Natural Cook Studio of Bend

It is not just “for the birds”

Most corn is fed to cattle; most barley is brewed for beer; and most millet is used as birdseed. Elsewhere in the world, millet is a generic term for at least five different grains.  In the United States, the word millet refers to proso, and it is this strain that we find in most health food supermarkets.  Proso was among the earliest cultivated cereals.  The first written reference to this millet is dated at about 2800 BC and this list states the five sacred crops of China as being rice, soybeans, barley, wheat and millet.

Millet and other whole grains are a rich source of magnesium, a mineral that acts as a co-factor for more than 300 enzymes, including enzymes involved in the body’s use of glucose and insulin secretion.

Although oats have been widely publicized for their heart-protective properties, millet is a grain that should also be included on your list of heart-healthy choices because of its status as a good source of magnesium. Magnesium has been shown in studies to reduce the severity of asthma and to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. Magnesium has also been shown to lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack, especially in people with atherosclerosis or diabetic heart disease.

The phosphorus provided by millet plays a role in the structure of every cell in the body. In addition to its role in forming the mineral matrix of bone, phosphorus is an essential component of numerous other life-critical compounds including adenosine triphosphate or ATP, the molecule that is the energy currency of the body. Phosphorus is an important component of nucleic acids, the building blocks of the genetic code. In addition, the metabolism of lipids (fats) relies on phosphorus, and phosphorus is an essential component of lipid-containing structures such as cell membranes and nervous system structures. A cup of cooked millet will give you 24.0% of the daily value for phosphorus.

Millet is gluten free and it has a high alkaline ash content, which makes it the easiest grain to digest.  So if you are suffering from any gastrointestinal irregularities you might want to add this grain to your grocery list.

Cook Millet to be creamy like mashed potatoes or fluffy like rice, millet is a delicious grain that can accompany many types of food.

In Health,