The G(r)ains of Good Health

Good health is a key to happiness as it is human nature to feel vulnerable,irritable and anxious when we fall ill.I've often heard from elders that eating good food is essential to maintain good health (That was because of the junk food we all love to have !) but I always thought that rice and wheat were the best.

All of us who watched 'Popeye'  would have wanted to eat Spinach because of the instantaneous strength it gave him to defeat Bluto,which is good in a way cause most of us would have never had it otherwise.

Likewise,there are some grains which are high in nutrition but not so publicised hence lesser known.

I first came across the word  'Siru Thaniyangal' (Small Grains) in a television show where the presenter was saying that until a few decades ago,people used to include this regularly in their diet which kept them fit.This made me search about Millets (as it is called in English) and I  came across some amazing facts about them posted below.

NAME IN ENGLISH	NAME IN TAMIL
PEARL MILLET	KAMBHU
FINGER MILLET	KELVERAGU
FOXTAIL MILLET	THENAI
PROSO MILLET	PANIVARAGU
KODO MILLET	VARAGU
LITTLE MILLET	SAMAI
BARNYARD MILLET	KUTHIRAIVAALI

Pearl Millet - This is known as Bajra in Hindi and is used for making roti (flatbread)  in North India.It has high Iron content and is rich in Calcium,Protien,Iron and Magnesium also.

Finger Millet - Ragi can be consumed by people belonging to all age groups.It is rich in Iron,Phosphorous and Copper.It helps to strengten the bones and helps to prevent heart diseases.

Foxtail Millet -  An extremely nutritious cereal,high in dietary fibre,carbohydrates and minerals.It is good for diabetic patients to help control blood sugar.

Proso Millet - This millet has high anti - oxidant content and is known to strengthen the nervous system.The calcium content helps in strengthening the bones.

Kodo Millet - It is an excellent fibre sourced contains high amounts of polyphenols,an antioxidant compound.

Little Millet -This is full of nutrients and B vitamins. Samai rice was domesticated in India and is suitable for people belonging to all age groups.

Barnyard Millet - It has high fibre content and is rich in Phosphorous too.Phosphorous is essential for cell building and it's proper functioning.

A Quote from the Thirukural,which explores every facet of life:

மிகினும் குறையினும் நோய்செய்யும் நூலோர்
வளிமுதலா எண்ணிய மூன்று 

If (food and work are either) excessive or deficient, the three things enumerated by (medical) writers, flatulence, biliousness, and phlegm, will cause (one) disease.