We are in May already and many of you are right on track with your New Year’s resolution regarding your health, while some of you are frustrated due to lack of results and have already lost motivation. No matter where you are in your journey, this article will give you some hope and show you that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The United Nations has declared 2023 an international year of Millet’s and I believe that this ancient grain has a huge potential to help you combat lifestyle-related illnesses like prediabetes, diabetes, abnormal blood pressure levels, excess body fat around the waist, digestive disorders, allergies, post nasal drip, sinusitis, respiratory disorders, abnormal cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Science has proven that lifestyle-related illnesses are caused due to high stress, poor sleep habits, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and movement. Even though all these factors contribute towards your optimal well-being, an unhealthy diet filled with processed flours, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, sweeteners and preservatives, and fast food like burgers and pizzas, is the main contributing factor for lifestyle-related illnesses.

The solution to this problem is changing the diet, sleeping well, exercising, and managing stress efficiently. Instead of consuming all-purpose flour, refined wheat flour, sugar, polished rice, artificial sweeteners, artificial food colors, and preservatives, it is high time that we start adding whole grains to our diet along with leafy green vegetables, healthy nuts, and whole fruits. Talking about whole grains, these 5 positive millets Kodo Millet, Foxtail Millet, Barnyard Millet, Browntop Millet, and Little Millet have shown promising results in not only managing lifestyle-related illnesses but also reversing them when combined with the right diet, exercise, and stress management.

Ayurveda has always given importance to the diet for our aarogya (well-being) and ancient Ayurvedic texts have explained these millets in detail under Dhanya Varga (category of cereals). Thus the use of millet in the Indian diet can be traced back to a very ancient era. Millets are the oldest as well as primitive indigenous food grains to be used as a staple food. They are unique among food grains having smaller sizes but higher in nutrition. They were first ever introduced in Rigveda then in Yajurveda and Atharvaveda. Millets are a group of small-seeded grasses that are gluten-free, highly nutritious, and have a low glycemic index, making them an excellent choice for people with diabetes or those who are trying to manage their blood sugar levels.

As Millets are gluten-free, rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals they can easily replace wheat and rice in our diet. Ayurveda explains the general qualities and effects of millets and Ayurvedic texts state that millets are best advised in Kaphaja Roga (diseases due to Kapha), Pittaja Roga (diseases due to Pitta), and Raktadushti (vitiation of blood). It is always necessary to avoid the use of millets in Vataja Roga (diseases due to Vata) as it aggravates the condition. Based on this understanding millet will be an excellent choice for lifestyle-related illnesses like prediabetes, diabetes, abnormal blood pressure levels, excess body fat around the waist, digestive disorders, allergies, post nasal drip, sinusitis, respiratory disorders, abnormal cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

Advising millets as per individual’s Digestive Agni is also very important as they are guru (Heavy) and Ruksha (dry). Also, as they have more amount of dietary fiber, protein, and less quantity of simple carbohydrates so they can be difficult to digest for people with manda agni but when cooked with the right spices that promote Deepana and Pachana ( kindle / ignite the digestive fire and improve the digestion and assimilation), millets can give an added benefit of satiety for a long time and they have Lekhana (Scraping) and Kledashoshana (dries up excessive moisture) action which is useful in treating Santapanajanya Vyadhi (diseases due to over nourishment of single or multiple tissues). It is important to note that cooking millet with excessive salt, sugar, or sweeteners will destroy the purpose as sugar or artificial sweeteners will increase lifestyle-related conditions. As most of the millets are gluten-free foods and thus they can be a choice of diet for IBS.

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