Millets have been a staple ingredient in Indian cooking for years. They are loaded with nutrients and can be used to make a variety of dishes. Some of its popular types are foxtail millet, pearl millet, sorghum millet, kodo millet, and finger millet. Also known as ragi, finger millet is said to have originated in Africa and has an amazing nutritional profile.
According to WebMD, ragi is rich in potassium, protein, fibre, vitamins, iron, antioxidants, and many other nutrients. This super grain is used for preparing dishes like porridge, dosa, ragi mudde, roti, upma, kheer, kanji, idli, and so on. Due to the rich content of essential nutrients, regular flour can also be replaced with ragi flour.
Here are five reasons to add ragi to your diet:
Weight Loss
Along with iron, protein, and calcium, ragi is an amazing source of fibre that helps keep your stomach full for longer. This reduces your consumption of extra calories in a day, which is extremely essential for weight loss. So, if you want to get rid of those unwanted fats from your body, add ragi to your daily meals.
Supports Heart Health
According to WebMD, the high content of dietary fibre helps control bad cholesterol, which is the main reason for many heart diseases like stroke. It also contains a decent amount of magnesium and potassium, which further help keep the heart healthy. These nutrients are known for raising good cholesterol levels as well.
Prevents Diabetes
If you are a diabetic patient, then ragi is an important addition to your diet. It has a low glycemic index that helps decrease blood sugar levels and raise the level of complex carbohydrates. This increases the time of your food's digestion and prevents your blood glucose level from spiking after a meal. Therefore, replacing your white wheat flour with ragi will help you manage your blood sugar levels.
Aids Digestion
Finger millet is high in insoluble fibre that supports the digestive system. According to WebMD, insoluble fibre is prebiotic in nature, which helps the good bacteria in your gut grow. Ragi provides relief from constipation, bloating, and other stomach ailments. So, if you want to keep your gut system healthy, include finger millet in your diet.
Strengthens Bones
As stated earlier, ragi is a good source of calcium, which is an important mineral for bone health. This grain is one of the best non-dairy sources of calcium for people who are vegan or lactose intolerant. This mineral is also known for maintaining strong teeth, making the grain beneficial for growing children as well.