Finger Millet is tiny, reddish-brown in appearance, and popularly called Ragi/ Nachni in India. It is native to Ethiopia and Uganda and a cereal known to be consumed in India since 2000 B.C.
Finger Millet is an excellent source of Calcium (the highest amongst the Millets) and a good source of protein with most of the essential amino acids to its credit. It also boasts of a variety of other nutrients like iron, niacin, potassium, zinc, manganese, fibre and phenolic compounds which act as antioxidants.
Health benefits:
- The excellent profile of Finger Millet comprising of calcium, iron, and other bone-friendly minerals makes it perfect for bone formation and maintenance in early childhood and at all ages.
- The high fibre content in finger millet causes a slow release of glucose in the blood thus regulating blood sugar and also helping in treating constipation.
- The high potassium and low-fat combination of this millet make it ideal for the treatment and prevention of hypertension.
- It serves as an excellent infant food as it is nutrient-dense and easy to digest.
- It is gluten-free and can be substituted for wheat to improve food choices for Celiac and Gluten Enteropathy patients.
- Finger Millet is rich in the amino acid tryptophan that helps to induce sleep.
Finger Millet can be consumed in various forms like porridge; the flour can be used to make pancakes, rotis, idlis, dosas, khakhras, cakes, cookies and can be innovatively swapped with other cereals to improve the nutrient quotient of a diet. It can serve as a superfood for pregnant as well as lactating mothers due to its nutrient density.
Here is a superfood that is synonymous with a natural calcium supplement that caters to most of the age groups. It is a one-stop solution to correct any nutritional imbalances with its goodness and is known to better the health status of populations for generations to come!
Read our blogs on:
Calcium-More than a Bone Booster!
