Foxtail Millet Description
Millet is an annual herbaceous plant and a vital food in many parts of the world. Setaria Italic with many common names including Chinese Millet, Foxtail Bristle Grass, Dwarf Setaria, Foxtail Millet, Hay Millet, German Millet, Giant Setaria Hungarian Millet, Japanese Millet, Italian Millet, and Hungarian millet is a grass species which is used as a crop. The seeds are convex oval or elliptical and light yellow to brown, rusty black in color. It is known as Bertia/Kangani in Hindi; Thinai in Tamil; Kang in Gujarati and Rala in Marathi. Further, it is known as Panico Degli Uccelli in Italian; Awa in Japanese; Sekui in Malaysia; Pabbio Coltivato in Switzerland and Mijo De Italia in Spanish. Also, there are tons of health benefits of Foxtail Millet which make it a popular millet.
Foxtail Millet is of high nutritious value and is one of the best and healthiest millets. 100 grams of Foxtail Millet contains Calories (351), Protein (11.2 grams), Total Fat (4 grams), Carbohydrate (63.2 grams) and Crude Fiber (6.7 grams). It grants Isoleucine (803 grams), Leucine (1764 grams), Tryptophan (103 grams), Threonine (328 grams), Lysine (233 grams), Thiamin (0.6 mg), Iron (2.8 mg), Niacin (3.2 mg), Lipid Fat (4 grams), Riboflavin (0.1 mg) and Calcium (31 mg). Foxtail millets are highly rich in calories that provide energy and stamina to the body to perform activities optimally.
We consider as the perfect substitute for the healthy diets. We can cook foxtail millet in the same manner as rice and also, it has many food applications like porridge, pudding, breads, cakes, flour, chips, rolls, noodles, etc. It is an important staple food in India and northern China. Moreover, people ferment it to make vinegar and wine in China, and to make beer in Russia and Myanmar.
Health Benefits of Foxtail Millet
Foxtail millets are rich in calories that provide energy and strength to the body to perform activities. However, it is widely cultivated in the farms of India, Africa and China and also, people consider it as the perfect substitute for the healthy diets. Moreover, there are several other health benefits of Foxtail Millet:
Bone Health
Although Foxtail Millet is a good source of Iron and Calcium and helps in maintaining good bone and muscle health, it is a ‘super food’ which helps in overcoming Arthritis, Spondylitis and Osteoporosis.
Controlling Diabetes
Foxtail Millets are rich in Fiber which is very essential in regulating blood sugar levels and also, it has a low glycemic index (50.8) which makes it a healthy product for diabetics.
Curing Constipation
Being a good source of Fiber, Foxtail millets helps in curing constipation in kids and adults, and thus, helps in maintaining a healthy digestive system.
Gluten-free Grain
Foxtail Millet is a gluten-free grain and hence, it is a very good option for celiac patients.
Weight Management
It contains Tryptophan which will trim your appetite and tighten your belly, therefore, giving a perfect figure to you.
Heart Health
It is a rich source of Vitamin B1 and thus prevents heart ailments and helps in maintaining a good cardiac health.
Improves Concentration
Vitamin B1 helps to enhance the concentration and memory power. Along with this, it helps to manage the nervous ailments such as Bell’s Palsy and multiple sclerosis. And Foxtail Millet, being a prime source of Vitamin B1, helps in this.
Treats Alzheimer’s Disease
Being rich in Vitamin B1, Foxtail Millet also helps in reducing Alzheimer’s disease.
Healthy Recipes of Foxtail Millet
Foxtail Millet or Kangani or Bertia is the most common millet that the weight conscious people use and so, here we present the 5 Most Loved Recipes of Foxtail millet:
Thinai Pongal or Foxtail Millet Pongal
We first soak foxtail millet and yellow lentils and cook them, and then, we season with cumin, whole peppercorns, ginger pieces, curry leaves and fried cashews.
Foxtail Millet Idli
It is a healthier version of the idli, and we make this recipe with foxtail millets and urad dal.
Foxtail Millet Lemon Rice
It also known as Elumichai Sadam in Tamil is a healthy version of the rice dish made from foxtail millets. The Lemon millet recipe is packed with flavors from lemon, green chillies and curry leaves.
Foxtail Millet Pesarattu
We make this with foxtail millet and whole green gram with finely chopped onions, coriander leaves and curry leaves.
Foxtail Millet Halwa
This is just like normal sooji halwa but, we make it by grinding and roasting foxtail millet powder, ghee and sugar.
Also, visit our online organic health store for Foxtail Millet and read more about our Organic Products.
