Abstract

Millets are a major food source in arid and semi-arid parts of the world. Millets are good sources of energy. They provide protein, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, dietary fibre and polyphenols. Typical millet protein contains high quantity of essential amino acids especially the sulphur containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine). Processing millet by milling removes the bran and germ layers that are rich in fibre and phytochemicals, causing significant loss. The millets are source of antioxidants, such as phenolic acids and glycated flavonoids. Millet foods are characterized to be potential prebiotic and can enhance the viability or functionality of probiotics with significant health benefits. The nutritional significance of millets demands for an examination of the nutritional characteristics and functional properties of different millet cultivars as well as developing value added products from millets.

Highlights

  • Millets are one of the cereals asides the major wheat, rice, and maize

  • The present review summarizes the nutritional composition of millets some health benefits, and the use of millets in the food industry

  • Finger millet shows relatively higher than other cereals carbohydrate (72%) comprises of starch as the main constituent and the non-starchy polysaccharides which amounts to 15–20% of the seed matter as an unavailable carbohydrate dietary fibre content and complements which are the health benefits of the millet (Devi et al, 2011)

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Summary

Introduction

Millets are one of the cereals asides the major wheat, rice, and maize. Millets are major food sources for millions of people, especially those who live in hot, dry areas of the world. In particular, millet based foods and beverages are known worldwide and are still part of the major diet in most African countries (Obilana and Manyasa, 2002; Amadou et al, 2011). Nutritional composition of millet grains Millets are unique among the cereals because of their richness in calcium, dietary fibre, polyphenols and protein (Devi et al, 2011).

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