While millet is technically a seed, its properties are most similar to a whole grain. If you find yourself getting tired of eating brown rice and oatmeal every day, you may want to add this ancient grain to your diet for some variety. Keep reading to learn why millet is a great addition to your diet. This naturally gluten-free grain looks similar to a corn kernel and is relatively mild in flavor with slight notes of sweet, corn-like flavor. As for texture, it has the fluffiness of couscous and is a bit denser than quinoa. Since it doesn’t alter the flavor of most recipes, millet is really versatile and is easy to incorporate into a variety of recipes. Not to mention, it’s one of the more affordable grains (more on that below) if you’re looking for wallet-friendly options to add to your meal plan. In a recent review1 published in Frontiers in Nutrition, researchers detected a link between eating millet and higher levels of hemoglobin, the iron-rich protein that carries oxygen throughout the body. They found that regularly eating millet may reduce iron-deficiency anemia, which is responsible for 50% of anemia cases worldwide2. Compared to other grains, millet is also a relatively low-glycemic food, and past research3 has even noted it could be a helpful food for supporting healthy blood sugar levels. It has environmental benefits, too. Millet is known to have a low carbon footprint because it doesn’t need much water and grows well at high temperatures. Although different in some ways, millet and quinoa have quite a few similarities, too. They’re both naturally gluten-free and are considered a whole grain. And since both quinoa and millet have prebiotic properties, they’re great for supporting good gut health.
