Millets – The Super Food
Millets are small seeded cereals and grains that are indigenous to India and African countries. They are considered to have been cultivated in India from pre-historic times. Their importance as food can be realized from the fact that millets are being cultivated in an area of about 30 million acres in India.
Millets require 70% less water than rice. They require no pesticides and minimal chemical fertilizers making them mostly organic and environment friendly. They are low cost crops and can be grown well even in marginal lands, with low rainfall.
They are nutritional powerhouses high in proteins, dietary fibre, B complex vitamins, essential amino acids, folic acid & Vitamin E. They are particularly high in minerals such as, Iron, Magnesium, Copper, Phosphorous, Zinc, Calcium and Potassium. Their nutritional and health benefits have created a demand surge for a variety of millets.
Health benefits of consuming millet
- High dietary fibre provides hunger satisfaction and helps reduce obesity
- Reduce the risk of Diabetes & Cardio Vascular Diseases
- Beneficial in treating and prevention of gallstones and stomach ulcers
- Nutritionally dense and reduce anaemia, liver disorder and asthma
- It’s hypo allergic properties help prevent allergic reactions
- Relieves constipation
- Lowers blood glucose response and reduce the risk of Type II Diabetes
- Rich in anti oxidants and hence reduce oxidative stress
- Reduce the risk of cancer
- Reduce the occurrence of hypertension