Pearl Millet

Pearl Millet

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most widely grown type of millet. Pearl millet is well adapted to growing areas characterized by drought, low soil fertility, and high temperature. It performs well in soils with high salinity or low pH. India is the largest producer of pearl millet. Rajasthan is the highest-producing state in India. Pearl millet is well adapted to growing areas characterized by drought, low soil fertility, and high temperature. It performs well in soils with high salinity or low pH, because of its tolerance to difficult growing conditions.

Culinary uses of Pearl Millet:-

1. Pearl millet is useful in food industry as it provides crunchy texture and to bring variety to the baked foods, dry millet flour is added to biscuits and breads.
2. Sprouted bajra or pearl millet can be used in salads and sandwiches
3. Bakery products like cakes, muffins, cookies and biscuits are enhanced with Bajra or Pearl millet flour.

Health benefits of Pearl Millet:-

1. Millets are a great source of starch, making it a high-energy food. It is also an excellent source of protein and fiber. It is said that the amino acids in the pearl millet are more easily digestible than the ones found in wheat.
2. Due to essential nutrients such as methionine (an amino acid), B complex vitamins (niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin), folic acid, lecithin, potassium, magnesium, manganese and zinc, millets are very effective in several roles. Niacin reduces cholesterol while magnesium is essential for maintaining good heart health, as it lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attacks.
3. Pearl millet is a rich source of phosphorus, which plays an important part in the structure of body cells.
4. Regular intake of millets provides protection against breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. Apart from that, it has also shown a considerable reduction in the occurrence of wheezing and asthma in children.
5. Millets contain an essential phytonutrient, lignin, which is very beneficial for the human body. With the help of natural flora, lignans get converted to mammalian lignans and they fight against hormone-dependent cancers and reduce the risk of cardiac arrests.
6. Consumption of pearl millets helps in minimizing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Being a good source of magnesium, millets act as a cofactor in a number of enzymatic reactions.