Bajra- Pearl Millet

• Green Millet also known as bajra or Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum); today is an enormously important staple cereal for both sub-Saharan Africa and parts of India; and an important forage crop in the Americas. Bajra is one of the most widely grown varieties of millet. It is grown in bulk in Africa and India. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat are the largest Bajra producing states in India.
• Pearl Millets, Earlier Known As ‘Bird Food’, Come In Several Delicious Flavours. Apart From Offering Excellent Taste, These Millets Contain Essential Mineral And Nutrients, Which Provide The Body With A Variety Of Advantages. Millet Is One Of The Oldest Foods Known To Humans And Possibly The First Cereal Grain To Be Used For Domestic Purposes. Today Millet Ranks As The Sixth Most Important Grain In The World.
• Bajra Flour Is Made From The Small Round Grains Of Black Millet, Also Called Bajra. Millet Is Tiny In Size And Round In Shape And Can Be White, Gray, Yellow Or Red. When The Bajra Is Ripe And Ready To Be Harvested, The Plants Are Cut And Tied In Bundles And Allowed To Dry. The Bundles Are Threshed To Separate The Grains. The Grains Are Dried And Then Processed Into Flour. When Ground, The Flour Is Greyish In Colour And Has A Slightly Nutty Flavour. Since It Is A Heat-Producing Ingredient, It Is Commonly Used In Winters.
• Millet Is Used In Various Cultures In Many Diverse Ways: Millet Uses As A Cereal, In Soups, And For Making A Dense, Whole Grain Bread Called Chapatti. In India Flat Thin Cakes Called Roti Are Often Made From Millet Flour And Used As The Basis For Meals.
  It Is Comparatively High In Proteins And Has A Good Balance Of Amino Acids. Thus, It Plays An Important Role In Metabolism.

Health Advantages:

• Due To Essential Nutrients Such As Methionine (An Amino Acid), B Complex Vitamins (Niacin, Thiamin, And Riboflavin), Folic Acid, Lecithin, Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese And Zinc, Millets Are Very Effective In Several Roles. Niacin Reduces Cholesterol While Magnesium Is Essential For Maintaining Good Heart Health, As It Lowers Blood Pressure And Reduces The Risk Of Heart Attacks.
• It Is A Better Source Of Iron Than Other Grains. This Ensures A Good Count Of Hemoglobin, Avoiding Symptoms Of Anemia Etc.
• Regular Intake Of Millets Provides Protection Against Breast Cancer In Pre-Menopausal Women.
• It Is A Moderate Source Of Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Which Helps Iliprove Blood Circulation And General Health Of The Nervous System.
• It Is A Good Source Of Magnesium, Millets Act As A Cofactor In A Number Of Enzymatic Reactions. Consumption Of Pearl Millets Helps In Minimizing The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes.