Millets and Nutrition

Minutes also term as nutricerials contribute substantially for food and nutritional security and are highly nutritious. Millet crops perform well in marginal environments and are superior in nutritional properties with high micronutrients with low glycemic index.

Millets are not only comparable to major cereals with respect to their nutritional features but are very good sources of carbohydrates micronutrients and phytochemicals with nutraceuticals properties the millets contain 7-12% protein 2 – 5% fat 65 – 75% carbohydrates and 50 – 20% dietary fibre.

Millets are natural source of iron, zinc, calcium and other nutrients that are essential for curbing the problem of malnutrition in India.

Malnutrition is a primary symptom of hunger 40% of preschool 8 children are estimated to be anaemic because of iron deficiency and anaemia causes 20% of all maternal dates in addition it is estimated that 250 to 500 thousand children go blind from vitamin A deficiency every year. Consumption of pearl millet and other millets can effectively solve the problem of anaemia from the word.

Epidemiological studies have shown that that switch in plant force including whole grains are protective against the non-communicable diseases like diabetes cancer and cardiovascular diseases due to protect you effects of health promoting phytonutrients.

Finger Millet is the richest source of calcium (300-350 mg/100g) and other small millets are good source of phosphorus and iron millets are easy to digest container high amount of lecithi and are excellent for straightening the nervous system.

They have higher content of niacin B6 and folic acid and calcium, iron, Potassium, magnesium and zinc.

Millets are good for people who are gluten intolerant its fibre contain also help to prevent constipation and may reduce the risk of developing bowl disorders including bowl colon.

Minutes contain slow releasing glucose that is low in glycemic index this is very much important in fighting the global problem of diabetes.

Millets as a smart food

Good for the consumers:  they can help overcome some of the biggest nutritional and health problem like I am zinc folic acid calcium diabetes and more

Good for the planet:  they have a low water footprint are able to survive in the hottest diced driest climates and will be important in copy with climate changes and more.

Good for the farmer can increase ills of three-fold how multiple uses food footer fuel and are typically the last crops standing in times of drought being a good risk management strategy for farmer.

Medicinal uses of millets

India occupies the first position in major production of minor millets, but we have less aware of their importance and its nutritional property.  Millets are highly nutritious and has

antioxidant properties which provide balanced nutrition. Pearl millet consists of secondary metabolites like tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, phenol and steroids.  Based on its pharmacological properties, it can cure several health problems like cancer, diarrhea and cardiovascular diseases. Also finger millet is considered as one of most important minor millet, due to its high nutritional content which includes calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc. Calcium present in the finger millet is higher than the other nutrients and when compared to rice, finger millet is rich in protein, iron content and other medicinal properties which have been presented in the table.