Are you a new lactating mother and want to have a diet that not only fulfils your nutritional needs but also keep you fit and healthy?
If yes, then the answer is Millets! The following article describes the wholesome benefits of millets.
Millets were commonly used to feed birds and animals, until the health benefits of these superfoods were known to us. But in many parts of India, millets were used for a variety of dishes especially, for their incredible nutrient rich composition.
‘Millets are extremely nutritious and healthy and they also need less water and can be stored for years, as they have a long shelf life. Millets make for a perfect healthy meal. It is often advised to prepare millets in the form of porridge for growing kids and aging adults. What’s more, millets are loaded with high amount of starch and proteins, which can be beneficial, if added to the daily diet.’ They have a unique taste, which can accentuate the taste quotient of any meal. With various culinary innovations, millets like Ragi, jowar and bajra are used to prepare several snacks and dishes like Ragi Idli, Millet Khichdi, pearl millet bisi belle bath, a millet-lentil hot meal; and upma, Apple Ragi Halwa (healthy for toddlers), Ragi Cookies etc.
Millets can make meals palatable and visually appealing.’ So, here’s how addition of millets in daily diet can amp up the health quotient and keep diseases at bay and provide ample nutrition.
Research by experts suggest significant potential for millets to replace or supplement rice in school feeding programs for improved nutritional outcomes of children.
Bajra/pearl millet is a “high-energy” cereal that contains carbohydrates, protein, and fat, rich in vitamins B and A, high in calcium, iron, and zinc, and also contains potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and fiber. Besides, helps increasing lactation, finger millet(Ragi) for breastmilk which is essential for both baby and nursing mother. Millets are gluten free, thus millets play a vital role in supporting the body immune helps to keep diseases and infection at bay. It helps in controlling sugar in diabetics, also helps reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, asthma and even cancer.