SIGNIFICANCE OF MILLETS
IN
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
While the importance of such large grained cereal crops as wheat , corn , and rice to the beginnings of agriculture are well understood , a small group of small seeded grasses known as millet are often ignored . Gluten allergies are clearly on the increase in our modern society. It seems like practically every other person I know these days have some sort of digestive issues that avoiding gluten would probably improve. At the top of the list of gluten containing foods is wheat, the indisputable , primary staple of the western diet and the very foundation. Now coming up with our modern saying , that , our new tradition is good nutrition make us to follow our forgotten tradition. We inhabit a culture which is disgusted by intellect. The dramatic up-tick in obesity, tooth decays and cancers in kids has contributed to the quest of more perfect grain, and the treasure is in Millets. Millets are a part of our forgotten tradition. These small-seeded grasses that are hardy and grow well in dry zones as rain-fed crops, under marginal conditions of soil fertility and moisture, are one of the oldest foods known to humans and possibly the first cereal grain to be used for domestic purposes. Millets are also unique due to their short growing season. They can develop from planted seeds to mature, ready to harvest plants in as little as 65 days. There is an old wisdom shared in almost all languages of the subcontinent – that all seeds are grains but not all grains can be qualify to be used as seeds. Although millet is most often associated as the main ingredient in bird seed, it is not just "for the birds." It is the powerful seed for human also. Now the question arises that - What is so special about millets? Then the answer would be - Millets contain double the amount of minerals and fiber and are low in sugar content when compared to rice and wheat. It’s a store house of nutrients. It’s not a bird’s food. White rice breaks down to glucose very fast which in turn increases blood sugar level, the millets slowly breaks down because of low glycemic. Most of us are aware and it’s also proven that the white rice we cook is polished multiple times to look attractive. Millets have billions of positive points , from having the high nutritious qualities to the heart protective properties. Millets helps in the development and repair of body tissues, its substantially lowers down type 2 diabetes risk, it can help women prevent from gallstones, it is protective against breast cancer, high in insoluble fibre, also prevents childhood asthma. But still, we never ever thought of the humble millet, having choices apart from wheat and rice. Government policies gave a leg-up to rice and wheat, millets lost their primacy. Another reason for millets being As less popular is the fact that millets are coated with thick non soluble, unpalatable fibre. There was no technology with which the husk could be separated to make it easily digestible. Due to its high levels of husk, it took a back seat in our daily diets. 70’s Parents never had a mindset to provide unhealthy foods to their kids. I remember my parents used to say that junk foods are not good for health. Is it not? But the parents of Globalized civilization never consider rethinking before they end up in KFC or Dominos or Pizza hut or Burgers or Wraps or any Indian style restaurants at least once in a week. The worst part is we are very well aware of the fast-food quality but still we provide them to kids.
Let’s rethink and give kids a better health to live. Junk food we need to eat less, to prolong life and to reduce stress. It’s neither a rocket Science nor need to be a best chef to prepare millet. “Millets are amazing in their nutrition content. Each of the millet is three to five times superior to the widely promoted rice and wheat in terms of proteins, minerals and vitamins. Millets are predominantly starchy. The protein content are equivalent to that of wheat and maize. ‘Finger Millets’ is known to contain the lowest fat among the food grains. Millets are also relatively rich in phosphorus and iron. They are good sources of B-complex vitamins too”. Who live in a remote area of the Himalayan foothills and are known for their excellent health and longevity – enjoy millet as a staple in their diet. Millet will hydrate your colon to keep you from being constipated. Millet acts as a pre--biotic feeding micro-flora in your inner ecosystem. The serotonin in millet is calming to your moods. After all for good mood we have to consume good food.
Written by :-
Shrishti Shukla
B.A (hons.) Philosophy
Lakshmi bai College University Of Delh
10-09-2016
IN
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
While the importance of such large grained cereal crops as wheat , corn , and rice to the beginnings of agriculture are well understood , a small group of small seeded grasses known as millet are often ignored . Gluten allergies are clearly on the increase in our modern society. It seems like practically every other person I know these days have some sort of digestive issues that avoiding gluten would probably improve. At the top of the list of gluten containing foods is wheat, the indisputable , primary staple of the western diet and the very foundation. Now coming up with our modern saying , that , our new tradition is good nutrition make us to follow our forgotten tradition. We inhabit a culture which is disgusted by intellect. The dramatic up-tick in obesity, tooth decays and cancers in kids has contributed to the quest of more perfect grain, and the treasure is in Millets. Millets are a part of our forgotten tradition. These small-seeded grasses that are hardy and grow well in dry zones as rain-fed crops, under marginal conditions of soil fertility and moisture, are one of the oldest foods known to humans and possibly the first cereal grain to be used for domestic purposes. Millets are also unique due to their short growing season. They can develop from planted seeds to mature, ready to harvest plants in as little as 65 days. There is an old wisdom shared in almost all languages of the subcontinent – that all seeds are grains but not all grains can be qualify to be used as seeds. Although millet is most often associated as the main ingredient in bird seed, it is not just "for the birds." It is the powerful seed for human also. Now the question arises that - What is so special about millets? Then the answer would be - Millets contain double the amount of minerals and fiber and are low in sugar content when compared to rice and wheat. It’s a store house of nutrients. It’s not a bird’s food. White rice breaks down to glucose very fast which in turn increases blood sugar level, the millets slowly breaks down because of low glycemic. Most of us are aware and it’s also proven that the white rice we cook is polished multiple times to look attractive. Millets have billions of positive points , from having the high nutritious qualities to the heart protective properties. Millets helps in the development and repair of body tissues, its substantially lowers down type 2 diabetes risk, it can help women prevent from gallstones, it is protective against breast cancer, high in insoluble fibre, also prevents childhood asthma. But still, we never ever thought of the humble millet, having choices apart from wheat and rice. Government policies gave a leg-up to rice and wheat, millets lost their primacy. Another reason for millets being As less popular is the fact that millets are coated with thick non soluble, unpalatable fibre. There was no technology with which the husk could be separated to make it easily digestible. Due to its high levels of husk, it took a back seat in our daily diets. 70’s Parents never had a mindset to provide unhealthy foods to their kids. I remember my parents used to say that junk foods are not good for health. Is it not? But the parents of Globalized civilization never consider rethinking before they end up in KFC or Dominos or Pizza hut or Burgers or Wraps or any Indian style restaurants at least once in a week. The worst part is we are very well aware of the fast-food quality but still we provide them to kids.
Let’s rethink and give kids a better health to live. Junk food we need to eat less, to prolong life and to reduce stress. It’s neither a rocket Science nor need to be a best chef to prepare millet. “Millets are amazing in their nutrition content. Each of the millet is three to five times superior to the widely promoted rice and wheat in terms of proteins, minerals and vitamins. Millets are predominantly starchy. The protein content are equivalent to that of wheat and maize. ‘Finger Millets’ is known to contain the lowest fat among the food grains. Millets are also relatively rich in phosphorus and iron. They are good sources of B-complex vitamins too”. Who live in a remote area of the Himalayan foothills and are known for their excellent health and longevity – enjoy millet as a staple in their diet. Millet will hydrate your colon to keep you from being constipated. Millet acts as a pre--biotic feeding micro-flora in your inner ecosystem. The serotonin in millet is calming to your moods. After all for good mood we have to consume good food.
Written by :-
Shrishti Shukla
B.A (hons.) Philosophy
Lakshmi bai College University Of Delh
10-09-2016
