Millet porridge useful properties, millet in milk and water

The popular golden cereal is obtained from millet. This plant belongs to the first cereals "tamed" by man. On the territory of modern Russia, cereal grew in the third century BC. And the birthplace of millet is China and Mongolia. In China, by the way, they continue to grow it in large quantities today, mainly sending it for export.

Due to its special heat loving nature, culture grows only in hot regions (the climate of the southern regions of Russia is ideally suited to it). This feature formed the basis for its popularization in African countries. There, millet is an essential part of the diet of the local population.

Product Features

In Russian cooking millet porridge has been present for several centuries. Cereal was highly valued in Russia, called the "golden grain", not only because of color, but also because the area of ​​its crops was limited, significantly inferior to wheat. The use of millet porridge in milk was well known to a simple worker. Absolutely assimilating, this cereal provided a long-lasting feeling of satiety, and helped to restore strength.

However, the cereal did not go further than the southern regions of Russia. And not because climatic conditions did not allow. The point is in its features, which almost completely excluded its use in the culinary of the northern regions. And in the modern kitchen, the “golden grains” is only a limited place.

The reason for this is several myths that have developed about millet porridge.

• Krupa is bitter. A common opinion is based on a violation of the rules for its storage. Millet contains a huge amount of fatty acids. How beneficial they are for the body is known. They participate in metabolic processes, provide youth of tissues, skin. A person can get these acids only from food, and millet porridge becomes an excellent source of them. However, in case of violation of storage conditions or long-term storage, the fats in the grains are oxidized, the cereal rancid. It is impossible to use this, it really becomes unpleasant in taste and loses its benefit.
• Impossible to remove bitterness. Another erroneous opinion. If the shelf life of the cereal does not come out, the bitterness can easily be removed by proper washing. It is carried out in three stages. First, the grains are rinsed from dust, washing in several waters. Then washed in hot water. For fresh millet this is enough, but for a little lying - not. This should be put in a sieve and pour boiling water. He will wash off the greasy rancid film, and the cereal will again taste perfect.
• There are few useful substances in cereals. The beneficial properties of millet porridge largely depend on the technique of grain processing. The most useful is dranets. It is distinguished by the dark, brown color that the fruit shells form. During production, only their upper part is removed, and the main part, including the maximum fiber, is stored on the nuclei. Dranets is especially capricious in storage, rancid faster than other types of cereals. It is impossible to remove the bitterness, because when washed, rancid fats remain on the kernels. The choice of basker should be based only on its freshness. Then you can get the maximum benefit from millet porridge. There is less fiber in polished grains, however, other useful components are enough, so you can and should use it in a healthy diet.
• Millet porridge is suitable only for baby food.. Again wrong judgment. In Russia, peasants massively used it, knowing about the ability of the cereal to quickly regain strength. The reason for this is the ease with which cereal is absorbed in the body. It can be used by children and people with gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders. For an adult, healthy person, millet porridge will become a useful and easily accessible source of energy, especially when engaged in heavy physical labor.

Selection and storage

Based on the above facts, several recommendations for the selection and storage of cereals can be given.

• Buy only fresh produce. The closer the production date, the better.
• Choose plastic packaging. In cardboard, it is possible to affect the grain of moisture, and this is detrimental to it. Sealed polyethylene repeatedly extends the shelf life of the product.
• Buy Dranetz for diet food. It is distinguished by a rough dark brown surface. Light yellow kernels are cleared of rough shells, they are better suited for baby food. If the grain is white, it is lying and may be bitter.
• Do not buy cereals for future use. Long-term storage impairs its taste and dietary qualities.
• Keep in the cold. An ideal place to store millet groats is a refrigerator. In it, it should be in sealed packaging, for example, a glass jar with a tight lid.

Calorie content and nutritional value

Millet porridge benefits and harm for the elderly

The composition of cereals is optimal for dietary nutrition. Millet is rich in protein, which is up to 11% of its weight. By this criterion, it is equivalent to wheat, and by the presence of B vitamins it is ahead of other cereals. Especially a lot of folic acid in it, so it is recommended to include it in the diet for expectant mothers and elderly people. The usefulness of cereal is greater if cooked in water.

The ability to be easily absorbed by the body makes millet porridge an ideal choice for baby food, the recovery period after an illness, and a diet during a period of diseases, especially the gastrointestinal tract.

In particular, millet porridge is useful for people with the following problems.

• Heart, vascular disease. In cereals, a huge amount of potassium, magnesium, calcium. In combination with vitamins of groups B and PP, it becomes a storehouse of valuable substances to support the cardiovascular system.
• Gastrointestinal diseases. Croup is one of the lightest products that do not burden the intestinal tract. Millet porridge with pumpkin. Nutritionists call such cereals pink for their attractive color. And it is recommended to use for bowel diseases.
• Excess weight. A unique property of millet groats is the prevention of fat deposition. The product has a lipotropic effect, that is, it removes excess bad fat from the body. This not only stimulates the normalization of weight, but also prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.

The use of cereals is necessary in the children's diet. It contains phosphorus - the most important component of bone tissue, which is part of the bones, teeth, hair. And copper, which gives muscle tissue elasticity.

Terms of use

How to eat millet porridge? According to nutritionists, the best combination for this product is milk with low fat content. It is added to the grits half-boiled on water and steamed under a lid. The porridge will turn out to be especially tasty if it is boiled in water on a stove, and after adding milk, put in the oven for 1 hour.

Perfectly combines the finished product with healthy dried fruits, nuts. You can add raisins, dried apricots to the porridge, flavor it with sesame seeds and flaxseeds, you can put fresh berries, pieces of fruit. Of course, the product will be tasty and with meat, however, the dish should be prepared on water, with a minimum amount of salt.

The benefits and harms of millet porridge are ambiguous concepts. Despite many myths, this product has high nutritional value, is useful for people with and without illnesses, and is especially important in children's diets. Use it with pleasure and benefit to the body!