article · Discover Sustainability
Millets are resilient grains capable of thriving in water-scarce regions, making them valuable for sustainable agriculture and global food security. Despite offering nutritional benefits comparable to common staples such as rice, wheat, and maize, they remain underutilised. Millets generally contain 7 to 12 percent protein, 2 to 5 percent fat, 65 to 75 percent carbohydrates, and 15 to 20 percent dietary fibre, along with iron, magnesium, calcium, vitamins, and antioxidants. These nutritional attributes support the prevention and management of various health conditions. Furthermore, food processing methods such as soaking, decortication, malting, milling, and fermentation directly affect the functional properties, bioactive compounds, and nutrient profiles of millets. Broadening the integration of these grains into everyday diets offers clear advantages for both human nutrition and environmental sustainability.
As climate pressures increase water scarcity, understanding drought-tolerant food crops becomes vital for maintaining global food supplies. Millets provide essential nutrients, minerals, and dietary fibre that support human health while requiring fewer water resources than major staple cereals. Recognizing how traditional and modern processing techniques alter their nutritional value helps ensure these crops are prepared effectively to deliver maximum health benefits.
The findings inform food scientists, food technologists, and processing enterprises seeking to develop nutritious, millet-based foods. Processing methods such as fermentation, malting, and milling can be tailored to preserve bioactive compounds and enhance functional properties. Because this work is a review of existing evidence, applied product formulation and testing would be required before bringing new millet-derived consumer food products or ingredients to market.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Recently, there has been a growing interest in millets due to their exceptional nutritional benefits and potential for enhancing global food security. Due to their ability to withstand water-scarce regions, these resilient grains have attracted the interest of food scientists, technologists, and nutritionists as they make significant contributions to global food security and offer potential health benefits. Despite sharing comparable nutritional advantages with commonly consumed staple food crops such as rice, wheat, and maize, millets are not widely utilized. They are essential for the prevention and management of many health issues because of their high dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, calcium, phytochemical, and antioxidant activity. The proximate composition of millets is approximately 7–12% protein, 2–5% fat, 65–75% carbohydrates, and 15–20% dietary fibres. Additionally, they provide a wide range of vital phytonutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, and bioactive compounds. It is important to note that the nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, and functional properties of millets are influenced by food processing methods, including soaking, decortication, malting, milling, and fermentation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the crucial role of millets in promoting sustainable agriculture, and examines the impact of processing methods on their nutrient content. By exploring the comprehensive health benefits and nutritional advantages of these grains, this study emphasizes the significance of integrating millets into global diets for a healthier and more sustainable future.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1007/s43621-026-04469-y
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
