Daily intake of millet-based foods (Pearl, foxtail and finger millets) decrease risk of diabetes. Pearl millet contains phenolic compounds which possess antidiabetic activity. It has many health benefits, including combating diabetes mellitus, cancer and cancer recurrence, lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and fat absorption, heart disease risk and stroke.
Low-GI foods with high dietary fibre help control post-prandial sugar spike, lower plasma cholesterol and minimize body weight.
Millets have essentially lower amino acid levels and greater fat content. It contains polyunsaturated fatty acid, which is highly healthy. The high fibre content of millet allows the level of sugar in the blood stream to slow down.
Pearl millet (Bajra or bajri) is a multifunctional cereal crop which belongs to the Poaceae family.
Pearl millet has a higher digestibility of fat than most cereals. It is also rich in unsaturated fatty acids with higher nutrient omega-3 fatty acid content. Pearl millet has a maximum content of macronutrients and is considerably rich in resistant starch and soluble and insoluble dietary fibre in contrast to other millets.
Pearl millets are healthy source for vitamin B, vitamin A, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.
Pearl millets are rich in phytate and phenolic compounds reducing fasting hyperglycaemia and postprandial blood glucose spike. Phenolic compounds are also known to enhance insulin activity, and pearl millet regulates intestinal GLUT, increases muscle glucose uptake, and reduces hepatic gluconeogenesis.
Hyperglycaemia can upregulate markers of chronic inflammation and contribute to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which ultimately cause vascular dysfunction. Conversely, increased oxidative stress and inflammation can lead to insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion. Thus, the inhibition of ROS overproduction is crucial for delaying the onset of diabetes and for the prevention of cardiovascular complications.
Many kinds of bioactive compounds—such as polyphenols, most flavonoids, and phenolic acids—naturally occur in millet, which might offer various health benefits, as seen in their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
