Finger Millet (Eleusinecoracana L.), also known as Ragi, is cultivated in drier parts of the world – mainly in Asia and Africa. Ragi has a distinct taste and is widely used in Southern Indian and Ethiopian dishes. Ragi is a rich source of Calcium, Iron, Protein, Fiber and other minerals. The cereal has low-fat content and contains mainly unsaturated fat. It is easy to digest and does not contain gluten; people who are sensitive to gluten can easily consume Finger Millet. Ragi is considered one of the most nutritious cereals. It has different names in local languages. It is known as Ragi in Telugu and Kannada, Kelvaragu/aariyam in Tamil, and Madua/Mangal in Hindi.

1. A super whole grain to nourish and provide wholesome nutrition.

Finger millet (Eleusinecoracana) one of the species of millet and a staple food crop is well known as a super cereal for its excellent nutritional value, long term storage potential, and ethnomedicinal characteristics. Finger millet is nutritionally superior to rice and wheat and it provides cheap source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins to the rural population in soil having poor water holding capacity.

2. Good for bones as it is Rich in calcium

Finger millet is one of the richest source of calcium among the plant foods.The concentration of Calcium in finger millet is five to thirty times that found in other cereals.In a study “The Lost Crops of Africa” by National Academies Press, Ragi has been called a Super Cereal. The study elaborated that people from Uganda and Sudan have healthy and robust physiques despite consumption of just one meal a day; this could be due to finger millet.

3. Finger Millet has High Protein content

Ragi has very high protein content which is of the order found in rice. Few varieties of Ragi even contain double the protein found in rice. Protein found in finger millet is good quality protein since it has eleusinin which can be easily absorbed by the body. Unlike most cereals, Ragi also contains tryptophan, methionine, and cystine which are important for maintenance of health.

4. Ragi is also a helps lower cholesterol

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/10288786.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst..Finger Millet contains amino acids Lecithin and Methionine which help in bringing down cholesterol level by eliminating excess fat from Liver. Finger Millet also contains Threonine amino acid which hinders fat formation in the liver, which brings cholesterol level of the body down.

5. Finger Millet is rich source of fiber

Finger Millet’s phytochemicals help in slowing digestion process. It contains natural fats and fibre which help to lose weight. It promotes the digestion and prevents stomach-related problems.

Amino Acids Content	Amount (mg/g of protein)
Leucine	594
Valine	413
Phenylalanin	325
Isoleucine	275
Threonine	263
Methionine	194
Tryptophan	191
Lysine	181
Cystine	163

6. Good source of Iron.

Finger Millet is a very good source of natural Iron. Finger Millet consumption may help            in condition of Anaemia.

7. May help to control diabetes

There is another advantage of high polyphenol and fiber content. This helps in controlling blood sugar level in condition of diabetes. In a study conducted in 2000, it was found that Finger Millet based diet helps diabetics as it contains higher fiber than rice and wheat. Also, the study found that diet based on whole finger millet has lower glycemic response i.e. lower ability to increase blood sugar level. This is due to presence of factors in Finger Millet’s flour which lower digestibility and absorption of starch. The diet that contains Finger Millet is known for low glycaemic reaction. It is best to add it to your morning meal or to take lunch in order to keep your system on track throughout the day.

8. Finger millet is Gluten-Free

People with celiac disease or people taking gluten-free diet can add Finger Millet to their daily diet because it is completely free from gluten. This is not the case with most of the grains because gluten is a major nutrient in all grains.

9. Finger Millet is excellent source to aid weight loss

Ragi contains an amino acid called Tryptophan which lowers appetite and helps in managing weight. It gets digested at a slower rate thus helps in keeping the stomach filled for long hours. It helps in maintaining a distance from taking excessive diet.

10. Benefits skin

Conclusion

To get all ragi health benefits and nutritional value, include ragi recipes in your breakfast. It will provide all the nutrition to your body and make you full for day long.