10 Health Benefits of Ragi

4. Rich in Antioxidants

Ragi is loaded with antioxidants which help your body to fight against the free radicals and thus slow down the ageing process. Antioxidants also help reduce the risk of Cancer considerably.

5. Good for Diabetics

Ragi is rich in Magnesium content. Magnesium lowers our body’s insulin resistance and thus helps maintain blood sugar levels.

6. Gluten free

Ragi, being gluten free, is an excellent option for people with Gluten sensitive enteropathy or celiac disease. Also, it is a widely consumed grain for those who are fitness freaks or ones who are looking to make healthy food choices.

7. Great for Digestion

Ragi is rich in both soluble and insoluble fibre. This fibre helps keep us full for longer hours, thus relieving constipation.

8. Ragi helps in relaxing the body naturally. It is beneficial for conditions like blood pressure, anxiety, depression, migraines, liver disorders, asthma and heart weakness.

9. An excellent weaning food

Because of high nutritional content, Ragi is considered as an excellent weaning food. It is the first fed cereal to infants.

10. Good for hair

Ragi helps prevent hair loss. Ragi is also said to prevent pre mature greying of hair. This is usually caused due to oxidation of tissues, and the antioxidants present in

Ragi will effectively prevent the damage to tissues, thereby reducing grey hair possibility. 

How to cook Ragi

Ragi really is so small that it cannot be polished all that much, means that it basically retains all the good stuff.

Ragi flour can be used in making chapatis, Bhakris, chilla, dosas, porridges, cakes, pancakes, parathas, cookies!!

Whole ragi can be used to make upma. Whole ragi is washed for a few seconds and excess water is removed and it is kept aside. This allows Ragi to absorb the remaining water and swell slightly.

Ragi can also be used to make malt. It is soaked for 12 hours. Then it is tied for 2-3 days, dried and the roots are removed. The grains are then dry roasted, ground to a fine powder and sieved.

A Simple Recipe:  Ragi Dosa

1 cup ragi flour

½ cup rice flour or wheat flour

½ cup fine Rawa

1/4th cup curd

Water as required

Salt to taste

Finely cut green chilli

Ginger grated

Oil 

Recipe-

1. Make a batter of all the above ingredients. Add little water if required.

2. Grease a non-stick pan well.

3. When the tawa is hot enough, pour the batter

4. Spread slowly and cook on medium heat.

5. Flip the side and cook the other side well.

6. Serve hot with mint or coriander chutney.

Summing up!

By simply looking at the health benefits of Ragi, wouldn’t it be fair to conclude it as a super food! Yes,