Sorghum Millet and its Health Benefits!
Millets are crops which can grow in regions where there is low rain fall and hence very important from the agricultural as well as nutritional point of view.
Millets are nutritionally similar to main cereals and serve as good source of protein, micronutrients and phytochemicals. Sorghum is appreciated for its grain, stalk and leaves as well.
Sorghum and other millets are great source of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Plus they contain fiber. However, they are still not as popular as other cereals grains in some nations.
The nutrients present in Sorghum may prove helpful for you to avoid certain lifestyle diseases. Hence including sorghum in the diet becomes all the more important.
Nutritional Profile of Sorghum
Antioxidant Presence in Sorghum
Phytochemicals
Sorghum is packed with these exceptional and substances containing potent antioxidant properties. Sorghum is considered good to rich source of phytochemicals such as anthocyanins, phytosterols, phenolic acids and policosanols, depending on its variety.
Phenolic Compounds
Sorghum has a wide variety of phenolic compounds that include phenolic acids, flavonoids, 3 deoxyanthocyanin and condensed tannins.
The condensed tannins are not present in all the varieties especially the white ones. Sorghums vary in color from white, yellow, red and brown.
Tannin sorghums is a variety of it, which has a quite a high level of antioxidants.
There is an increasing evidence that some varieties of sorghum have anti-inflammatory and anti-colon cancer activities.
Very high levels of the infrequent 3- deoxy anthocyanin that has probable health uses have been recognized in some special sorghums.
Now let’s learn the various health benefits of Sorghum.
1. Diabetes
Diabetes is a grave disease affecting people’s health and lives. 9% of the global adult population is affected with diabetes and around 1.5 million people die every year of diabetes directly.
It is one of the lifestyle diseases and healthy diet is an integral part of its prevention and treatment. Sorghum has very good amount of dietary fiber in it. Dietary fiber intake leads to a blunt response of blood glucose level thus helping in preventing or managing diabetes. Sorghum is thus a low glycemic index food. Along with fiber, magnesium, vitamin –E, phenolic compounds and tannin content of Sorghum cuts the risk of diabetes by slowing the sudden increase of blood glucose and insulin levels.
There are several ways of controlling diabetes, click on the link for the same https://medium.com/healthdekho-healthcare/ways-to-control-diabetes-mellitus-86ca82b054ff
2. Coronary Heart Disease
Several studies suggest that intake of whole grains leads to reduced risk of heart diseases. Also, a healthy balanced diet having different food groups such as whole grains, pulses, beans, veggies and fruits, healthy fats etc. is responsible for reducing risk of high blood pressure and heart diseases. Similar is the case with dietary fiber. Sorghum is a whole grain with high amount of fiber and thus it may help in lowering the risk and managing heart disease.
Here’s something more on Dietary Fiber, its health benefits https://medium.com/healthdekho-healthcare/health-benefits-of-dietary-fiber-7bf75027c29a
3. Cholesterol Reduction
It is believed that soluble fiber helps in reduction of cholesterol from the body. Again, as you now know that sorghum consists of a lot of dietary fiber, it may reduce the bad cholesterol and thus assist in correcting dyslipidemia (i.e. raised bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels). Check out what is dyslipidemia? https://medium.com/healthdekho-healthcare/what-is-dyslipidemia-bd99c1b9590f
4. Anti-Cancer Properties
As described earlier it contains potent antioxidants which may help cut the risk of certain cancer. A study suggest that anti-cancerous substances in sorghum decreased oesophageal cancer risk.
5. Obesity
Being an excellent source of dietary fiber, sorghum may be advantageous to avoid obesity. Obesity is a disorder that is emerging in developing countries and quite established in developed nations. It is cause of many other diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, various inflammatory disorders, sleep apnea etc. Dietary fiber especially soluble fibers swells up in the stomach and thus, is said to reduce hunger as it stays in stomach for a longer time. This way it may help one to reduce weight or maintain weight and may prevent obesity.
Please Note
For any blood tests or various health checkups in Mumbai, please visit www.healthdekho.com
References
http://millets.res.in/m_recipes/Nutritional_health_benefits_millets.pdf
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=intsormilpubs
