What are Millets?

Millet is a cereal grain obtained from the grass family Poaceae. It is most commonly consumed in the African and Asian regions. The main reason behind its growing popularity is its high protein, fibre, and antioxidant content.

Millets are commonly used to make flours, cereals, bread, and other baked goods. There are several varieties throughout the world, including pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), and sorghum (jowar). 

Millet is a rich source of niacin, (vitamin B3). Niacin has various health benefits including lowering your cholesterol levels and improving heart health. It is crucial for your body’s overall functioning and manages more than 400 enzyme reactions in the body. 

The darker varieties of millet usually contain a natural pigment called beta-carotene. It is a natural antioxidant that converts into vitamin A in the body and benefits your eye and skin health. It also improves your immune function and prevents free radical damage in the body. 

Millet provides more amino acids than most other grains. It is also rich in phenolic compounds such as ferulic acid and catechins, which have antioxidant properties and help your body fight against oxidative stress caused by harmful free radicals.

Health Benefits of Millet Cookies

Cookies can be a great way of adding millets to your daily diet. They can be a healthy any-time snack to help control your hunger pangs and also to treat your taste buds. Here are some of the major benefits of millets.

1. May Help Control Blood Sugar Levels

Millet is an abundant source of fibre and has a low glycaemic index, meaning it won’t cause a considerable spike in your blood sugar levels after consumption. This makes millets a great option for diabetics. Millet is high in complex carbohydrates which take longer to digest and thus keep you satiated, preventing the need for frequent snacking. Millets lower your calorie intake and thus are favourable for weight loss. 

2. May Help Lower Cholesterol Levels

The soluble fibre in millets can help reduce the LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels in your blood. High LDL levels can increase the total cholesterol in your blood, leading to a higher risk of conditions such as atherosclerosis. Soluble fibre bulks up inside your stomach and traps fat, lowering the absorption of cholesterol in your blood. Therefore, regular consumption of millets can lower the risk of heart diseases.

3. Can be a Gluten-Free Alternative

Millet, unlike most grains, is gluten-free and is ideal for people with coeliac disease or for those who are following a gluten-free diet. Gluten is a naturally occurring protein that can trigger serious digestive distress symptoms such as diarrhoea in people with gluten intolerance or coeliac disease.

The Best Healthy Cookies in India

There are multiple varieties of millet cookies available in the market these days. Some of them include:

1. Diabliss Millet Cookies

These cookies are suitable for diabetics and pre-diabetics due to their low glycaemic index (GI) score of 20. They are free from cholesterol or trans-fat and make an excellent snack for fitness enthusiasts. These cookies contain moringa leaf extract, which is packed with antioxidants. Antioxidants help your body fight cell damage, boost your immune system, and aid in healthy weight management. Chia seeds present in these cookies are not only rich in vitamins and minerals, they are also a rich source of fibre and omega-3 fatty acids, which promote better heart health and may improve your blood sugar levels.

2. Diabliss Millet Cookies with Chia Seeds

These cookies have a low glycaemic index, and are therefore, a perfect snack for diabetics and those who are health-conscious. The chia seeds in them give these cookies a crunchy and lip-smacking taste along with the goodness of vitamins and other nutrients. They are beneficial in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and in lowering your cholesterol levels.

3. Diabliss Cookies Combo

This combo pack consists of millet cookies, millet cookies with moringa leaf and millet cookies with chia seeds. These cookies have a delicious taste with a crunchy texture. It comes along with a multitude of benefits such as blood sugar management, regulating your body weight and much more. Being low on the glycaemic index these cookies make a great snack for diabetics.

Tips to Make and Eat Healthy Cookies

You can make and eat cookies at home. A few tips to make your cookies the healthiest of all are:

• Swap the all-purpose flour for whole wheat, millet or other healthy flours.
• Add in some seeds (chia seeds, flax seeds, etc.) and nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.).
• Opt for bananas instead of eggs in the cookie dough, if you are on a vegan diet.
• Replace refined white sugar with other options such as coconut sugar.
• You can also completely avoid refined sugar and opt for other natural options such as honey.
• Also, remember to consume the cookies in moderation in order to control your calorie intake.