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Pearl Millet

Also Known As : Bajra
Technical Name : Pennisetum glaucum

Vegetarian

Taste Profile

Pearl millet is mild sweet and grainy in taste.

Usage Tips

  1. Pearl millet can be used to make cakes, wraps, tarts, khichdi, porridge, and flatbreads.

Common names and forms

  1. Bajra
  2. Bajra (Pearl Millet) Flour
  3. Bajra Atta
  4. Bajra Flakes
  5. Bajra Flour
  6. Bajra Flour
  7. Bajra Seeds
  8. Bajra Vermicelli
  9. Hybrid Pearl Millet
  10. Organic Bajra/Pearl Millet
  11. Organic Pearl Millet
  12. Pearl Millet (Bajra)
  13. Pearl Millet Flakes
  14. Pearl Millet Flour
  15. Roasted Hybrid Pearl Millet
  16. Thinai (Pearl Millet)
  17. Whole Pearl Millet

Description

Pearl millets are basically the edible seeds of pearl millet plants. Technically, bajra is not a grain - it belongs to a family of small seeded grasses collectively referred to as 'millets.' They grow in various shades of white, yellow, gray, brown, and bluish-purple. The seeds are typically cooked as a cereal grain or sometimes finely ground and used as a flour. Being rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, pearl millet is an overall nutritious carbohydrate source. It is also rich in beneficial plant chemicals like antioxidants, polyphenols, and phytochemicals, all of which are known for contributing to optimal human health in many ways. 

Health benefits

  1. Pearl millets contain carbohydrates that are digested slowly and maintain a stable glucose level for a long period. This makes them a healthy food option for diabetics. (1)

  2. Rich in dietary fibres and cholesterol-lowering properties of these grains are good for heart patients. (1)

  3. Pearl millets are one of the few foods which reduce the acidity of the stomach thereby limiting ulcer formation and discomfort due to frequent bouts of acidity. (1)

  4. High Iron and Zinc content in pearl millet helps in increasing hemoglobin. People with iron deficiency Anaemia must include Bajra in their diet to overcome the problem. (2)

  5. Pearl millet is recommended for curing stomach ulcers. Pearl millet is one of the very few foods that turn the stomach alkaline and prevents the formation of stomach ulcers or reduces the effect of ulcers. The high fiber content in pearl millet is also known to reduce the risk of gall stone occurrence. (2)

Note

The oxalates in Bajra, if not cooked properly can result in kidney stones and the phytic acid may interfere with the absorption of food in the gut. So, if you have any of these health issues, do talk to your doctor or nutritionist before consuming Pearl millet. (3)

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