The Future of Grain Science: The Contribution of Indigenous Small Grains to Food Security, Nutrition, and Health in South Africa

Abstract

Cereals form a major component of diets around the world; the most commonly consumed cereals include wheat, rice, maize, and barley. In tropical and semiarid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, however, “small grain” cereals such as sorghum and millets contribute significantly to food security, nutrition, and health. These grains are drought tolerant and will grow in marginalized areas where other cereals will not thrive. They also are gluten-free and contain higher levels of minerals (e.g., iron, calcium, and zinc) than more commonly consumed cereals. In addition, research is increasingly showing that consumption of these grains and their products contributes to improved health and wellness due to their phytochemical content, which includes phenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity. Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress and have anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive properties. Sorghum and millets also contain resistant starches that are digested more slowly, leading to a slower ...