Millets: Make your kids stronger and sharper

 

We know some millets don't taste as good as processed flour or Basmati rice, but the bitter truth is that Millets are far healthier for kids of age 2-18 years as compared to rice or processed wheat. 

Let's see health benefits of including millets in daily consumption-

1) Due to higher fibre content it helps in easy digestion- A diet high in fibre keeps the digestive system healthy. Health conditions linked to a low fibre diet include – constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, heart disease and some cancers (including bowel). Also it helps relieve heart-burn and acidity.

2) Due to low Glycemic Index it helps prevent diabetes- The glycemic index, simply put, is a measure of how quickly a food causes our blood sugar levels to rise. The measure ranks food on a scale of zero to 100. Foods with a high glycemic index, or GI, are quickly digested and absorbed, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar

3) It keeps the heart healthy- The soluble fiber in millet is capable of reducing “bad” cholesterol in blood—a risk factor for atherosclerosis. On the other hand Soluble fiber absorbs cholesterol, allowing it to be safely carried out of the body. An ongoing research shows that millet can also raise “good” cholesterol levels and lower triglycerides. Cholesterol is the biggest risk factor for heart disease, thus, eating millet regularly may help keep the heart healthier.

4) Due to very balanced mineral content in millets, it works as a great antioxidant, which helps to protect the body from harmful oxidative stresses.

5) Foxtail millet for Brain: This millet supplies adequate amount of iron which is essential for the brain oxygenation and prevents Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

6) Fights Cancer: Studies have revealed that foods rich in fiber help preventing breast cancer in women.

7) High in Calcium Content: Millets are rich in Calcium which is very important for maintaining your bone health. It also contains vitamin D. Eating Foxtail Millet in the form of sprouts helps fight diseases such as osteoporosis and could reduce risk of fracture.

8) Weight loss: Foxtail contains Tryptophan – an amino acid which gets digested at a slower rate, thus keeping one away from consuming extra calories in their diet.

9) Anti-Ageing: By including this millet in your diet, you one can have a youthful-looking skin because the amino acids found in it help in the formation of collagen, which helps in slowing appearance of wrinkles.

10) protein, iron and Vitamin B1 found in foxtail millet help in proper functioning of brain, reduces risk of dementia and reduces oxidative stress, which keeps your child more active and happier

To keep your kids healthy Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) has developed a book on millet recipes. With the help of these recipes you can prepare tasty dishes which your kid would love to eat and you would love to prepare.

How to buy millets

It is really difficult to recognize millets correctly, especially for millennials, because we have never seen it, and all of them seemingly look similar. We trust one brand HealthyEatz by M&J Foods in India, provides the correct details about the millets and mixed flour category. These guys have lots of products in their bucket, M&J Foods is on its way to create a healthier tomorrow. Above is a snippet of Kodo (Varagu) millet from HealthyEatz.