For strong bones

It contains high levels of phosphorus3. Phosphorus is essential for bone growth and development in young children.

For pregnant women

Pearl millet contains high amounts of iron and folic acid. Folic acid (folate/vitamin B9) helps to reduce chances of neural tube defects such as spina bifida in the unborn child. Iron is responsible for preventing anemia in the mother.

For sugar and weight control

Pearl millet contains higher amounts of fiber than rice and wheat1. Its high fiber content causes it to digest slowly, releasing glucose at a slower rate as compared to other foods, thus maintaining healthy blood sugar levels for a long period of time2. The high fiber content in pearl millet also helps to curb hunger for longer, indirectly contributing to weight loss.

References

  1. Longvah T, Ananthan R, Bhaskarachary K and Venkaiah K. 2017. Indian food composition table, National Institute of Nutrition. 1-578.
  2. Thathola A, Srivastava S, Singh G. 2011. Effect of foxtail millet (Setariaitalica) supplementation of serum glucose, serum lipids and glycosylated haemoglobin in Type 2 diabetics. Diabetologia Croatica 40:23-28.
  3. Kumar A, Metwal M, Kaur S, Gupta AK, Puranik S, Singh S, Singh M, Gupta S, Babu BK, Sood S and Yadav R. 2016. Nutraceutical value of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.), and their improvement using omics approaches. Frontiers in plant science. 7:934. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00934

Uses of Pearl millet

Pearl Millet as Feed 

Pearl millet has multiple uses in the dryland regions where cultivation of other crops are limited. Pearl millet grain is suitable as poultry feed and can significantly bring down the cost of the feed. Several research studies have proved that pearl millet can be substituted for corn in feed formulations.

Pearl Millet also offers dry-season forage. Some dual purpose varieties can provide both grain and high quality forage. Some hybrids of napier grass and pearl millet is a perennial forage crop. ICRISAT and ILRI tested six dual purpose varieties of pearl millet and growth performance of sheep fed their residues in Niger and the study proved that the stover of the dual purpose varieties are of better quality compared to local varieties.

Related publications

Pearl Millet in Brewing

Similar to sorghum, pearl millet has also been traditionally brewed to produce alcoholic beverages in Africa. “Uphutsu” in Mozambique and “Oyokpo”, a brew from Nigeria are some examples of traditional alcoholic beer brewed from pearl millet. In India, the craft brewery, Great State Ale Works produce millet ale with 56% pearl millet.

Related News

Nutritional Value

Protein

Fiber

Calcium

Iron

We compared Pearl Millet to Top 5 foods highest in Iron

  • Pearl Millet
  • Liver
  • Wheat
  • Beef
  • DarK Green Leafy Vegetables

What is your daily recommended iron intake?

  • 13.7–15.1 mg in children 2–11 yrs
  • 16.3 mg in children and teens aged 12–19 yrs
  • 19.3–20.5 mg in men
  • 17.0–18.9 mg in women
  • 14.7 mg in pregnant women

Recipes

Crispy Multi-Millet Fingers

Crispy Multi-Millet Fingers

Pearl Millet Smoothie

Pearl Millet Smoothie

Millet cream tartlets

Millet cream tartlets

Millet shots

Millet shots

Pearl Millet Milk Drink (Mburugi in Kitharaka)

Pearl Millet Milk Drink (Mburugi in Kitharaka)

Pearl Millet Chapati

Pearl Millet Chapati

Sorghum and millet kebabs served with sweet mashed potatoes

Sorghum and millet kebabs served with sweet mashed potatoes

Millet and peanut butter cookies

Millet and peanut butter cookies

Sugar free millet cake

Sugar free millet cake

Irish potatoes with millet, sorghum & cheese

Irish potatoes with millet, sorghum & cheese

Millet & sorghum mixed <i>bhajia</i>

Millet & sorghum mixed bhajia

Crispy avocado salad with millet sticks

Crispy avocado salad with millet sticks

Cabbage and sorghum salad in millet shell

Cabbage and sorghum salad in millet shell

Sorghum, millet and chicken soup

Sorghum, millet and chicken soup

Cream of millet soup

Cream of millet soup

Millet stir fry

Millet stir fry

Millet & chickpea stuffed peppers

Millet & chickpea stuffed peppers

Millet couscous with roasted carrots

Millet couscous with roasted carrots

Millet cookies

Millet cookies

Millet sushi

Millet sushi

Pearl Millet Mandazi

Pearl Millet Mandazi

West African spicy kebab with pearl millet

West African spicy kebab with pearl millet

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