Millets are making a comeback! and how! Though wheat and rice are staple in Indian kitchens, people have realized the multiple health benefits associated with millets, and are including them as part of their daily diet or replacing atta and rice with them. Research speaks a lot in favour of these ancient grains because they have so many nutrients packed together. In fact, the government of India, in a bid to promote millets among people, has declared International Year of Millets on January 1, 2023. Whether it’s finger millet (ragi), amaranth (rajgira), barnyard, foxtail, proso, kodo, little millet, pearl millet, sorgum, etc. they are all nutrient dense and high on fiber. Talking about bajra, also called as pearl millet, it’s a gluten-free option as well and you can whip out delicious dishes with bajra. But is bajra good for weight loss? Let’s find out:
Though not exactly low on calories, it’s 360 calorie per 100 gm, bajra also has protein 12g, fat 5g and fiber 1 gm. Then, there’s also complex carbs, calcium, phosphorous, zinc and even iron. Minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorous, folate, zinc, etc. all of which boost metabolism. It’s a good source of complex carbs as well. Bajra also has phytochemicals, which are a kind of antioxidants that promote weight loss. Not to forget, bajra has a low glycemic index, which means it would cause sharp rise insulin spikes and therefore less likelihood for calories getting converted into fat.
Also noteworthy is the fact it’s a good replacement for quinoa. Bajra is comparatively better priced than quinoa, is locally produced, not genetically modified. Therefore it would be prudent to include millets into the daily diet, and lower the risks for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and also to drop weight in the process.
From making bajra roti, to khicdi, to ladoo, the options are just endless. You can make bajra roti along with your vegetables/daal just like regular wheat roti. You can also replace rice with bajra, use it like quinoa, make roti out of bajra flour.
So now that you know how awesome bajra is for weight los, we would still ask you to portion control and eat within the calorie limit to lose weight. Most importantly, if weight loss is on your mind, download the Rati Beauty app for your weight loss diet plans.
20 Foods That Burn Fat While you Sleep
30 Healthy Indian Food that you should Be Eating Regularly For Weight Loss
