7 Potential Health Benefits Of Bajra Flour

Bajra, commonly referred to as ‘pearl millet’ (Pennisetum typhoies), has been a prominent coarse millet grain cultivated in Africa and the Indian subcontinent since ancient times.

With its origins believed to trace back around 4500 years ago in the Sahel zone of northern Mali, this resilient grain found its way to India nearly 3000 years back and swiftly spread across southern regions. Archaeological findings at sites like Hallur in Karnataka, Rangpur, and Rojdi in Gujarat have unearthed traces of bajra.

Renowned as the staple food for the economically deprived, bajra serves not only humans but also as livestock feed. Flourishing in drylands with minimal rainfall and adverse conditions like low soil fertility, high salinity, and extreme temperatures, bajra has become a vital crop.

Bajra thrives where other cereal crops like wheat or maize struggle to grow, making it prevalent in states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Known by various names across India such as Kambu (Tamil), Sajjalu (Telugu), Kambam (Malayalam), Sajje (Kannada), and Bajri (Rajasthani, Gujarati, and Marathi), the grain displays diverse colors—from white, pale yellow, brown, to grey, slate blue, or purple. With the largest kernel among various millet varieties, including Jowar, bajra stands out in its nutritional diversity.

# Provides energy to body

Bajra flour is good source of energy because of high calorie value that is provides. Further, it is normally cooked with ghee which further adds calorific value to the food.

# Promotes heart health

Bajra flour contains magnesium and potassium. These are important nutrients as it promotes health in a number of ways. Potassium dilates blood vessels which regulates the flow of blood in the body and prevents high blood pressure. It is also helpful in reducing the LDL cholesterol levels, diabetes, LDL.

# Weight reduction

By having more fiber component, bajra provides greater satiety as it slows down digestion. You do not feel like eating every now and then. This reduces intake of food which translates to reduction in weight naturally.

# Preventing cancer

By improving the digestive and excretory system of body, it is able to remove the toxins with ease, thereby preventing the occurrence of cancers of stomach, intestine and colon. Richness in fiber content and other nutrients contributes to this remedy.

# Controls blood sugar

Presence of magnesium improves the insulin response by reducing its resistance. This works to cancel out high sugar levels in blood. Also, due to rich fiber content and consequent slowing down of process of digestion, these is less sugar level in the blood. This is because the slow digestible starch takes longer to convert to sugar when there is high fiber level in diet.

# Good for gut health

Due to presence of insoluble fiber, it helps in bowel cleansing, improve gut health and prevent constipation. It is also responsible for attaining satiety which reduce hunger pangs and gives more time between the meals for body to remove toxins.

# Prevents Anaemia

Anaemia is a condition in which there is decline in hemoglobin level in blood. Hemoglobin is essential for carriage of oxygen from one part of body to another. In order to improve the hemoglobin levels in blood, it is suggested to increase the intake of iron in diet. Bajra is a good source of iron, and therefore, it is good in preventing anemia.