Millets: Malnutrition and Nutrition Security
Sarita Srivastava, Chhavi Arya
Abstract
Globally malnutrition is an emerging challenge in the context of rising uncertainty of food supplies. The latest estimates of the Food and Agriculture Organization revealed that up to the year 2017 the number of undernourished people in the world has increased to 821 million. Stunting, wasting, and anemia are the most prevalent form of malnutrition in low-income and food-deficit countries. Hidden hunger or micronutrient deficiency is yet another malnutrition problem faced globally. Together all these factors put children and women at a greater risk of dying as they become susceptible to common infections and life-threatening diseases. With changing lifestyle and food habits noncommunicable diseases have emerged as major health problems worldwide more so in developing countries. It is predicted that noncommunicable diseases will increase substantially in low- and middle-income countries because of lifestyle, transition associated with increasing urbanization, and globalization. Millets are the ancient heritage grains grown on poor soils without the use of chemicals therefore in a way these are organic grains. Owing to their exceptional nutritional profile in terms of micronutrients concentration, fiber content, gluten free nature, resistant starch, and various phytochemicals of therapeutic uses they are known as miracle grains. In the present chapter, a brief account of malnutrition statistics and the role of millets in achieving nutritional security to combat hidden hunger has been furnished.