MILLETS

It is “MILLET MANIA” everywhere.I have been noticing frequent cookery shows with millets, widespread talks on millets and several food blogs flooding with millet recipes. This made me conduct a research on the topic “MILLET/சிறுதானியம்/குறுந்தானியம்”. I kept glancing many websites and reading articles from various magazines on millets. My husband always encourages me to try new recipes but “with only healthy ingredients”.He had bought kambu,varagu and thinai from the supermarket along with our monthly grocery as summer season commenced. It was then I began to nudge mom and my friends on recipes out of them.I had been a fan of kambu koozh when I was at college.Ragi has become a part of our food since my kid started having it.There are studies which reveal that ragi porridge is almost as nutritious as breastmilk.I understood that these millets have been in use casually in our food and now they are coming into the spotlight.In the meantime, one of my cousins suggested me to include recipes on millets quoting that millets had been the traditional staple ingredients in the family.With all knowns and unknowns, I am scribbling my observations below on “MILLETS”.I captured all images to have better clarity. I am hearing too many confusions with it. I have provided the names of millets in various languages along with images(taken at home). Hope it will help every reader out there.

PLEASE FIND BELOW THE RECIPES WITH MILLETS:

Hi, I am Millet! 🙂

Millets can be mentioned as the first cereal grain used by humans domestically and they are the oldest of the foods used. Millet has a tiny, pale, yellow seed with a nutty flavour which lends itself well to being cooked and eaten whole. Millet was grown way back in 2700 B.C and it has been wide use in Africa, China and India even before usage of rice as staple food. There is a history in Hindu mythology mentioning Lord Muruga tries to teach Valli a lesson when she guards her thinai fields and also it is a practice to offer thinai maavu to Lord Muruga in temples. I also remember reading somewhere that millets have a mention in “THE HOLY BIBLE” too. There are several initiatives going on for more than half a century to revive this cultivation and consumption of millets.Dr.M.S.Swaminathan,”Father of green revolution” quotes that consumption of millets can make India “HUNGER FREE” and it is high time we realise the real benefits of “healthy eating”.

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How am I classified?:

The following is a type of classification of millets based on worldwide cultivation.

• Major Millets

1. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
2. Foxtail millet (Setaria italica)
3. Proso millet also known as common millet, broom corn millet, hog millet or white millet (Panicum miliaceum)
4. Finger millet (Eleusine coracana)

• Minor Millets

1. Barnyard millet (Echinochloa spp.)
2. Kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum)
3. Little millet (Panicum sumatrense)

How nutritious am I?:

Millets can be called as nutritional storehouses .They are far ahead of rice and wheat in terms of minerals, calcium and fibre. Finger millet has 30 times higher calcium content than rice and it can be strongly stated that every other millet has at least twice higher calcium than rice.Millets like foxtail and little millet are so rich in iron and the betacarotene content of certain millets are priced several thousand by the pharmaceutical industry.The amount of micro nutrients in millets can never be compared with any other food. Millets are seen as solution to malnutrition by experts and they are highly advocated by agriculturists since they are Climate compliant ,independent of synthetic fertilizers,pest free and amazingly low water consuming .

Important Millets and Vernacular names:

ENGLISH	HINDI	TAMIL	TAMIL	KANNADA	TELUGU	MALAYALAM	ORIGIN
Barnyard millet	Jhangora	குதிரைவாலி	Kuthiravali	Oodalu	Odalu	Kavadapullu	China
Finger millet	Nachani /mundua	கேழ்வரகு	Kezhvaragu	Ragi	Ragula	Panji pullu	Africa
Foxtail millet	Kangni/Rala	தினை	Thinai	Navane	Korra	Thina	China
Kodo millet	Koden/Kodra	வரகு	Varagu	Harka	Arikelu	Koovaragu	India
Little millet	Kutki	சாமை	Saamai	Saame	Sama	Chama	India
Proso Millet	Barri	பனிவரகு	Panivaragu	Baraga	Varigullu		China
Pearl millet	Bajra	கம்பு	Kambu	Sajje	Sajjalu	Kambam	Africa
Sorghum	Jowar	சோளம்	Cholam	Jola	Jonna	Cholam	Africa

A comparison of essential nutrients present in various grains

(The nutrient composition per 100 g in tabulated below)

Food grain/Nutrient	Carbo-hydrates (g)	Protein(g)	Fat(g)	Energy (KCal)	Crude fibre(g)	Mineral matter(g)	Calcium(mg)	Phosphorus(mg)	Iron(mg)
Barnyard millet	65.5	6.2	2.2	307	9.8	4.4	20	280	5
Finger millet	72	7.3	1.3	328	3.6	2.7	344	283	3.9
Foxtail millet	60.9	12.3	4.3	331	8	3.3	31	290	2.8
Kodo millet	65.9	8.3	1.4	309	9	2.6	27	188	0.5
Little millet	67	7.7	4.7	341	7.6	1.5	17	220	9.3
Pearl millet	67.5	11.6	5	361	1.2	2.3	42	296	8
Proso millet	70.4	12.5	1.1	341	2.2	1.9	14	206	0.8
Rice (raw, milled)	78.2	6.8	0.5	345	0.2	0.6	10	160	0.7
Sorghum	72.6	10.4	1.9	349	1.6	1.6	25	222	4.1
Wheat (whole)	71.2	11.8	1.5	346	1.2	1.5	41	306	5.3

(Source: Nutritive value of Indian foods, NIN, 2007)

What do these nutrients do to us?:

• Protein
  It is an important building block in our body.It helps in building new cells,tissues and muscles.Our body can’t store protein, so we need to eat some every day.
• Fiber
  Dietary fiber helps us feel full faster and longer; it also aids digestion and helps prevent constipation. Fiber comes only from plant foods (fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains), and grain fiber is thought to protect against digestive cancers more than other forms of fiber.
• Iron
  Iron helps our bodies make haemoglobin (for red blood cells) and myoglobin (for muscles), both of which help carry and store oxygen. Iron also plays a role in many other routine bodily functions.
• Magnesium
  An essential mineral required for hundreds of biochemical reactions, including transmission of nerve impulses, converting food into energy, body temperature regulation and maintaining a strong immune system. Magnesium also helps us absorb calcium, for healthy bones and teeth.
• Phosphorus
  Another essential mineral, phosphorus is present in every cell in the body, making up 1% of body weight. Its main function is the formation of bones and teeth, but it’s also key to the synthesis of protein for cell repair, growth, and maintenance; for heartbeat regularity; and nerve conduction.
• Zinc
  The mineral zinc helps immune system fight off bacteria and viruses and helps wounds heal. It also helps your body make proteins and DNA. Zinc is also essential to proper functioning of the sense of taste and smell.
• Copper
  Copper (another mineral) helps us absorb iron, and also helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate. Copper is also needed for the production of melanin, which colors our hair and skin.
• Manganese
  The mineral manganese helps us handle oxidative stress. It activates many important enzymes in the body that are crucial to the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and cholesterol. Manganese is also essential to the formation of healthy cartilage and bone.
• Selenium
  Selenium is a trace mineral. Although we only need small amounts of it, it is useful in helping to prevent cellular damage from free radicals, to regulate thyroid function, and for a healthy immune system.
• B Vitamins
  B vitamins aid in making energy from the food we consume, maintaining healthy hair,skin and muscles, forming RBC’s.

Health benefits of millets:

• Millets are gluten-free and it is extremely suitable for all those who are gluten intolerant.
• Few phytonutrients in millets help in fighting against hormone-dependent cancers and reduce the risk of heart diseases.
• When kids consume millets on a regular the occurrence of asthma and wheezing troubles are found to be reduced.
• It is highly beneficial in post menopause for women to have a control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
• Recent research studies have indicated that the regular consumption of millets is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

KITCHEN KATHUKUTTY’s conclusion on Millets:

• • Millets can definitely be termed as “MIRACLE GRAINS”. I had been hunting for capturing all millets in a single shot and it happened two weeks back in my perimma’s place.Millets have been one of our traditional and early foods. It is highly beneficial in all means and ways. But I would not recommend replacing your staple food ingredients with millets once for all. Millets can be used instead of processed, packed and absolutely nutrient fewer ingredients like oats, maida, vermicelli, atta.Millets can definitely be a part of your meal but not your whole meal because millets are rich in calories and the current generation (majority) does not involve so much of physical efforts to burn those. Get to know the right methods of preparation and right quantity, frequency to be taken. Say for example if you have been habituated with rice and wheat foods in the ratio of 4:3 in a week you can very well proceed with 3:2:2 ratio of rice:wheat: millets. Introduce millets slowly in a minimal quantity of your regular food and observe the impacts before you fix a routine with millets. They are not harmful definitely. But how far it suits an individual depends completely on the individual. I write this because I have heard from experts that millet X which suits person A might not suit for person B. And there are also seasonal associations wrt to the consumption of millets. We have forgotten our traditional millets and it is gaining momentum now. It is high time to bring back our lost traditional heritage but before that rediscover their values, know them right, use them right in your daily lives. 🙂
  • Introducing millets to babies needs extra care, caution and the right guidance from the paediatrician.
  • Processing/preparing/Cooking of millets needs more time and more care. They might indigestion if improperly cooked.
  • As of I know millets(if not processed in the industry) should not be consumed as instant food.

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References:

• • http://www.sahajasamrudha.org
  • http://www.ilsi-india.org/
  • www.tn.gov.in
  • www.wholegrainscouncil.org
  • Millet Network of India
  • FAO

Disclaimer & Copyright:

The above-written piece information was gathered by me from various sources like the web, books, experts and magazines and scripted based on my understanding. This write up does not intend to hurt anyone and it is totally my personal observation. Kindly do not copy/reproduce any part of this write-up.