Lybrate Logo
Get the App
For Doctors
Login/Sign-up
Book Appointment
Treatment
Ask a Question
Plan my Surgery
Health Feed
tab_logos
About
tab_logos
Health Feed

Health Benefits of Bajra (Millet) And Its Side Effects

Last Updated: Aug 06, 2020

Topic Image

Bajra offers various health benefits and is a good grain to have in your arsenal. It has high amounts of fiber and aids digestion. It also lowers your bad cholesterol while increasing the good cholesterol in your system and is therefore very good for your cardiovascular health.

Bajra is rich in antioxidants and can prevent the occurrence of cancer, particularly breast cancer. It can help prevent asthma. Bajra (Mille is very good for your muscular system and is known for its high vitamin B content, which allows it to break down the carbohydrates and fat in your body. Furthermore, it also helps prevent celiac disease.

What is Bajra (Millet)?

Many people haven’t even heard of millet or bajra as it is not a very commonly grown grain. However, it is a staple in most developing countries not only because it is easy to grow but also because it is packed with nutrients and good for the human body. While there are multiple variants of this seed crop, the one most commonly grown is the pearl millet. This grain has a ton of benefits.

Nutritional Value of Bajra (Millet) Per 100gm

One of the reasons why bajra or millet is so popular in developing nations is because it is filled with nutrients. This is a huge advantage for people who cannot afford enough amounts or types of food to create a healthy and balanced diet for themselves. Let check out nutritional value of bajra, In a 100 grams of bajra, you will find 378 calories. It has a total fat content of 4.2 grams including 0.7 grams of saturated fat, 2.1 grams of polyunsaturated fat, and 0.8 grams of monounsaturated fat.

It does not contain any cholesterol, and has 5 mg of sodium along with 195 mg of potassium in it. It has 73 grams of carbohydrates including 9 grams of dietary fiber. It also has 11 grams of proteins and offers large amounts of essential minerals as well. Of the daily recommended dosage for each of the following. 100 grams of bajra has 16% of iron, 20% of vitamin B-6, and 28% of magnesium. It does not contain any vitamin A, C, D, or B-12 in it.

Nutritional facts Per 100 grams

378
Calories
4.2 g
Total Fat
5 mg
Sodium
195 mg
Potassium
73 g
Total Carbohydrate
11 g
Protein

Vitamins and Minerals

16 %
Iron
20 %
Vitamin B-6
28 %
Magnesium

Health Benefits of Bajra (Millet)

Topic Image
Mentioned below are the best health benefits of Bajra (Millet). You can also made various dishes from bajra such as bajra khichdi,bajra roti, bajra dosa and many more according to your taste buds which not only carve your hunger but aloo offers your lots of health benefits.

Bajra Good for Heart Patient

Grains are generally good for your heart and bajra is no different. Since bajra is rich in magnesium, it helps your cardiovascular system by lowering your blood pressure, which in turn helps reduce the chances of a heart attack or stroke.

Moreover, bajra also contains high amounts of potassium which makes it a good vasodilator. This also helps reduce the overall blood pressure. It also contains certain plant lignans that get converted into animal lignans in the body. These lignans are also known for preventing heart disease.

Bajra Reduces Cholesterol

Bajra is also known for controlling your cholesterol levels. Bajra roti can be consumed by patients suffering cholesterol problem patients. This is because it contains a lot of fiber, which goes a long way in lowering the bad cholesterol in your bloodstream. This prevents your arteries from getting clogged up and protects your heart from cardiovascular disease.

Bajra for Diabetes Patients

Diabetes is a disease that you’ve got to keep your eye on. It’s all about control and management and not much else can be done once you have the disease. Bajra flour or atta good for diabetes, it has high amounts of magnesium in it, due to which it helps control the glucose receptors in the body. In the populations that have bajra or magnesium-rich foods in their diet, the occurrence of diabetes is reduced by at least 30%

Bajra is Good for Digestion

Millet is filled with a ton of fiber. Foods that are rich in fiber are very good for your digestive system on the whole. The fiber that is present in rye helps you have regular and better bowel movements as it bulks up the stool and stimulates peristalsis, which moves it to the colon.

Bajra also helps prevent a number of digestive issues like gas, stomach pain, cramping, ulcers, acidity, inflammation, and even colon cancer.

Bajra has Cancer Protecting Properties

There have been studies that show that food that is rich in fiber helps prevent breast cancer. In fact, by just consuming 30 grams of bajra in a day, women can reduce their chances of getting breast cancer by a whopping 50%. As breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancers to occur, this is certainly a huge benefit of this grain.

Bajra For Dextoxification

Another great benefit of eating bajra is that it detoxifies your body. It is filled with antioxidants which help in getting rid of free radicals from your body. Bajra can also help clear up random toxins from your body such as the ones that are present in your liver and kidney. They remove foreign agents from your body and also help with neutralizing the activity on enzymes in certain organs.

Bajra Prevents Asthma

Asthma, though common now, is highly dangerous as it obstructs your breathing and can be fatal if an attack is not treated on time. This is why anything that prevents asthma should definitely be added to your diet. This is why you should add bajra to your diet chart.

Whether you live in a large metropolis or a small town, there’s no denying that pollution levels these days are off the charts. As a result, more and more children as well as adults are becoming susceptible to respiratory diseases, particularly asthma.

Bajra Rich in Vitamin B

Bajra is rich in vitamin B components. This means that it helps to break down the carbohydrates and fat in your body. It also has high amounts of niacin in it, which helps to increase the good cholesterol, HDL, in the body. This can help prevent haemorrhage.

Bajra is Gluten Free

Gluten free foods are generally very good for you. This is because they help prevent celiac disease. Celiac disease is a disease that occurs in the small intestine and is very dangerous as it interferes with your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients from the food you eat. Bajra is very good for preventing this disease as it is gluten free.

Bajra Good for Muscles Growth

Bajra contains high amounts of protein in it. Proteins are known as the building blocks of the body as they help with cellular and muscular growth and regeneration. One of the best ways that bajra impacts your muscular system is that it allows your muscles to become leaner and stronger over time. Furthermore, bajra also helps prevent muscular degeneration as you grow older.

Uses of Bajra (Millet)

Bajra is mainly used for culinary purposes. It is also used to create gluten free beer.

pms_banner

Bajra (Millet) Side-Effects

If you are not sure whether or not you are allergic to bajra, performing a patch test can always help. On a general note, it is always best to consult a physician before adding anything new to your diet or lifestyle.

Cultivation of Bajra (Millet)

It is believed that Bajra originated in Africa. It is used widely in developing nations. This grain can grow nicely in harsh weather conditions and under nourished soil.

References

Popular Questions & Answers

View All

I am 23 years old female having problem with ob...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Geetanjali Ahuja Mengi

Dietitian/Nutritionist

Weight loss will help in reducing your joint pains scientific weight loss is about 2.5 to 3 kgs a...

Recently I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Geetanjali Ahuja Mengi

Dietitian/Nutritionist

Hi, you need to lose weight as this will reduce your blood sugar and improve your liver enzymes. ...

I am 25 years old and my weight is 70 kg. I did...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Geetanjali Ahuja Mengi

Dietitian/Nutritionist

Hi, ideal weight would depend on a person's height and not age. Scientific weight loss is about 2...

My ege is 27 my weight is 86 kg I have a fat an...

related_content_doctor

Dr. N S S Gauri

Unani Specialist

Follow these herbal combination for complete cure sootshekhar ras 1 tablet twice a day kanchnaar ...

Hello dear sir/maam, i'm on a weigh loss diet t...

related_content_doctor

Dr. Geetanjali Ahuja Mengi

Dietitian/Nutritionist

Hi, weight is just a number and not the only indicator of your fitness level. Weight check should...

    Delhi
    Mumbai
    Chennai
    Bangalore
    Index

    Table of content

    Content Details
    Profile Image
    Written ByDrx Hina FirdousPhD (Pharmacology) Pursuing, M.Pharma (Pharmacology), B.Pharma - Certificate in Nutrition and Child CarePharmacology
    Reviewed By
    Profile Image
    Reviewed ByDt. Ms. Shilpa MarwahB.Sc (Home Science), Post Graduation Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health NutritionDietitian/Nutritionist
    chat_icon

    Ask a free question

    Get FREE multiple opinions from Doctors

    posted anonymously