ISBN: 978-93-94174-14-6

Health Benefits of Millets: A Review of their Role in Human Health and Disease Prevention

¹Sr Assistant Professor (Specialization Food Science & Nutrition, Institute of Home Science, University of Kashmir, India

²Research Scholar, (Food Science and Nutrition), Institute of Home Science, University of Kashmir, India

Millets are small-seeded cereal grains belonging to the family Poaceae. This review examines the health benefits of millets, including proso millet, finger millet, pearl millet, and sorghum, focusing on their potential roles in cardiovascular health, diabetes management, cancer prevention, celiac disease, digestive health, obesity prevention, and nutritional well-being. A total of 20relevant research articles and reports were reviewed, covering the health effects of different millet. The findings indicate that millets improve plasma lipid levels, regulate blood pressure, and possess anticancer properties through compounds like linoleic acid and polyphenols. Their gluten-free nature makes them suitable for individuals with celiac disease, while their high dietary fibre content and low glycemic index contribute to blood glucose management, digestive health, and weight management. Millets also demonstrate significant nutritional and food-security importance, supporting growth and development. Overall, the reviewed evidence supports the importance of millets as health-promoting and nutritionally valuable grains with considerable nutraceutical potential, providing a strong basis for their greater inclusion in diets and for further investigation of their health benefits.

*Corresponding author; e-mail: nisargazala@gmail.com

Cite this Chapter: Gazala Nisar and Haika Farooq, 2026. Health Benefits of Millets: A Review of their Role in Human Health and Disease Prevention. In: M. Prakash and N. Karmegam (Eds.), Microbial Technology for Biomedical and Environmental Applications. Excellent Publishers, India. pp. 115-120. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/978-93-94174-14-6_10