Millet

Figure 1. Image of Pearl Millets.

Millets are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains. Most species of Millet belong to the tribe Paniceae. Millets are important crops in the semiarid tropics of Asia and Africa, and is is favoured in these regions due to its productivity and short growing season under dry, high-temperature conditions.

Millets are divided into two categories--major and minor Millets, with major Millets being the most popular or commonly cultivated varieties. Major Millets include:

• Pearl (the most widely produced variety intended for human consumption)
• Foxtail
• Proso (or White)
• Finger (or Ragi)

Minor Millets include:

• Kodo
• Barnyard
• Little
• Guinea
• Browntop
• Fonio
• Adlay (or Job’s Tears)

Millet is a nutritious food source. Per 100g of raw Millet provides:

• 378k calories
• 72.8g of carbohydrates
• 8.5g of dietary fiber
• 4.3g of fat
• 11g of protein
• 24% daily value of Vitamin B2
• 31% daily value of Vitamin B3
• 17% daily value of Vitamin B5
• 29% daily value of Vitamin B6
• 21% daily value of Vitamin B9
• 2% daily value of Vitamin C
• 1% daily value of Vitamin K
• 1% daily value of Calcium
• 23% daily value of Iron
• 32% daily value of Magnesium
• 76% daily value of Manganese
• 41% daily value of Phosporous
• 4% daily value of Potassium
• 0% daily value of Sodium
• 18% daily value of Zinc

Taken as a dietary supplement, Millet is rich in antioxidants (Millet is rich in phenolic compounds, especially ferulic acid and catechins), help controls sugar level (Millet is rich in dietary fiber and non-starchy polysaccharides, two types of undigestible carbs that help control blood sugar levels), help lower cholesterol which subsequently provides cardioprotective benefits.