Title:Review on Nutritional Potential of Underutilized Millets as a Miracle Grain
Volume: 25
Issue: 9
Author(s): Sonia Singh*, Himanshu Sharma, Raghavan Ramankutty and Sarada Ramaswamy
Affiliation:
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University Mathura, U.P: 281406, India
Keywords:
Millets, antioxidant, cancer, nutrients, diabetes, dietary fiber.
Abstract: The current situation, which includes changes in eating habits, an increasing population,
and the unrestricted use of natural resources, has resulted in a lack of resources that could
be used to provide nourishing food to everyone. Natural plant resources are quickly being depleted,
so it is necessary to consider new alternatives. In addition to the staple grains of rice and
wheat, many other crops are being consumed that need to be utilized to their full potential and
have the potential to replace the staple crops. Millets are one of the most important underutilized
crops that have the potential to be used as a nutricereal. Millets have a high nutritional value, do
not produce acids, do not contain gluten, and can contribute to a healthy diet. Due to a lack of
awareness regarding the nutritional value of millets, their consumption is still restricted to the
population that adheres to conventional diets and is economically disadvantaged even though
millets contain a significant amount of nutrients. Millets are becoming increasingly unpopular
due to a lack of processing technologies, food subsidies, and the inconvenience of preparing food
with millets. Millets are a Nutricereal rich in carbohydrates, dietary fibers, energy, essential fatty
acids, proteins, vitamin B, and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.
These nutrients help to protect against post-translational diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular
disease, and celiac disease, among others. Millets are beneficial for controlling blood
pressure, blood sugar level, and thyroid function; however, despite these functional properties,
millets consumption has declined. Utilizing millets and other staple food crops to develop alternative
food sources has become a new area of focus for businesses in the food industry. In addition,
millet consumption can help foster immunity and health, which is essential in strengthening
our fight against malnutrition in children and adolescents. In this article, the authors examine the
potential of millets in terms of their nutricereal qualities.
