A review of millet types, their nutritional composition and the effects of different processing methods on...

Millets are small, seeded crops classified as major (pearl, finger, sorghum) or minor (proso, barnyard, foxtail, kodo, little) millet. Stating them as nutri-cereals, they deliver significant amounts of diverse nutrients that promote health as well as bioactive substances like antioxidants, dietary fiber, macro and micronutrients, and so on, when compared to other grains that are commonly consumed viz. rice, maize and wheat. These nutrients have an important role in the nutritious safekeeping of mankind. They are associated with numerous advantages, including drought tolerance, high yielding in limited water conditions, and they have high nutritious value. A comparative review was conducted among all the millets found in India. Here, the study on the application of processing techniques gives an insight into how nutritional values alter when the millets are being processed, and there is limited research on the loss of nutrients while processing as well as how the shelf-life or storage ability is affected. The easy cultivation process, resilient nature and high nutritional contents of these millets show a new area of research in current scenario of harsher climatic conditions. The purpose of this work is to review different types of millets, their nutritional composition and the effects of different processing methods on nutritional qualities.