Benefits of millets-based food underscored

Visakhapatnam: An expo was inaugurated here on Tuesday to create awareness among the people about the advantages of consuming millets-based food.

The food expo was held under the aegis of Paryavarana Margadarsi Vaisakhi, Bapuji Rural Enlightenment and Development Society, along with Green Soldiers, to makr the World Environmental Health Day.

The volunteers of these organisations prepared multiple varieties of delicacies, snacks, cookies and sweets by using millets such as barnyard (Udhalu), sorghum (jonna), pearl (sajja), finger (ragi), and foxtail (korra).

Speaking to the media, INTACH member and environmentalist E Rani Sarma, said: “Some of the best health benefits of millets include its ability to protect heart, lowers risk of cancer and diabetes, improves digestive system, and boosts respiratory health.”

Aditya Madhav of PMV said human health and environment shouldn’t be looked as two different topics as both are dependent on each other.

“Whatever people choose to eat will have an indirect impact on natural resources and sometimes cause pollution. So, a wise and learned decision should be made while following a diet. Instead of having junk and processed food, eating millets-based food will surely keep many of the diseases at bay.”

Moreover, the millets cultivation needs less amount of water when compared to paddy and wheat as well as there would be less scope for the usage of fertilisers and pesticides, he added.

PMV President Dr S Vijay Kumar, Public Library secretary D Varma, GESS president PV Sirisha, PMV secretary J Rajeswari, G Sushma, J Likitha and others attended. Several persons, who took part in the event, had a chance to taste the food items prepared by using millets.