Ragi (Finger Millet): Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects | Tata AIG Blog (2024)

1. Protein Packed

As mentioned earlier, with each 100g of ragi serving, one can get around 7 grams of protein, making it a rich source of protein for the body. It is also a great alternative for vegetarians or ones who follow a vegan diet due to its protein-richness.

2. Great Source of Fibre

Ragi’s nutritional benefits include its high content of fibre, which directly affects your gut health and body mass. A high-fibre diet is known to be good for digestion, as it produces more gut-friendly bacteria and relieves you from problems like constipation and indigestion.

Similarly, ragi for weight loss is also highly beneficial. As it contains amino acids, ragi intake helps in reducing your appetite and keeping you full for a long time. Additionally, it also helps regulate your blood sugar levels by turning them into insulin, which means it saves you from the risk of diabetes.

3. Ragi Benefits for Hair

Strong hair is made up of Keratin protein, and consuming ragi benefits hair, as it helps strengthen your hair and prevents hair fall. A healthy amount of ragi consumption also prevents premature greying of hair, as it prevents the oxidation of hair tissues. So, it is advised to include ragi in your meals to have healthy and strong hair and head scalp.

4. Rich in Calcium

Calcium plays a crucial role in keeping bones strong and healthy. Although it is known that milk and egg intake do help in fulfilling the calcium needs of the body, ragi is also a great source of calcium.

The inclusion of ragi, along with other calcium-rich foods in your diet, reduces health risks like bone weakening, arthritis, tooth decay, and osteoporosis.

5. Gluten Free

Gluten is a protein type that is present in grains like wheat, barley, rye, etc. Unfortunately, several people suffer from the problem of gluten intolerance, which prevents them from consuming food that contains gluten, like wheat chapati, and bread.

However, these people can include ragi, which is naturally gluten-free, in their daily meals. Alternative dishes like ragi chapati, ragi dosa or ragi idli are gaining popularity lately. This way, they can incorporate a healthy gluten-free ingredient in their meal and still enjoy delicious dishes.

6. Ragi Malt Benefits for Skin

Having healthy-looking and blemish-free skin is everyone’s dream, but this can only be achieved if you give your body adequate nutrients to stay healthy. Eating ragi malt benefits the skin in many ways; the amino acids present in it help in collagen boost, making skin less wrinkly.

Moreover, it contains Vitamin E, which helps in the formation of new healthy skin and the healing of scar tissues. Applying ragi paste on your face and skin is the best way to keep your skin elastic, moisturised and healthy looking.

7. Helps in Preventing Cancer

Ragi contains fibre and several phytonutrients that help in preventing the risks of colon cancer. Moreover, the lignan present in ragi, after digestion, converts into mammalian lignan that protects women from breast cancer. Ragi is also known to promote tissue repair and wound healing, making ragi a superfood to keep yourself healthy.

8. Red Blood Cells Producer

Ragi is an excellent source of iron, which helps in the production of red blood cells and improves the percentage of haemoglobin in the body. Moreover, if you eat sprouted ragi, which has a healthy amount of Vitamin C, it helps in the absorption of iron better.

Hence, ragi is a good choice for preventing health problems like anaemia, especially for women who go through a menstrual cycle every month.

9. Prevents Cardiovascular Diseases

Ragi, being a superfood, has no cholesterol or sodium in it. Moreover, it is fibre-rich and has vitamin B3. This helps in producing good HDL cholesterol and eliminating bad LDL cholesterol. It is beneficial not only for people with heart ailments but also for everyone, as consuming ragi reduces deposits of cholesterol in the heart’s blood vessels.

10. Helps Healthy Child Growth

Packed with many vitamins and nutrients, ragi is a perfect food ingredient for growing children. The presence of zinc, iron, and magnesium in ragi helps in building healthy muscle mass and strong bones in young children. Parents can give ragi malt chapati or prepare delicious ragi recipes for their children to incorporate into their balanced diet.

11. Helps in Lactation

New mothers require immense care and a healthy diet. Including green ragi in their daily diets helps mothers enhance haemoglobin levels in their bodies, which helps in the production of breast milk.

The amino acids, iron and zinc present in green ragi help in increasing lactation in new mothers and also provide necessary nutrients to mother and child.

12. Provides Healthy Amino Acids

Ragi is rich in amino acids like methionine, valine, sulphur-based amino acids and isoleucine. All of these help in maintaining good immunity, healing tissues, maintaining healthy teeth, and protecting the skin barrier. With all these ragi health benefits, it is crucial to include it in your daily diet for better overall health.

13. Improves Mood

Including ragi in your diet and consuming it helps improve your mood over time. Finger millet benefits your nerve impulse conduction system and helps in serotonin production. It helps relieve you from anxiety, stress, and insomnia, providing relaxation to your mind and body.

Ragi (Finger Millet): Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects | Tata AIG Blog (2024)

FAQs

Ragi (Finger Millet): Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects | Tata AIG Blog? ›

Ragi's health benefits include better bone density, good hair, controlling blood sugar levels, and prevention of diseases like cancer and heart attacks. You can include ragi in your diet by making ragi smoothies, chapatis, idli dosa, etc. However, keep in mind to consume ragi in moderation to avoid any health issues.

What is the disadvantage of ragi? ›

2. Thyroid dysfunction: Ragi contains goitrogens, substances that can interfere with thyroid function and lead to an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre) in some people. 3. Flatulence: Some people may experience flatulence or bloating after consuming ragi, particularly if they are not used to consuming a lot of fibre.

What happens if we eat ragi daily? ›

Yes, it is safe and beneficial to include ragi in your daily diet. Ragi is a nutritious whole grain rich in fibre, calcium and iron. Its gluten-free nature and low glycemic index make it suitable for regular consumption, promoting digestive health and overall well-being.

What is the difference between ragi and finger millet? ›

Finger Millet, also known as Ragi is an important millet grown extensively in various regions of India and Africa. Its scientific name is Eleusine coracana. It ranks sixth in production after wheat, rice, maize, sorghum and bajra in India.

Why we should not eat ragi at night? ›

It is important to keep in mind though, that the best time to consume ragi is in the morning, for being fiber-rich, its digestive process is more elaborate and it is usually not okay to eat ragi at night, especially for those with digestive problems and gluten allergies.

Is ragi bad for the kidneys? ›

Kidney Problems: Ragi is high in protein, and excessive protein in the body can cause issues for patients with kidney disease. So, be cautious of consuming not too much ragi millet.

When should we avoid ragi? ›

Ragi does not cause constipation. In fact, ragi is rich in dietary fiber, which helps promote healthy digestion and prevents constipation. However, excessive consumption of ragi or any other food item can lead to digestive issues like constipation in some people.

How many spoons of ragi per day? ›

This helps control high blood sugar level. Tips: a. Take 3-4 teaspoons of Ragi flour.

What is the best way to eat ragi? ›

It can be powdered and consumed as ragi flour in dishes like dosa, roti, idli, upma, paratha, halwa, barfi. In India, Karnataka is the highest producer of ragi. Good thing about ragi is that it can be consumed in its original form and doesn't need to be polished like other grains which makes it ever healthier.

Does ragi increase uric acid? ›

jawar, bajra, ragi, buckwheat – are good combinations of starch and fiber. Therefore having millet roti/ porridge/ khichri etc in high uric acid found to be a safe option. This types of Millets are used to reduce uric acid.

What does finger millet do to the body? ›

Millets are full of tannins, phytates, and phenols that help protect your cells against damage and potential diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Finger millet is an excellent source of B vitamins, which play a role in everything from brain function to healthy cell division.

Is finger millet better than rice? ›

When it comes to essential nutrients, millets are the champions. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, they outshine rice in terms of nutritional content. These whole grains offer a powerhouse of essential nutrients, making them a superior choice over any form of rice.

Is ragi better than Atta? ›

Ragi has a lower GI than wheat, meaning it releases energy more steadily and helps control blood sugar levels. "It also has slow absorbing carbohydrates making it a favourable food for diabetics and those who want to lose weight," advised Sowmya.

Is ragi bad for cholesterol? ›

Lowers high cholesterol levels:

Ragi contains amino acids lecithin and methionine which help bring down cholesterol levels by eliminating excess fat from the liver. Finger millet also contains the amino acid threonine which hinders fat formation in the liver and helps bring down the cholesterol levels.

Does ragi spike sugar? ›

Ragi has a low glycemic index (GI), which means it causes a slower and more gradual rise in blood sugar levels compared to high-GI foods. This can be beneficial for people with diabetes as it helps to prevent rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.

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