Grain Saturday: Cereals, Pseudo Grains, Millets

Let's compare three types of Grain today. Cereals, Pseudo grains, and Millets. 

We grew more than 2 billion tons of Cereal (700 gms per person/day!) last year, more than half of which was Corn- 2/3rd of which was either used for ethanol or animal feed! What a shame. Cereals require more water to grow, are harder to digest, and tend to have simpler carbohydrates when compared to Pseudocereals and Millets, the other grains. They are hardy, grow in tough conditions, use way less water, and are packed with minerals, vitamins, and other phytonutrients.

Of course, we can't do without cereals. But mix it up. Of the 21 weekly meals of breakfast, lunch & dinner, make way for Pseudo grains (Quinoa, Amaranth, Buckwheat) and Millets (Sorghum, Finger Millet, foxtail, etc.). Your body will thank you. That's more than a grain of truth!

Brown Rice 'infusion' for fever or diarrhea

Ayurveda recommends brown rice water for mild fever or diarrhea. It hydrates & nourishes, reduces diarrhea, and provides easy-to-digest energy. Cook 1 part brown rice with ten parts of water until rice is soft. Strain the water, add a pinch of salt and drink it warm all day.

Barley: Gut, heart, diabetes, this grain does it all

Barley truly qualifies as a superhero grain. Rich in Dietary Fiber for gut health, a good source of Lignan to reduce inflammation, rich in Beta Glucan to lower LDL and boost heart health, rich in Manganese, which aids insulin production. Make barley a pantry staple.

Oats feed the good bacteria in your gut

It is difficult to exaggerate the goodness of Oats in gut health. Very simply, oats have prebiotic fibers, one of which is Beta Glucan. These are used as food by the trillions of microbes in our gut to create the probiotic environment. They improve gut bacteria health, reduce LDL cholesterol, and improve blood sugar control.

Wholegrains: just 1 oz can make your heart grateful!

A 14-year Harvard study of 100,000 people showed that those who ate whole grains were more protected from heart disease. Just 1 oz of whole grains a day can reduce risk by 5%. The daily recommended is three to five servings.

Whole Grains on demand. Cook & freeze ahead

Healthy whole grains should be part of daily diets. However, their longer cook times make it a chore. A tip: cook ahead and batch-freeze a variety of whole grains. Healthy, delicious meals anytime you desire. And the nutrition is intact.