8 Millet Sprouts Benefits

Like brown rice or quinoa, millet acts as a starch, delivering slow-release carbohydrates that give long-lasting energy. Read the 8 Sprouts Millet Benefits.

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Summary

Millet is a seed that holds an abundance of nutritional benefits. Here we will show you 8 millet sprouts benefits. Like brown rice or quinoa, millet acts as a starch, delivering a high dose of slow-release carbohydrates that give you long-lasting energy. Along with this, millet contains:

  • Phosphorous, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth and aids in cellular and tissue repair
  • Iron, necessary for growth and development and oxygen delivery to all parts of the body
  • Antioxidants, which prevent oxidative damage (a result of our metabolism) that can cause cancer and other diseases
  • Balanced carbohydrates that release slowly, preventing metabolic diseases like diabetes

Millet can supplement your diet with many nutrients and provide long-lasting energy. It can even reduce your appetite, making it less likely for you to snack your way to an unhealthy state. So let’s take a look at 8 millet sprouts benefits.

Read What is The Healthiest Kind of Rice”

8 Health Benefits of Millet (And Millet Sprouts)

Sprouted millet is a bit healthier than regular millet because sprouting increases the nutritional yield. If you want to boost the amount of iron, phosphorous, and other nutrients in millet, you can sprout it before eating. The downside is that sprouted millet doesn’t keep well and must be eaten relatively quickly. For the sake of convenience, millet is a great nutritional option. Sprouted millet is better, but you should read up on sprouted millet’s safety and ensure you eat it quickly to avoid illness.

Millet is high in fiber

Not all starches and grains are created equally. Like white rice and potatoes, some raise our blood glucose levels drastically, while others, like brown rice and millet, do not. Millet is high in fiber, which takes time to digest and release, reducing the immediate blood glucose spike after eating them [1]. Foods that do not spike blood glucose levels after eating as quickly have a low glycemic index, which means they’re healthier. Because of its low glycemic index, millet is a preventative measure against diseases like diabetes, which is caused by chronically having high blood glucose levels [2, 3]. Fiber can also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer and improve your digestion [4].

Read “What Are The Health Benefits Of Starches And Fibers.”

Millet can be easily grown and is nutrient-rich

Millet is primarily produced in India but can grow in many hot climates, many of which experience malnutrition. Millet is not only a great source of calories and carbohydrates but an easily accessible crop that is high in micronutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin A [5]. Many populations worldwide struggle to get enough of these nutrients, and millet could be a feasible and inexpensive solution to this problem [6].

Millet is high in bioactive peptides

Bioactive peptides (called bioactive millet peptides or BAMPs) have several beneficial properties, including antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anticancer, and antimicrobial effects. BAMPs result from digesting the seed proteins in millet and are another reason this tiny seed can prevent many health problems and conditions [7].

Finger millet is high in calcium

You know what they say, “a glass of milk can help you maintain healthy bones and teeth” (specifically, it helps us form and remodel our bones and teeth) [7]. That’s because milk is high in calcium, but so is millet [9]. Approximately 100g of finger millet contains 350mg of calcium, the same as a glass of milk [10].

Millet is high in protein and carbohydrates, making it a balanced starch

Unlike brown rice and maize, millet is very high in protein [11]. We need proteins because they contain amino acids, which form the building blocks of our muscles and tissues. We use amino acids from food to rebuild our bodies and heal damage. The combination of low glycemic index and protein in millet also keeps you feeling fuller for longer, beneficial for weight maintenance [12].

Read “Quinoa vs Rice: Which is Better?”

Millet is high in iron

Iron is an essential nutrient, meaning we can’t live without it. Iron deficiencies lead to tissue damage, anemia, and many other problems [13]. Iron helps our oxygen get from the lungs to the rest of the body and is also needed for neurological development, proper cell function, and even synthesis of our hormones [14]. Millet contains 3-8mg of iron per 100g, depending on the variety, which gets you well on the way to your recommended 17-20mg per day [15]

Millet is high in phosphorous

Like iron, phosphorous is another essential nutrient and is the second most abundant nutrient in our body. Phosphorous is vital for cellular functioning and structure and is needed for metabolism [16, 17]. Millet delivers 160-290mg of phosphorous per 100g, getting you well on the way to your recommended 800-1,200mg per day [15].

Millet is high in antioxidants

Antioxidants are necessary for getting rid of oxygen radicals that are a natural by-product of our metabolism. Unfortunately, these radicals go on to wreak havoc on our body, causing diseases like cancer [17]. Millet is high in antioxidants that can prevent this damage before it happens by turning them into harmless compounds [15].

In conclusion, 8 Millet Sprouts Benefits

Sprouted millet has a higher nutritional value than unsprouted, but as a downside, it doesn’t keep well. Enjoy your millet, sprouted when possible, and reap the benefits of this underrated seed today.

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