Critical appraisal of Millets - A Conceptual Study

Recently the millets have been recognised with their enormous potential and they are renovate as Nutri-cereals (shree anna). Millets are good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals like phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron etc. As millets are loaded with phytochemicals, they help in management of various life style disorders like cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus, cancer. Millets are one of the oldest staples for various civilisation across the continents. In Ayurveda literature they are explained under the Dhanya Varga as Trindhanya, Kudhanya and Kshudradhanya. General properties of millets are Ushna Veerya, Kashaya and Madhura Rasa, Katu Vipaka, Laghu and Ruksha Guna. But beyond these, some specific properties have also been mentioned in detail in Ayurveda Classics. In Ayurveda literature millets have been described as Pathya-Apathya in various diseases. Present paper encompasses various aspect of Millets described in Ayurveda and contemporary science so that the importance of millets is known to each and every person.