Bajra is a traditional Hindi name for the Pennisetum glaucum crop — also known as pearl millet. It’s likewise known as dukn, cumbu, gero, sanio, kambu, babala, or bulrush millet. The grain is primarily grown in Africa and India, where it’s a major source of nutrition. However, it’s also grown and consumed in many other places around the world. Bajra refers to the edible seeds of pearl millet plants. They grow in various shades of white, yellow, gray, brown, and bluish-purple. The seeds are typically cooked as a cereal grain or sometimes finely ground and used as a flour.
TYPES OF MILLETS :
1) GREEN MILLET / PEARL MILLET
Green Millet also known as bajra or Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum).Millet is used in various cultures in many diverse ways: millet uses as a cereal, in soups, and for making a dense, whole grain bread.This millet is healthy, as it has high fiber content, protein, fat, mineral, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus and iron. These easy to digest seeds, has no allergic reactions. The gluten free seeds can be used for both Human and animal feeding.
2) YELLOW MILLET/ FOXTAIL MILLET
Yellow Millet is also known as “Foxtail Millet” or “Pancium Millet” in India. Its is one of the most nutritious and easily digested of all grainsand it is high in starch, making it a good high-energy food. Millet is very rich in amino acids.It is used both as food for human and feed for animals. It can be used as sustenance both for human and animal. It is fundamentally used as flying animal feed.
3) RED MILLET / FINGER MILLET
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana, ) also known as RAGI in india , is one of the nutritious cereal crop. It contains high starch and fiber which makes it more useful for diabetic patients. Finger millet can be ground and cooked into cakes, puddings or porridge. This is widely used for human consumption.
BENEFITS OF MILLETS :
- Good for diabetic diet – Pearl millets contain carbohydrates that are digested slowly and maintain a stable glucose level for a long period. This makes them a healthy food option for diabetics.
- Beneficial for heart health – Rich in dietary fibres and cholesterol-lowering properties of these grains are good for heart patients.
- Perfect for Celiac disease and gluten intolerance – patients with celiac disease and gluten intolerance can opt for a pearl millet-based diet as it is gluten-free and easily tolerated by everyone
- Therapeutic for people with frequent acidity and stomach ulcers – Pearl millets are one of the few foods which reduce the acidity of the stomach thereby limiting ulcer formation and discomfort due to frequent bouts of acidity.
- Prevents Constipation- Benefits of bajra include promoting good gut health. In simpler terms, consuming the pearl millets will make sure you keep constipation at a distance. The reason behind this is the presence of insoluble fibre in bajra.
- Provides protein to vegetarians- Those who are vegetarians cannot get the needed protein from meat and fish products. This is where pearl millets come in. The health benefits of bajra include its ability to provide the required protein to vegetarians as well. Bajra flour becomes complete when it is combined with seeds like rajma, moong dal, chana dal, etc.
- Lowers Blood pressure- Bajra is known for its richness in potassium which is needed for those with high blood pressure. Consuming more foods rich in potassium will help flush out sodium from your body, which in turn will reduce blood pressure.
- Makes bone stronger – The high phosphorus content of bajra helps in making your bones stronger.
- Helps in relieving constipation – A good amount of dietary fibres aid in the bulk formation and provide relief from constipation.
- Lowers cholesterol- Pearl millets contain an adequate amount of good fat which is the desired quality of food for high cholesterol patients.
- Nutritious baby food – Pearl millets are easily digested and well tolerated by little ones which make them a mandatory ingredient for baby food preparations during the weaning period and even later on.
- Rich in antioxidants – Lessens free radical damage in the body and prevents early ageing, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, cardiovascular diseases, and aids in wound healing.
- Ideal for weight management and obesity.
- Reduces the risk of colon cancers – It makes the stomach pH alkaline, and thus reduces the risk of colon cancers.
- A healthy choice of food for pregnant women and nursing mothers due to iron and folic acid contents.