Millets – ‘Siri Dhanyaalu ‘as they fondly call them these days are becoming very popular in India. People are tending towards a healthy living and are becoming conscious of what they eat, as the knowledge on the ill effects of pesticide and chemical prone food are becoming evident these days.

Millets, were once used extensively in India as staple food, but gradually lost their importance in the diet as the world became fast and got attracted towards western food habits along with western culture of fast foods. The time took a circular turn now and people started using different kinds of millets to maintain their health.

Millets are nothing but coarse grains and are store houses of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Different varieties of millets such as Sorgham (Jawar), Finger Millets (Ragi), Foxtail Millet (Korra), Kodo Millet(Arike), Little Millet (Sama), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Proso Millet (Variga), Barnyard Millet (Vudha) are coming into use gradually now, as people started gaining awareness on their health benefits.

There was once a time when people used to say that the millets are used as fodder for cattle. But you can’t imagine the numerous health benefits they offer. Unaware of their nutritional benefits they are given a tag of ‘Poor man’s food’. As they are less tasty compared to rice and wheat people reduced using them. Once you know the benefits you would surely shift to millet diet leaving alone white rice which contains merely sugars and nothing more.

Easy to Grow

Millets are very easy to grow, as they need less water and are less prone to pests. They can grow in harsh weather conditions as well. They have a short growing period and hence are farmer friendly. Due to its high resistance against harsh conditions, millets are sustainable to the environment, to the farmer growing it, and provide cheap and high nutrient options for all. Nearly 40 percent of the food produced in India is wasted every year. Millets do not get spoiled easily, and some of the millets are good for consumption even after 10-12 years of growing, thus providing food security, and playing an important role in keeping a check on food wastage.

Health Benefits of Millets

1. Helps in digestion

Millets provide 9gms of fibre for every 100gms of serving. This helps in maintaining the digestive system healthy and hence enables absorption of adequate nutrition. The fibre present in millet helps in healing illnesses such as diarrhea and gastrointestinal disorders. Making millet a part of your diet regularly will help you maintain a healthy gut and prevent peptic ulcers and colon cancer.

2. Prevents Asthma

Wheat and rice are considered to the allergens in cases of Asthma. But millets in contradiction are free of gluten and hence are proven to be safe for asthma patients. They are proven to be significantly reducing the effects of asthma and also are believed to be preventing it.

3.Regulates Cholesterol

Fibre prevents cholesterol to accumulate in our bodies and prevents it from clogging the arteries. The excessive amount of fibre present in millet cleans up the arteries and helps in getting rid of LDL Cholesterol. This helps in preventing from various health issues related to heart and liver.

4. Cleans up toxins

Detoxifying our body everyday is quite essential as many toxins accumulate regularly in our bodies. Millet contains catechins such as Quercetin that helps in keeping our kidneys and liver function properly by excreting the toxins from our body.

5. Manages Diabetes

Diabetes has become a household name these days and every house has one such patient. It is considered to be life style disease affecting millions and is a gateway for many other serious illnesses. Millet contains a good amount of magnesium which helps the body produce insulin effectively and also prevents the occurrence of diabetes. Millets keep the sugar levels in control.

6. Prevents Cancer

The oxidative damage which is the main cause of many diseases like cancer is caused due to free radicals. Millet is an anti oxidant rich seed which looks like a grain and contains quercetin, selenium and pantothenic acid which prevents the body from developing cancerous cells. Some studies also reveal that adequate consumption of fibre prevents breast cancer in women. Consumption of 30% fibre per day prevents cancer and as millets are rich in fibre content, regular intake of millet would help in preventing cancer.

7. Keeps your heart healthy

Millet is a good source of fibre, which helps maintain the cholesterol in the body and ensures a healthy blood circulation. It also contains magnesium which regulates the blood pressure and potassium which functions as a vasodilator. Healthy blood flow helps in keeping your heart healthy.

8. Prevents Anemia

Anemia, especially in women who are expecting is extremely dangerous and can lead to fatal deceases. Millet is composed wonderfully to help prevent anemia or to cope with it. The folic acid, folate and iron present in millet are the key components in the formation of red blood cells and helps keep the hemoglobin to an adequate level. Millet is a good source of copper which also aids in making red blood cells.

9. Repairs Body Tissue

Millets are rich in phosphorous which helps in forming the structure of cells in the body. It helps form the mineral matrix of the bone and helps the molecules that are the source of energy for our body. Phosphorous is also a component of cell membranes and nervous system structure and it is advisable to add millets in your diet to get the required phosphorous.

10. Prevents Gallstones

The consumption of millets and other similar fibres helped reduce the risk of gallstones says many researches. This is due to the reduction in intestinal transit time, aided by the consumption of fibre. It also reduces the secretion of bile acid, which is known to cause gallstones.

To conclude, it is highly recommended to include millets in your diet as often possible to have a healthy life. Just don’t be in an intention that millets are boring and less tasty. There are a number of recipes available using millets, may it be porridges, sweets, breakfast recipes and much more. You can find some interesting recipes in our later blog posts.