SCIENCE | NUTRITION
Millets are small, ancient grains grown in arid regions and known for their high nutritional value, including proteins, minerals, and vitamins. They are gluten-free, have a low glycemic index, and are low in lectins, which makes them easier to digest and beneficial for those with digestive sensitivities. Additionally, millets are valued for their potential health benefits and resilience to climate change.
Millets, often underutilized, offer substantial nutritional and therapeutic benefits, especially in managing chronic conditions like diabetes. Recent research underscores their low glycemic index and high fiber content, which contribute to better glucose control and reduced diabetes risk. Reviews highlight millets as rich in essential nutrients, antioxidants, and gluten-free, making them a valuable addition to diets for managing health conditions such as anemia and cardiovascular diseases. Studies demonstrate their effectiveness in lowering fasting blood sugar and HbA1c levels, reinforcing their role in diabetes prevention and management. Additionally, millets’ potential to address food insecurity and malnutrition in developing regions further emphasizes their importance as a versatile and sustainable food source.
PUBLICATIONS
- The nutrition and therapeutic potential of millets: an updated narrative review.
- Front Nutr. 2024 Apr 30;11:1346869.
- Design: Narrative review evaluating the nutritional and therapeutic potential of millets.
- Summary: Millets are rich in minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals with therapeutic properties. They correct lifestyle and metabolic disorders, aid in anemia and calcium deficiency, and contribute to a healthier life through economic resource usage.
- Unlocking the Potential: Millets and Their Impact on Diabetes Management.
- Cureus. 2024 Apr 29;16(4):e59283.
- Design: Review of the impact of low-carb diets, including millets, on diabetes management.
- Summary: Millets have a low glycemic index, aiding in diabetes management by slowly releasing glucose into the bloodstream. They contribute to weight loss, reduced medication needs, and have potential benefits in preventing and managing diabetes.
- Review on Nutritional Potential of Underutilized Millets as a Miracle Grain.
- Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2024;25(9):1082-1098.
- Design: Review on the nutritional benefits of underutilized millets as a replacement for staple grains.
- Summary: Millets are high in essential nutrients and have the potential to address malnutrition and replace traditional staple grains. They provide numerous health benefits and contribute to food security.
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Potential of Millets for Managing and Reducing the Risk of Developing Diabetes Mellitus.
- Front Nutr. 2021 Jul 28;8:687428.
- Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the glycemic index and health impacts of millets.
- Summary: Millets have a lower glycemic index compared to common staples, aiding in diabetes management. They are effective in lowering blood glucose levels and HbA1c, and could be used in designing meals for diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals.
- Glycemic index of millet based food mix and its effect on pre diabetic subjects.
- J Food Sci Technol. 2020 Jul;57(7):2732-2738.
- Design: Study on the glycemic index of millet-based food mixes and their effects on pre-diabetic subjects.
- Summary: Millet-based food mixes demonstrated a low glycemic index and reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels in pre-diabetic subjects, making them a beneficial dietary option for diabetes management.
- Nutritional and functional roles of millets-A review.
- J Food Biochem. 2019 Jul;43(7):e12859.
- Design: Review on the nutritional and functional roles of underutilized millets.
- Summary: Millets are a valuable food resource with high nutritional value, including protein and essential nutrients. They help address malnutrition, have potential prebiotic benefits, and are important for sustainable food security.