Millets are the tiny cereal grains which come under the category of
‘superfoods’ as they possess miraculous health benefits. These
‘small in size’ grains are not small in their health properties and
are a storehouse of proteins, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals.
Their affordability makes them ‘poor man’s food grain’ too.
Millets and weight loss -
Out of all the documented benefits of millets, one of their advantages
is that they aid in losing weight. It is research backed that a diet
full of whole grains plays a major role in weight loss, thus making
millets a good choice on a weight loss regime. The probable reasons for
the same are -
* Low caloric density - The first reason for this is their low caloric
density which makes them excellent in weight loss. So for all those
fitness enthusiasts, having millets regularly in their diet is a great
option.
* High in fibre - Second thing is that they are loaded in fibre which
keeps you satiated for a longer time. This is because they are slowly
digested and absorbed in the body. Overeating is thus prevented when
millets are consumed on a regular basis. Their richness in fibre also
makes the bowel movements smooth and flushes out toxins from the body.
* High in protein - Protein dense foods usually give more satiation.
Millets approximately contain 5 grams of protein, which plays a key role
in keeping a person fuller for a longer duration, thus delaying extra
calories consumption.
Ways to include millet in your diet -
This versatile grain can be cooked to make various delicious recipes may
it be for breakfast, lunch pr dinner. You can make millet khichdi, ragi
dosa, millet pancakes, millet stir fried with eggs, millet pulao, millet
upma etc.
Word of caution -
Thinking of millets as the sole way to loose weight is definitely not
true. Weight loss is a complex cycle involving various factors such as
genetics, diet and physical activity. So along with other variable
factors responsible for losing weight, addition of millet in your daily
diet gives a boost to the weight loss journey.
Bottom line -
Consuming millets doesn’t mean ignoring staple cereals such as rice or
wheat but practicing grain diversity in the diet to get wholesome
nutrition.