Is Drumstick / moringa safe during pregnancy?

Vegetables Also called Saijan patta (Hindi); Sajna pata (Bengali); Murungai keerai (Tamil); Mulaga akulu (Telugu); Shevaga pan (Marathi); Muringa ela (Malayalam); Nuggeyele (Kannada); Saragwa na pan (Gujarati); Saijan-ki-phalli (Hindi); Sajna danta (Bengali); Murungakkai (Tamil); Mulakaada (Telugu); Shevanga sheng (Marathi); Muringakkai (Malayalam); Nugga kayi (Kannada); Saragavo (Gujarati).

Drumstick leaves are part of the pregnancy diet

ICMR-NIN lists drumstick leaves among green leafy vegetables in its pregnancy food groups; moringa supplements are not addressed.[1]

What official sources say

ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024

  • Its pregnancy food groups list spinach, amaranth, fenugreek, mustard, mint, coriander and drumstick leaves as green leafy vegetables. (p. 16)[1]

Related general rules

NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy

  • Fruit and vegetables › Safe to eat: Most fruits and vegetables are safe to eat in pregnancy, as long as they are washed thoroughly first.[2]
  • Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove soil, because soil can carry bacteria that may make you ill.[2]

US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

  • Thoroughly rinse raw fruits and vegetables under running water before eating or preparing them, especially fruits that require peeling or cutting - like cantaloupe and other melons.[3]

US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women

  • Riskier Choice: Unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables, including lettuce and other leafy greens[4]
  • Safer Choice: Washed vegetables and fruits (washed and then cooked are safest)[4]

NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

  • Aim for at least 5 portions of varied fruit and vegetables a day, which can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced, and always wash fresh produce carefully.[5]

Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)

Energy64 kcal
Protein9.4 g
Fibre2 g
Iron4 mg
Calcium185 mg
Folate (DFE)40 µg
Folate, total40 µg
Vitamin A (RAE)378 µg
Vitamin C51.7 mg
Vitamin D0 µg
Vitamin B120 µg
Sodium9 mg

USDA FoodData Central: Drumstick leaves, raw (FDC ID 168416), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.

Sources

  1. ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 · nin.res.in. Printed page 16. Paraphrased and cited by printed page; the text is not reproduced.
  2. NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
  3. US FDA: Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be) · fda.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  4. US CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women · cdc.gov. US government work, public domain; quoted. No endorsement implied.
  5. NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.

Sources checked 26 September 2026.

Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.

Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.