Millets as effective nutraceuticals

About the author: Dr Geetanjali Bhide is a renowned nutritionist, researcher, speaker and academician who believes and promotes holistic nutrition.

The concept of food has changed. Earlier food was considered important for survival, hunger satisfaction and overall health. The current emphasis is on food as ‘nutraceuticals’ that can promise health, reduce risk of chronic illnesses such as obesity, cancers, cardiac diseases and diabetes.

“Nutraceutical is defined as any food or food components which have the potential to cure specific disease conditions or have medicinal or health benefits”.

Millets are known to be superior to rice and wheat enriched in proteins, minerals, and vitamins. It is now evident that Millets contain several components of medicinal value and can be termed as nutraceuticals.

The qualitative analysis of different phytochemical compounds in millets reveals that they are potent nutraceuticals and have medicinal properties. Kodo, foxtail, finger and proso millets contain good amounts of phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins. Alkaloids affect many metabolic activities in the body and are widely used in medicine. Flavonoids are anti-bacterial, anti-toxic, and anti-inflammatory and often function as strong anti-oxidants, free radical scavengers and metal chelators. Flavonoids are also protective against tumours. Saponins inhibit the growth of cancer cells, improve immunity and are cholesterol lowering. The antioxidant effects of millets are similar to synthetic antioxidants or pharmaceutical products. .

The high crude fibre in millets is beneficial for persons with insulin sensitivity or diabetes. Fibre also aids in peristaltic movement of the intestinal tract. Soluble proteins in millets are readily absorbed and used by the body. Table 1 shows the phenolic content, protein and fibre content of different millets

Table 1. Antioxidants, reducing sugars, soluble proteins and fibre content of different millets

Source: Rao et al, 2011.

Hence, as it is said “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”-Hippocrates- adding millets in your daily diets is a wise decision.

Reference

Rao BR, Nagasampige MH, Ravikiran M. Evaluation of nutraceutical properties of selected small millets. Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences. 2011 Apr;3(2):277.