These days, a lot of choices are available for you to choose your breakfast from. From cereals in umpteen flavours to different kinds of jams and spreads to put on your toast, people are always keen to experiment with their breakfast. As it is the most important meal of the day, it is important that your experimentation doesn’t leave you nutritionally unfulfilled. While trying new things and discovering which one is perfect for you is definitely good, you need to bear in mind that your breakfast needs to provide you with a whole lot of nutrients so you can bear the stress and tension that come along with mornings.

One food you can experiment with without fear of missing out on important nutrients is Ragi Flakes. Ragi, also known as finger millet is one of the most important cereal grains grown in India. Moreover, Ragi flakes are chock full of proteins, minerals, amino acids, fiber and vitamins – more so than the majority of cereal grains out there. Considering their nutritional content, it is surprising that not a lot of people have adopted ragi as their breakfast food of choice. The following list of the amazing health benefits of ragi may help to convince you that it is worth a place on your breakfast table:-

1. It is an invaluable food for diabetics

Diabetics who have problems in controlling their blood sugar will surely benefit from including ragi in their breakfast. Ragi figures low on the glycaemic index which means that it doesn’t produce a massive spike in the blood sugar level, keeping it in a normal range and protecting the patient from the effects of high sugar. The reason behind ragi’s low glycaemic property is the high amount of dietary fiber and polyphenol content that it holds inside. By reducing the digestibility of starch in the blood, they keep blood sugar in check.

2. It helps in lowering cholesterol and improving quality of blood

High cholesterol is one of the most common health issues faced by the public today and a serving of ragi flakes with your breakfast can go a long way in alleviating this terrible menace. Ragi is known to bring down the cholesterol levels by acting on the liver – it trims the excess liver fat and also checks the formation of fats in the liver. Both of these actions work together to cut down your cholesterol and reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases.

Moreover, ragi also improves the quality of blood as it is filled with iron. A regular dose of iron is required to fend off diseases like anaemia. Moreover, the iron you consume from ragi will also increase your haemoglobin count, which means that your blood will be richly oxygenated.

3. It is filled with useful amino acids

Amino acids are regulators of proteins that carry out most of the building, maintenance and repair work in the body. As such, they are incredibly important and ragi contains a whole host of these. The amino acid Isoleucine assists in the formation of bones, muscles and blood while Valine helps in repair of tissues. An uncommon amino acid not found in other cereals but present in ragi is Methionine which helps in trimming fat from the body and provides the body with the valuable mineral sulphur.

4. It helps in weight loss

People who are watching their weight will love to have ragi included in their breakfast. It is low on calories, high on fiber, filled with proteins, has very little fat content, gives you loads of energy and satiates your appetite (so you don’t overeat). In short, it is a perfect breakfast choice for weight watchers.

5. It soothes and calms your nerves

In the frenzied chaos of mornings, ragi can be your source of calm and peace. The grain has a naturally relaxing effect on the body due to the presence of the amino acid Tryptophan. Moreover, its effect can also be used to help in treating depression, anxiety, insomnia etc.

To learn more about the amazing health benefits of ragi flakes, click here.