prone to dandruff because it contains a lot of vitamin A.
4. When to add moringa to a child's diet and what to notice?
When using moringa, only the leaves, fruits and seeds should be used. It is necessary to avoid using the roots because the roots contain some toxic substances. Therefore, when buying moringa powder, choose products of clear origin. Consult your doctor for the right amount of moringa.
Moringa porridge with minced meat recipe for children. Ingredients:
- Rice 2 handfuls
- Glutinous rice 1 handful
- Minced meat 100g
- Moringa leaves 30g
- Cooking oil
- Fish sauce
How to cook
Grind glutinous rice and plain rice then simmer. Wash, minc and sautée the pork with cooking oil. Wash young moringa leaves and soak them in dilute salt water. When the porridge is cooked, scoop a sufficient amount and puree it with minced meat and moringa.
With many years of experience in examining and treating diseases in children, now the Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital has become one of the major health care centers, capable of examining, screening and treatment of many specialized diseases in children. Therefore, if the child shows signs of poor nutrient absorption, slow weight gain, growth retardation, etc, parents can take the child to Vinmec International General Hospital for examination and advice from qualified doctors.
To arrange an appointment, please call … or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
