The several benefits of Kodo millet!
The benefits of the Kodo millet are demystified intensively in this post. Kodo millet is a native cereal of India and is currently cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. It is a traditional food variety that mimics rice closely and aids in weight loss.
Kodo is an annual grass with tufts that was cultivated in India around three thousand years ago. As with other millets, the grain hues range from pale red to darkish grey, and the fibre concentration is rather significant.
It is easily digested and contains phytochemicals and antioxidants that aid in averting several lifestyle-related disorders. Kodo millet is also known as ‘Varagu’ and ‘Kodon’ in Tamil and Hindi, respectively. Kodo millet is a great alternative for rice and wheat due to its high nutritional value.
Consuming Kodo millet regularly is extremely advantageous for postmenopausal women with cardiovascular disease symptoms, such as elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Uses of Kodo millet
Kodo millet contains:
- A substantial protein composition of 11%.
- A modest fat content of 4.2 percent.
- A significant fibre composition of 14.3%.
The benefits of the Kodo millet contain no gluten and are suitable for gluten-intolerant individuals. Similar to the benefits of other millets, kodo millet also causes a person to feel full more quickly, therefore limiting intake helps with weight management. Millets’ naturally high fibre content also aids in reducing constipation, gas, bloating, and stomach cramps.
Millets are abundant in anti-nutrients such as phenolic acids, phytates, and tannins, which reduce the incidence of colon and breast cancer. Millets also contain linoleic acid, which has antitumor properties. Millet’s antioxidants help to neutralise free radicals, which can trigger cancer, as well as clear up other contaminants in the body, like those in the kidneys and liver.
Kodo millets may be utilised in both traditional and creative dishes. Grain could be prepared whole or crushed into flour, whether unprocessed or treated. It may be used to make rice, as well as Pongal, porridge, idly, khichdi, dosa, biscuits, noodles, and snacks.
Advantages of Kodo millet
Kodo millet is pretty simple to break down and digest. The antioxidant capacity is significantly higher than that of other millets and other cereals, which is one of the benefits of the Kodo millet. Consumption of millets helps manage blood glucose levels and promotes cutaneous wound healing with the aid of antioxidants.
Additionally, Kodo millets help reduce joint and knee discomfort, as well as the regularisation of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It may readily substitute rice in a broad number of dishes because of its flavour and textural similarities to rice. The functions of the liver are vital, it can be protected against inflammation by eating foods high in fibre, like Kodo millet.
Moreover, millets’ plant lignans are prebiotic fibre. They are processed by bacteria in the digestive tract and transformed into animal lignans. It has been demonstrated that these animal lignans safeguard against some chronic illnesses.
Kodo millets have a low glycemic index, which indicates they deliver glucose/energy gradually and over a prolonged duration of time, which aids with blood sugar regulation. As a result, it’s an excellent replacement for polished white rice.
Benefits of Kodo millet
Kodo millets are abundant in B vitamins, including folic acid, niacin, and B6, as well as minerals like zinc, magnesium, iron, potassium, and calcium. The benefits of the Kodo millet include a high concentration of lecithin and a good ability to enhance the neurological system.
Millets are an excellent source of the mineral magnesium, which has been shown to promote heart health and aids in lowering blood pressure. One of the most effective ways to protect your cardiovascular health is by lowering your blood pressure and boosting circulation. Millets are incredibly helpful to infants’ growth.
As chemical messengers, hormones have various functions. Millets can assist in regulating hormones and relieving hormonal irregularities. There’s no need to stop consuming the foods you enjoy. Simply substitute one or two of the items with millets, and you’ll have a delicious, well-balanced, and healthy meal.
Surprisingly, several millet farm owners use ‘akkadi,’ a mixed cropping strategy that improves agricultural output while simultaneously increasing biodiversity and sustainability on the farm by boosting soil fertility and reducing pests and illnesses.
Millets are ecologically beneficial, and by eating them, we support farmers in dry and semi-arid places to cultivate crops that are ideally fitted to those climates, a stride toward more sustainable farming and biodiversity.
