Abstract
Millets are highly nutritious and climate-resilient grains that play a vital role in enhancing food security and promoting overall health. Millets, abundant in proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, present a superior alternative to traditional cereals. With a low glycemic index (GI) and being naturally gluten-free, millets are especially beneficial for individuals with diabetes and gluten intolerance. Moreover, their high antioxidant content contributes to the prevention of lifestyle-related disorders, including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and metabolic syndromes. Millets also contain bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids, which exhibit anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, adding to their therapeutic potential. These qualities make millets suitable candidates for use in functional foods and nutraceutical formulations. In addition to their health benefits, millets are well-suited to grow in harsh climatic conditions with minimal water and input requirements, making them an environmentally sustainable crop. This review emphasizes the nutritional, medicinal, and ecological benefits of millets, highlighting their growing importance in both the food and pharmaceutical sectors. It advocates for the increased integration of millets into daily diets and health products to support better health outcomes and strengthen global food system resilience in the face of climate change.
doi: 10.17756/jfcn.2025-s2-009
Citation: Garach I, Vediya P, Trivedi U, Kapuriya K, Kapuriya H. 2025. Millets: A Nutritional Powerhouse for Food Security and Pharmaceutical Applications. J Food Chem Nanotechnol 11(S2): S77-S98.
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