If you’ve been craving some tasty food, but you’re worried about maintaining your health, this article is here to explain why millets are a great option for you! Millet grains have been consumed throughout the ages across the world because of its health and nutritional value. Packed in protein and fiber to ensure your wellbeing, millet grains are the perfect choice for a healthier and happier lifestyle. Listed below are some of the many health benefits millet grains have when included in your diet.
1. Improves digestion
Millet is rich in both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber. The insoluble fiber in millet is also called “prebiotic,” supporting the good bacteria in your digestive system and boosting digestive health. Prebiotic fiber is also important for adding bulk to stools, which maintains your health and reduces risks of harm to the colon.
Millet is dense in nutrients, non-glutinous and acid-free, making them extremely easy to digest. It has a low carbohydrate content and requires a long time to digest. As a result, glucose breakdown is also slower.
2. Controls blood sugar
Millet is a low-glycemic index (GI) food, meaning that it is low in simple carbohydrates and higher in complex carbohydrates. This causes millet to take longer to digest than standard wheat flour. It therefore raises your blood sugar slowly and gradually instead of in quick spikes, making it a diabetic friendly grain. High-fiber and low-GI foods keep blood sugar steady and help you lose weight. All these qualities are helpful for people with diabetes.
3. Builds a healthier heart
Millet reduces the amount of saturated fat in the body while raising the levels of “good” cholesterol. The soluble fiber in millet can also help to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood— which is a risk factor for atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Soluble fiber turns into a gel in the stomach and absorbs the bad cholesterol, safely carrying it out of your system. Millet is therefore effective in building a stronger and healthier heart.
4. Rich in Antioxidants
Millets are a rich source of phenols and antioxidants. Many of these antioxidants that are found in millets can clean up toxins from your body. Research has found that millets contain many antioxidants that are essential for improving human health. Millet contains several natural occurring phenolic compounds which include phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins.
5. Builds muscle
Millets are high in protein, making it a great alternative source of protein for a vegetarian or vegan diet. Protein is the building block of your muscles. Therefore, eating adequate amounts of protein helps maintain both muscle mass and muscle growth. Studies have also found that people who eat more protein tend to maintain bone mass better as they age and have a much lower risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Millets are thus a great source of fulfilling these nutritional needs for a strong and happy body.
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