Time to put millets back on our plate

While quinoa has made its rounds as a superfood around the world and into our homes; it’s time we look at the nutritional benefits of our homegrown millets and include them in our diet.In India, pearl millets, finger millets, foxtail millets, little millets, barnyard millets and sorghum among others have been in use for centuries. They are gluten-free, loaded with protein and fibre, and are rich in vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc.

Millets have been the staple diet of our ancestors for centuries. In the last few decades, we have switched to polished rice and wheat varieties, forgetting our indigenous grains that are more nutritional and far less damaging to the environment and to our overall health.

MILLETS ARE GLUTEN-FREE:

With the increase of heavily bleached and processed food, stomach-related discomforts and disorders have increased in numbers. Switching to millets and unprocessed wholegrain organic indigenous rice varieties; which are gluten-free, rich in fibre and protein would slowly bring us back into better health.

THEY ARE FULL OF FIBRE AND HEALTHIER:

A healthy balance in the stomach and intestines (gut) is essential for our overall wellbeing and is gaining importance amongst nutritionists, nutritional psychiatrists, researchers and gastro-intestinal health professionals.

Millets are great at maintaining the health of the gastrointestinal track. The fibre promotes elimination of waste, fighting constipation, gas, bloating and cramping and other more serious gastrointestinal problems. It is great for your overall metabolic activity and promotes healthy functioning of liver and kidneys and other vital organs.

MILLETS REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE AND CHOLESTEROL LEVELS. MILLETS ARE SUPER HEART FOODS:

The dietary fibre in millets reduce bad cholesterol and promote good cholesterol. Millets are a rich source of magnesium, an important mineral that reduces blood pressure; thereby reducing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

MILLETS HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF DIABETES:

Millets have a low glycaemic index and help regulate blood sugar levels. Increasing numbers of diabetologists are prescribing millets to part substitute and reduce rice consumption as research has proven that excessive rice consumption increases the risk of diabetes.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND SUSTAINABLE:

Millets are a variety of grass seeds. They are highly resistant to weather conditions, require lesser water than some rice varieties and are cheaper to grow. They cost less with far more nutritional value than most grains and contribute to a greener environment.