Ragi (Finger Millet) is a widely growing annual plant found most abundantly in. Karnataka is the largest producer of this crop in India with 58% share in the country’s annual production. Benefits of ragi are numerous and it is a highly nutritious cereal loaded with calcium, proteins, iron and other minerals. It is rich in fiber and contains very less unsaturated fat that makes it a perfect food for weight loss.
Ragi’s seed coat is richer in dietary fibre as compared to grains such as barley, rice, maize and wheat. For example, it has 40 times the phenolic content of rice and 5 times that of wheat. Among the millets, it is comparable to foxtail millet, and second only to kodo millet. Excellent grain for reducing cholesterol and helps in weight loss.
It is also rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent excessive oxidation, which could otherwise cause cancer and ageing because of cell damage.