Millets are one of humankind’s oldest crops, and they are beneficial to both human health and agriculture. They are nutritionally dense and offer a variety of health advantages to consumers. Millets are nutritionally beneficial due to their high protein, necessary amino acid, mineral, and vitamin content. Millets are nutritionally equivalent to major cereals in terms of carbohydrates, proteins, micronutrients, and phytochemicals.

Millets are an extremely diverse category of small-seeded grasses. They are gluten-free grains. Millets are an array of adequately nutrient-rich, drought-resistant crops grown mostly in regions that are semi-arid and arid.

They are sometimes referred to as famine crops due to their ability to provide consistent harvests during times of famine. Millets were among the very earliest meals discovered by mankind. Large-scale cultivation of rice and wheat has led to diminished importance and production since urbanization and industrialization.

Millets offer several nutritional, nutraceutical, and overall wellness benefits, particularly due to their high fibre content and starch content, which can reduce the risk of diabetes and other disorders.

The main millets are Jowar (sorghum) and pearl millet (bajra). Other millets like ragi, foxtail millet, small millet, proso millets, barnyard millets, and kodo millet can be found in India.

Health benefits of Millets

Modern study has led to the discovery of millets’ nutritional significance. Millets were the first crop farmed and are now recognized as the most nutritious diet. They offer an array of health advantages. Some are as follows: 

Helpful in cardiovascular disease

Maximum millets are high in magnesium, which reduces blood pressure and the risk of stroke. Millets like bajra, jowar, and ragi are packed with potassium, which serves as a vasodilator and lowers blood pressure, lowering cardiovascular risk.

Lower bad cholesterol

Millets are rich in fibre. Millets of various kinds are plentiful in fibre, which helps decrease cholesterol by removing LDL and raising HDL.

Helps in Control of Diabetes

The risk of type 2 diabetes has been rising at an alarming rate throughout the world, particularly in India, where the prevalence stands at 14.3%.

Research indicates that consuming three or more servings of whole grain foods per day, especially those found in high-fibre cereals, lowers the possibility of developing insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which are precursors to type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. Millets include fibre, essential vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, vitamin E, phenolic compounds, and tannins, which may lower the risk of diabetes by reducing blood glucose and insulin levels.

Prevent cancer

Millets have anti-carcinogenic properties. It includes polyphenols and tannins, which have anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic characteristics. They can also inhibit human melanoma cells and promote melanogenesis.

Free radicals in the body trigger oxidative stress, leading to illnesses including Alzheimer’s, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, Parkinson’s, and auto-immune disorders. Millets are a rich source of ants. Antioxidants serve a crucial function in preventing oxidation, which reduces cellular damage.

Promotes easy bowel movement

Millets are high in fiber. Dietary fibre with high viscosity and water retention ability can lower blood glucose levels and improve insulin responsiveness. It also lowers cholesterol and reduces the chance of gastrointestinal diseases. Dietary fibre benefits the small intestine by promoting swelling and extending transit time.

Key features of Millets

Millets, as we’ve seen, are nutrient-dense. They have certain unique features worth considering as future foods: 

Recharge the soil

Most millets are often grown on low-fertility soils. Some grow in acidic soil, while others thrive on saline soils. Pearl millet is suitable for sandy soils, whereas finger millet thrives in saline soils. Barnyard millet flourishes in difficult soils where rice struggles to grow. Many of them are also cultivated to rejuvenate the soil.

No need for synthetic fertilizers

Millets do not require chemical fertilizers. It survives in arid circumstances without artificial fertilizers. Most millet growers utilize farmyard waste in eco-friendly conditions. They can easily grow in a good way by using biofertilizers. These approaches make millet cultivation environmentally favorable.

High pesticide resistance

Most of the millets are pest-free crops. growing traditional native landraces and under ecological circumstances, most millets, including foxtail, pearl millet, and sorghum, are completely pest-free. The pesticide requirement is very low for such millets.

Provides food security

Millets are a nutrient-dense food source, providing nutritional security. they offer several benefits, including food security, nutrition, fodder, fibre, health, livelihood, and environmental security. Millets have many nutrients. Major nutrients and micronutrients are essential for human health. As a result, they can help humans survive malnutrition.

Identifying and retrieving millets

Millets are more nutritious, water-efficient, and drought-tolerant crops. Finger millet, proso millet, foxtail millet, pearl millet, and kodo millet are all valuable agricultural species. These crops remain the primary providers of energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. They are easy to grow, practically organic, and have a high nutritional value. Millets are healthy for consumers, the environment, and farmers as well. They are high in minerals and antioxidants and have the potential to prevent a variety of ailments, such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Regularly eating millets plays an important part in your diet. Millets vary according to the season and place. Include such millets in your diet to ensure a better existence.