Recipe: The miracles of superfood foxtail millet

Millets were once a staple food in India, but their cultivation and consumption declined with the Green Revolution.

However, of late, people are becoming more health conscious and the demand for millets has slowly been increasing. A variety of millets are now available both in retail stores and online. One of these varieties is foxtail millet, which used to be a major crop in the southern parts of India, and records of its consumption date as far back as the Sangam period. Foxtail millet is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, fibre, iron and copper.

DH lists some of the health benefits of foxtail millet:

Hair and skin health
Foxtail millet is rich in protein, which is important in the promotion of hair growth and the maintenance of healthy, youthful skin. Regular millet consumption can be a key factor in wrinkle-free skin as well as healthy hair.

Prevents type-2 diabetes
It is rich in magnesium, which lowers the risk of Type-2 Diabetes. It also has in abundance complex carbohydrates, which ensures a slower release of glucose into the bloodstream, thus regulating blood sugar levels.

Prevents heart disease
Foxtail millet is rich in lignans, an antioxidant found in plant food sources. When lignans are fermented by bacteria in the digestive tract, they produce enterolactone that prevents heart disease.

Fights Alzheimer's disease and enhances memory
Being rich in vitamin B1, foxtail millet can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. It also helps in the strengthening of memory along with concentration power.

Weight loss
Because of their high fibre content, regular consumption of foxtail millet may help with weight loss.

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How to incorporate foxtail millet in your diet:

Substitute rice with foxtail millet
Millet can be cooked just like rice in a 1:3 ratio of grains to water. Once cooked, millet can be eaten with a daal or sambar. It can also be used to make pongal or khichdi.

Foxtail millet upma
Foxtail millet is available even in the form of semiya. So, it becomes simple to switch atta or maida-based semiya with foxtail millet.

Salads
Foxtail millet can be served in a salad alongside fruits and vegetables such as onions, carrot, dates, orange, pomegranate and mint, with a fitting dressing of olive oil and lime juice.