Millets have come under a lot of attention these days. Let us understand, in this article what they are and why so many people are talking about it.
Are millets the miracle food that everyone is claiming or is there a catch to it. Millets are called ancient grains and let us first find out why these grains disappeared from out diet in the first place.
Fast food takes over
The boom in population also brought in fast food by the food scientists from America. Fast food involves use of large amount of all purpose flour or maida. Maida as we all know is basically a refined version of wheat stripped away of the fibre rich outer cover and nutrient rich germ. Maida is easy to handle as a dough and gives you those fluffy and crispy snacks. More important of all, the taste is awesome and addictive.
People generally agree that it is maida which is responsible for all the lifestyle related ailments of modern times. As an alternative fast food makers began offering wheat as a healthy substitute but that created the additional problem of gluten.
So now we are back to rectifying the mistake introduced by big corporations from outside India by turning back the clock about a 100 years to look for some ancient grains for solutions to current health problems.
What are millets
Millets are grain that have been part of diet of Indians for centuries. They are local grains, grown in various part of the country under local conditions.
Millets grow in hostile conditions with less rain and use local soil to grow.
It is packed with nutrients and local minerals.
It is grown by small and marginal farmers, so you will be actually helping them out and help with the local economy.
Millets are gluten free and are resistant to pests and insects.
They are packed with fibre.
For a change you are going to love the recipes used by our fore fathers.