Millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

People have benefited from the nutritional properties of millet for thousands of years. The Old Testament of the Bible mentions it, as do texts from ancient Greece and Rome.

Millet grows extremely quickly and matures in almost half the time required for rice and wheat. This makes it the ideal crop, contributing to its rapid spread across Asia and into Europe.

Millet is now the sixth most important cereal grain in the world.

In the contemporary United States, millet is often used to feed pets, livestock, and birds, but it is growing in consumer popularity. This is because it is gluten free and a good source of protein, fiber, micronutrients. It also provides multiple benefits to physical and mental health, requires few inputs to grow, and is resistant to drought.

Helping the digestive system
Supporting the cardiovascular system
Improving mood
Reducing the risk of diabetes
Managing obesity
Reducing oxidative stress
Suppressing cancer cell growth
Promoting wound healing
Maintaining bone health
Supporting antifungal and antimicrobial activity

The appropriate dose of millet for use as treatment depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for millet. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

Although millet contains many vital nutrients, it also contains compounds called antinutrients. These interfere with the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Different kinds of millet have different levels of these compounds.

Pearl millet contains phytates, which make it harder for the body to absorb nutrients, and goitrogenic polyphenols.

Finger millet also has antinutritional factors that include tannins, protease inhibitors, oxalates, and phytate.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking millet if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.