BENEFITS OF MILLETS:

Consuming millets as part of your daily diet is an age-old concept. Millets are a powerhouse of nutrients. They have reclaimed their space in the kitchen of those more health-conscious. Millets boost your health and improve weight loss, besides being gluten-free. Speak to any fitness enthusiast, and they will vouch for the miraculous benefits of eating millets.

Millets are available in a variety of types, and each has its health benefits. Walk into a supermarket at any time of the year, and you will find millets in stock. That is because of their cultivation across seasons.

Millets are coarse grains that are traditionally grown and consumed by our past Indian generations for over 100’s of years. Millets has high nutritional value and are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fibres. The world is now noticing millets for their enormous potential.

TYPES OF MILLETS

Millets come in different shapes and sizes. The two broad categories discussed above contain numerous kinds of millets. We will take a look at some of these different types below:

FOXTAIL MILLET

Foxtail millet contains blood sugar balancing healthy carbohydrates. The iron and calcium content present in it also helps strengthen immunity. In addition, foxtail millets help regulate your blood cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol levels in your body.

FINGER MILLET/RAGI

Ragi is a more common name for finger millet. It is used as a healthier cereal substitute for rice and wheat. Ragi is gluten-free and rich in protein. Ragi is supposed to aid brain development in growing children.

PEARL MILLET/BAJRA

Bajra is incredibly nutrient-dense. It contains minerals such as calcium and magnesium, protein, fibre, and iron. Practice regular consumption of pearl millet to fight against type II diabetes.

BUCKWHEAT

Go for buckwheat if your primary concern is to lose weight. It makes for a healthy food option for diabetes, helps lower blood pressure, and improves cardiovascular health. Buckwheat also fights against diseases such as gallstones, childhood asthma, and breast cancer.

LITTLE MILLET

Little millet is also an excellent option for those looking to lose weight. You can eat it as a rice replacement. It is high in fibre and filled with numerous minerals such as potassium, zinc, iron, and calcium. It is also packed with the health benefits of vitamin B and works as an antioxidant for your body.

PROVEN HEALTH BENEFITS OF MILLETS

Millets are rich in several beneficial nutrients, such as phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and manganese. Incorporate them into your diet to gain the following benefits.

1. MILLETS AIDS WEIGHT LOSS

The calorie content of millets is low, and they are an excellent food product for weight loss. Not just those looking to lose weight, it benefits people who are conscious of their fitness too. It helps them maintain their energy level throughout the day without having to eat to refuel themselves constantly.

Millets also keep you satiated for longer than other carbohydrates. When you consume them, you feel fuller for longer as they take time to get digested and absorbed into your body. That prevents snacking and overeating.

2.MILLETS KEEPS YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS LOW

Millets have a low glycaemic index. Therefore, consume millets regularly to lower your risk of developing diabetes.

3. MILLETS BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY

Protein intake is responsible for building the body’s immunity.

Millets provide a great source of protein and can help develop and strengthen our immunity. Stronger immunity means fewer chances of you catching diseases.

4. MILLETS REDUCES CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS

Millets contain essential fats, which provide our bodies with good fats which prevent excess fat storage as well as effectively lowers the risk of high cholesterol, strokes, and other heart complaints.

The potassium content in millets regulates your blood pressure and optimises your circulatory system.

5. MILLETS PREVENTS ASTHMA

The magnesium content in millets can reduce how frequently you experience migraines. It can also bring down the severity of your asthma complaints.

The reason is, unlike wheat, they do not contain the allergens that lead to asthma and wheezing.

6.MILLETS HELPS YOUR DIGESTION

Millets are a rich fibre source that benefits digestion by alleviating bloating, gas, cramping, and constipation. In addition, good digestion keeps issues like gastric/colon cancer and kidney/liver complaints away.

7.MILLETS ACTS AS AN ANTIOXIDANT

Millets help your body detox because of their antioxidant properties; Quercetin, curcumin, ellagic acid, and other valuable catechins flush out toxins from your body and neutralise the enzymatic actions of your organs.

BENEFITS OF CEREALS:

10. REASONS WHY EATING CEREALS IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR DIET

Cereals are high in nutrition. Different varieties come with different nutrient value, some are rich in vitamins, minerals, others are high in proteins, and iron. Since cereals are available throughout the year, it is often a staple food for many people around the world.

Cereals help prevent diseases and maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. Also, cereals supply ample amount of energy to keep you active throughout the day.

Here is a list of the benefits of adding cereals to one’s diet:

GOOD SOURCE OF ENERGY

When we consume food that is low in nutrients, there is a chance that our body will deplete energy quicker than it should. Cereals are a good source of nutrients. This contributes to the fact that integrating cereals in everyday diet can help you retain your energy levels throughout the day.

GOOD FOR KIDS

Children need a lot of nutrients in their day-to-day life. Considering the activities, they like to indulge in, nutrients are important to keep their energy levels intact. Eating cereals every day also ensures that the kids consume approximately 10% of fibre every day.

GOOD SOURCE OF FIBRE

Fibre is essential for the optimum functioning of the body. One of which is preventing heart disease which can be fatal. Consuming enough fibre per meal can reduce the risk of heart blockages and also aid in digestion.

RICH IN VITAMIN

Vitamins are essential in maintaining healthy bones. Calcium and vitamin D go hand in hand to ensure the integrity of bones. Cereals, rich in calcium and vitamin D will help you strengthen the bones. This, in addition, will prevent the premature aging of the bones.

RICH IN PROTEINS

The human body requires proteins to build muscles and tissues. They are also important for skin, cartilages, bones, and blood. Different cereals contain different level of protein. When your body lacks proteins, a sure way to bridge that gap is adding breakfast cereals to your diet.

RICH IN MINERALS

Just like vitamins and proteins, our body requires minerals to grow and stay healthy. Minerals provided by cereals helps generate hormones, keep our heartbeat steady, helps transmit nerve impulses and keep our bones strong. Cereals contain minerals such as magnesium: helps in nerve and muscle function; potassium: helps in lowering the blood pressure. Calcium: helps keep the bones strong.

PREVENTS HEART DISEASES

Fatty foods can lead to heart diseases. Eating street food dipped in unhealthy oils will lead to premature heart attacks. Unhealthy eating habits can also cause the arteries of the heart to block because of the accrued fats. Ingesting food that has appropriate amounts of fat is beneficial. Only the fats that our body requires to function is essentially provided by whole grains and cereals.

HELP KEEP HEALTHY SUGAR LEVELS

Food rich in carbohydrates makes your glucose levels skyrocket. Adding cereals and whole grain food can help maintain blood levels and decrease the need for eating at short intervals.

HELPS IN EASY BOWEL MOVEMENT

With the increase in age, it becomes hard for the body to process food. Cereals, high in fiber, help with a healthy bowel movement and also keep your weight in check. A regular bowel movement also prevents constipation.

AIDS IN MAINTAINING WEIGHT

Cereals are less in calories. Their structure is complex, taking more time to get processed in the system eliminates the feeling of wanting to eat more. Maintaining weight while consuming cereals and whole grains every day can keep you satiated and less prone to binge eating.Not only are cereals beneficial for health, but they’re also affordable. It is best to choose cereals on the basis of your body’s requirement.