10 Reasons Why Pregnant Women Should Add Millets To Their Diet

In recent times, millets have become a healthy and nutritious food option, making them an ideal addition to a weight-loss diet. These little grains have been a part of many traditional diets around the world for generations and are known for their amazing health advantages and great nutritional content. But did you know that millets like Jowar (sorghum) and Foxtail can be beneficial for expecting mothers too?

During the pregnancy stage, a woman’s diet should be well-balanced and full of nutrients. Therefore, it is important to add millet to an expecting mother’s meal.

Benefits of Millets During Pregnancy:

1. High in essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, and other vitamins, millets improve digestion and prevent acid reflux by promoting smooth bowel motions.
2. Additionally, these small grains have a low glycemic index which makes them suitable for the diabetic.
3. These millets are alkaline, thus they can help balance stomach acid and reduce acidity issues in expecting mothers.
4. For pregnant women who are too health conscious, these millets are gluten-free and are less likely to cause digestive problems like bloating, diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, etc.
5. Pregnant women are often advised to eat a diet that is rich in folic acid and iron. Folic acid can help prevent brain and spine abnormalities at birth, while iron helps to prevent anemia. Rich in both folic acid and iron, millets are one of the healthiest food items for them.
6. Millets during pregnancy are nutrition-dense and provide numerous health benefits. They’re high in fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
7. Constipation and other digestive problems are common during pregnancy and millet being a good source of fibre can help overcome these issues.
8. Jowar contains zinc and copper, which can reduce the risk of pregnancy issues like hypertension, preterm birth, and miscarriages.
9. Also, Jowar helps balance the cholesterol levels in the blood, which increases due to less physical activity and high blood pressure during pregnancy.
10. Millets can also help in reducing cardiovascular problems.

Millets are easy to prepare and can be served during breakfast, as salads, soups, or snacks. These can be a healthy replacement for traditional wheat roti and rice.