Health care

Health benefits of Ragi that you can’t ignore

September 21, 20209 min read

The interest in a lot of ancient grains is back these days. Whole grains like brown rice, barley, amaranth, and ragi were a very common part of the traditional diet before the 1950s. But, since then, rice is like the king of all grains and has completely taken over! But, in this article, we are talking about some wonderful health benefits of ragi.

It is among some of the healthiest whole grains. But what is different and special about whole grains? A whole grain is packed with all three kernel parts, including bran, germ, and endosperm. On the other hand, refined grains are left with the only endosperm after processing. And that’s why whole grains are very healthy, as they are packed with fiber-dense bran and various essential nutrients.

Ragi or millet is one such super grain, making a comeback to our dining tables. The hard crop usually grows better in high altitudes and can easily withstand harsh weather conditions. Properly known as other names like Finger Millet and Nachni, ragi is originated from Africa and is cultivated in countries like Ethiopia and Uganda for a long time. Let’s move further to discuss some amazing health benefits of ragi.

Ragi is the powerhouse of calcium

Calcium is a very important nutrient for our bodies. Almost all the cells in the body need calcium in one way or another. Some important areas where calcium is a must are the nervous system, heart, muscles, and bone. Our bones, especially the large bones, store calcium to provide enough support to our body. With the advancement of age, the absorption of calcium from our body keeps reducing, and hence the body takes more and more calcium from bones. And that’s why doctors recommend more calcium-rich foods to older people!

And, ragi contains higher calcium than any other cereal, and it is among a very few vegan sources of calcium. According to the National Institute of Nutrition in India, 100 grams of Ragi is packed with 344 mg of calcium. If you can add this calcium-rich cereal to your diet, you can protect yourself from osteoporosis problems. Not only for older people, but there are also numerous health benefits of ragi, even for children! If you add enough calcium to your children’s diet, they will grow with stronger bones and teeth.

Must Read: Coconut Oil Uses for Your skin, Hair, Body

Ragi is rich in healthy fibers

Dietary fiber plays various critical roles in the body. Fiber ensures that the sugar you take from your meals is properly absorbed into your bloodstream. When you include fiber-rich foods in your diet, your body absorbs the sugar from them slowly and steadily, and your body’s blood glucose level doesn’t elevate too quickly. Fiber also improves your bowel movement. Fiber-rich food moves faster through your intestine, and that’s why it tells you that you are full, much quicker than any other food.

Ragi has more healthy fiber than any other food like rice or other grains. If you are struggling with digestive troubles, ragi can make your life considerably easy. As mentioned above, fiber helps you to feel fuller in no time; having ragi in your diet will help you avoid overeating as well – surely an amazing habit, especially for diabetic and obese people.

Ragi is packed with amino acids

It is one of the most important health benefits of ragi. Amino acids are a group of important organic compounds with specific formation traits. Amino acids are known as “building blocks” of protein in both animals as well as plants. They play a critical “foundational” role and are responsible for various chemical reactions in your body.

There are different amino acids, including essential amino acids, non-essential amino acids, and conditional amino acids. Unlike non-essential and conditional amino acids, your body is unable to produce essential amino acids. And hence, it must obtain them from external sources like food or supplement.

Ragi is a very good source of amino acids like lecithin and methionine, known for reducing your body’s cholesterol levels. They help liver in getting rid of extra body fat. Ragi also contains tryptophan – another important amino acid known for controlling excessive appetite.

One of the very few gluten-free grains

Talking about the health benefits of ragi, here is another extraordinary benefit. Gluten is a type of protein commonly found in barley, rye, wheat, triticale, etc. Gluten maintains the shape of food items like bread, pasta, and various cereals, etc.

Gluten is also a common compound of many cosmetic products, such as lip balm, glue on the back of envelopes and stamps, etc. Excessive intake of gluten can be associated with various health risks, and it can be even more harmful to people having celiac disease. And they have to follow a diet free from gluten. A person with celiac disease must avoid gluten-rich foods like beer, bread, pasta, French fries, processed cereals, and processed meats.

What’s the solution for them then? They can add ragi in their diets without any hesitation, as unlike most of the other cereals, ragi contains zero gluten. Meaning, it can be a blessing for people having celiac disease.

Ragi battles anemia

Anemia is a condition in which a person lacks the number of healthy red blood cells. RBCs’ oxygen-carrying capacity is reduced, and if you are anemic, you may feel weak and tired all day.

Depending on the causative factors, anemia can be both temporary and long-term and mild and severe. There are different causes of anemia, including improper production of red blood cells, acute or chronic bleeding, and some autoimmune diseases, destroying your body’s red cells.

The management and treatment of anemia also depend on the causative factor and severity. Diet is an important part of management, and due to the mind-blowing health benefits of ragi, it can be one of the healthiest diet options for anemic people. Ragi is a great source of natural oil, and hence, can be a blessing for anemic patients, especially those with low Hb levels. Once the ragi is sprouted, its vitamin C content increases and improves your bloodstream’s iron-absorption capacity. Recipes like ragi dosas and ragi balls with different types of vegetables can be a very healthy and anemia-fighting diet, especially if you have iron-deficiency anemia.

Ragi reverts skin aging

The premature aging syndrome, also called “progeria,” is classified into two rare conditions: Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome and Werner Syndrome. In both conditions, your skin suffers from the symptoms of premature aging like atrophy of the skin, loss of cutaneous fat, loss of hair, hair greying, repeated and prolonged ulceration, defective pigmentation, etc. These are normal conditions associated with normal aging, but they are accelerated in premature aging. And hence, they are not good for your health at all.

There are certain foods and natural skin remedies that can control skin aging to a decent extent. And, ragi can be a wonderful option to maintain youthful and young skin. Like Lysine and methionine, amino acids, combined with other health benefits of ragi, can reduce sagginess and wrinkles from your skin. Ragi is also one of the rare natural sources of Vitamin D, which carries calcium, and can maintain your skin’s vitality, among other beneficial functions.

Ragi is an excellent natural antidepressant

Depression, anxiety, and insomnia, etc. are very closely related to each other. Many people suffer from mild to severe depression due to a hectic life schedule, severely competitive working environment, financial crisis, etc. And depression is the sole cause of many problems like anxiety, insomnia, obesity, diabetes, heart attacks, drug or alcohol addiction, and even suicides.

Untreated clinical depression can be even more dangerous, as it severely affects your mood, thoughts, behavior, etc. There are, of course, many ways to manage and treat depression, but adjusting eating habits can play a critical role in dealing with depression.

Among other health benefits of ragi, it can also be associated with controlling depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Amino acid therapy has been a very effective alternative to prescription antidepressants in countries like the U.S, U.K, and Canada. Why? Because amino acids are known for synthesizing neurotransmitters! They may act as a buffer for your brain cells and start repairing them, helping you feel better.

And hence, doctors advise obtaining amino acids from protein-rich foods to patients suffering from depression. And, ragi is an excellent natural antidepressant due to the presence of amino acids. If you are suffering from symptoms of depression, you can try adding ragi in your diet. It is also a boon for those who are having regular migraine attacks.

In short, ragi is no short of a miraculous grain. It can be a superb alternative to traditional, gluten-rich grains. Hopefully, you are now aware of how healthy a diet ragi can be. You can consider adding this to your diet in a lot of ways. It is so versatile and can be used in cookies, cakes, and multigrain chapatis, etc. Give it a shot. We guarantee you will love it!