Millet-based menu served at G20 Summit: Know its health benefits
As a millet-based menu will be served to delegates during India's G20 Summit, here's what you should know about its health benefits.
Millets are a group of highly versatile and nutritious grains. (Photo: Getty)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Sep 9, 2023 13:04 IST
World leaders gathering for the G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9 and 10 will be served delicious millet-based dishes prepared by renowned chefs of the country.
While India pushed for millets – a varied group of whole grains – at the United Nations, making 2023 the International Year of Millets, this highly nutritious and healthy crop has significantly gained popularity because of its positive environmental impact as well.
advertisement
Millets, a group of highly versatile and nutritious grains, include varieties like Sorghum, Pearl millet, Foxtail millet, and Finger millet among others, and are packed with protein, fibre, essential vitamins and minerals.
TYPES OF MILLETS
Pearl
Foxtail
Proso
Finger (Ragi)
Kodo
Barnyard
Browntop
Fonio
Adlay
WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF MILLETS?
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Millets are known to protect cardiovascular health, control high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and even aid in managing diabetes and maintaining a healthy weight.
Particularly beneficial for post-menopausal women, millets help combat heart ailments and are also a boon for those suffering from gallstones due to their high fibre content.
CONTROLS DIABETES
Millets have a low glycemic index, which means they are complex carbohydrates that won’t spike up the blood sugar level of the body.
This further makes this crop a great alternative to wheat and rice, which comparatively have a high glycemic index. This makes them the perfect food choice for diabetics.
DIGESTIVE HEALTH
Millets are known as prebiotics, which means that they support the good bacteria in the digestive system. Since it has more essential amino acids than other cereals, it can help grow and repair body tissue.
GLUTEN-FREE
Millets are rich in antioxidants like ferulic acid and catechins, which prevent the body from harmful oxidative stress. If you consume a gluten-free diet, millets are a viable addition for those who have celiac disease.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Since millets are high in complex carbs, they keep you full for a longer time. This helps to manage healthy body weight as a person avoids unnecessary snacking and overeating.
WHY ARE MILLETS IMPORTANT FOR CLIMATE CHANGE?
The advantages of millets extend beyond human health. They are also champions of sustainable agriculture and climate change mitigation.
Millets require less water and pesticides compared to other cereal crops like rice and wheat, making them an environmentally friendly choice.
In fact, millets can thrive in harsh conditions, tolerating heat up to 64 degrees Celsius, drought and flood, and are naturally resilient to pests. This makes them a low-impact crop that reduces the strain on our planet's resources.
Speaking to IndiaToday.in earlier, Sharmila Oswal, also known as the Millet Evangelist of India, called millet a "no-drama" crop.
"Millets can survive erratic climate and water supplies. Even if there is a drought or sudden fluctuation in temperatures, millet - a regenerative crop - can still be grown. It can even be harvested in poor soil quality as well," she said.
With millets being low in cost, they also cater to the malnourished in rural India.
"It is the best choice for pregnant women and children lacking nutrition or with anaemia issues. Millets are a great nutritional resource and a supplement for India," Oswal mentioned.
Moreover, millets have a unique ability to sequester carbon, contributing to climate adaptation efforts.
They require minimal fertiliser inputs and emit fewer greenhouse gases, thereby reducing emissions and improving soil health.
By increasing millet production, we can promote sustainable agriculture, reduce our carbon footprint, and fight climate change more effectively.
MILLETS BEYOND HEALTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE
As we face the challenges of climate change and depleting natural resources, turning to millets could be a crucial step towards ensuring food security and promoting a healthier planet.
More than 90 per cent of millet production takes place in developing countries in Africa and Asia.
Since the cultivation of millets has been declining in many countries, the UN mentioned the urgent need to promote the nutritional and ecological benefits of millets to consumers, producers and decision-makers.