If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s eating healthy to keep your overall health in check. People have started eating pulses, lentils and other healthy grains that they once despised. Millets are one such ingredient that people have incorporated into their diet and for all the right reasons. Did you know this widely cultivated wonder food can also help you lose weight? Yes, millets are a powerhouse of nutrients that can help you lose weight.

If you’re looking for ways to lose weight, read on to know whether or not you should include millets in your weight loss diet.

Do millets help you lose weight?

Millets are a group of cereal grains that contain chock full of nutrients such as protein, vitamins and fibre. They are also good sources of minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and manganese. Dr Eileen Canday, Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai told Healthshots, millets help regulate blood sugar levels, promote a healthy gut and aid weight loss.

“One of the main reasons why millets may be effective for weight loss is due to their high fibre content. It is a good source of both soluble and insoluble fibre, thereby promoting satiety and controlling appetite. By replacing calorie-dense grains with millet, it may be possible to reduce overall caloric intake which will further contribute to weight loss,” adds Dr Canday.

Millets offer several health benefits

Dr Canday shares that the benefits of millet do not end with weight loss. Since it is such a powerhouse of nutrients, millet can also help you keep your blood sugar levels in check, delay diabetes onset, and reduce gastrointestinal inflammation. As a prebiotic, the soluble fibre promotes the development of healthy bacteria in your digestive tract. By giving stools more volume, insoluble fibre helps to regularise bowel movements and lowers the risk of colon cancer.

How to include millet in your weight-loss diet?

Millets are a versatile grain that can be a part of your regular meals. It is a wonderful gluten-free cereal substitute that can be part of your breakfast. You can also use it to prepare delicious lunch and dinner recipes such as vegetable millet stir-fried with eggs, ragi dosa, millet khichdi, and millet pulao.

Additionally, it may be utilised to prepare tiffin-friendly meals like nachni or bajra porridge, millet upma or poha, and beetroot and millet wrap, suggests the expert.

Also Read: From heart health to diabetes, learn how to cook millets for multiple health benefits

A word from the expert!

It is important to note that weight loss is dependent on a variety of factors, including diet, physical activity, and genetics. It is also worth noting that millet should not be relied upon as the sole method for weight loss and that a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity are key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.