Proso millet is a warm season grass with a growing season of 60–100 days. It is a highly nutritious cereal grain used for human consumption, bird seed, and/or ethanol production. Unique characteristics, such as drought and heat tolerance, make proso millet a promising alternative cash crop for the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region of the United States. Development of proso millet varieties adapted to dryland farming regions of the PNW could give growers a much-needed option for diversifying their predominantly wheat-based cropping systems. In this review, the agronomic characteristics of proso millet are discussed, with emphasis on growth habits and environmental requirements, place in prevailing crop rotations in the PNW, and nutritional and health benefits. The genetics of proso millet and the genomic resources available for breeding adapted varieties are also discussed. Last, challenges and opportunities of proso millet cultivation in the PNW are explored, including the potential for entering novel and regional markets.
Regional names:
Tamil-pani varagu
Kannada-baragu
Telugu-variga
Hindi-chena
BENEFITS:
Protect Liver Health
Proso millet contains dietary proteins that can have a natural ability to protect the liver. Research conducted also suggest that proso millet protein can be considered as a preventive food for liver injury.
Regulate Cholesterol metabolism
Research has shown that dietary proso millet protein is linked to elevate the HDL cholesterol levels in the plasma. Considering the activity of HDL against the formation of fat deposits in arteries, proso millets can be useful as a food that can regulate cholesterol metabolism in the body
Anticancer Activity
Diet plays a very important role in cancer both positively and negatively. A healthy diet with good amounts of fruits, vegetables, fibre and less processed meats, fried foods and soda may help to reduce the risk of cancer. Proso millets are a fibre and nutrients rich food that can help to fight against cancer. Research conducted had shown that proso millet extracts had exhibited anti-proliferative properties against MDA human breast cells and human hepG2 liver cancer cells when tested in-vitro (6).
Control Obesity
Out of several factors that were known to cause obesity, food habits play a major role. Including diet with Whole grains such as proso millets can be beneficial in weight management and other health conditions.
Prevents premature aging
According to research, foods high in antioxidants, such as Proso millet, may delay the onset of premature aging. Antioxidants in proso millet can help repair cellular damage caused by free radicals in the body. Furthermore, antioxidants protect us against heart disease, cancer, depression, and anxiety.
Good for pregnant women
Proso millet contains nutrients such as manganese, iron, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorous, essential nutrients for women during pregnancy. It’s also high in protein, necessary for a baby’s healthy development.The most essential nutrient in proso millet is folate (vitamin B9), which helps the body form healthy red blood cells, DNA, and new cells during pregnancy.
Beneficial for nervous system
Proso millet contains high amount of lecithin. Lecithin is a compound that indirectly affects the nervous system and keeps it functioning smoothly. Proso millet is also known to strengthen nervous system.
Useful for strengthening bones
Proso millet contains high amounts of calcium which is essential for bone growth and maintenance. It actually contains one of the most absorbable sources of calcium found among food stuffs. This is especially useful for young children whose bones are in the growing phase and need plenty of calcium and for old people for whom large amounts of calcium are required for proper bone maintenance.
Help prevent gall stones
Millets are also known to prevent the formation of gallstones. This is because of the high content of insoluble fibre present in them which eradicates the possibility of excessive secretion of bile which is one major cause for gall stones
High in niacin
Niacin plays a role in a variety of physiological processes, including food energy production, amino acid metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism. It’s also necessary for the nervous system and skin to work properly when you take proso millet in your food.