Panicum miliaceum is a legume belonging to the family of Rehmannia and hence it is commonly known as Mili rice or Mili millet. The plant is considered to be a weed in the regions of the sub-tropical climates of the north-western part of the African continent. It is cultivated all over the world for its nutritive values and for the fibrous content it has. The fiber content of this legume is quite considerable and it is considered to be an adaptable food to many forms of diets. There are some people who consider that the nutritional value of this fiber is just enough for their daily consumption and they do not even try to enrich the food with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, studies done on this plant have revealed that it contains more than eighty nutrients like protein, iron, calcium, potassium, zinc and phosphorus and these numbers are just perfect for a healthy body.
Besides these numbers, studies also reveal that this food value has a high water retention value which further indicates that it retains more of the essential nutrients in our body. These fiber-rich plants are considered to be low in saturated fats and cholesterol and have a low trans fat content. This means that it offers the health benefits of a low fat diet and at the same time it offers a healthy and balanced diet to the consumers. Moreover, it also has a high nutritional value that is almost equal to that of whole wheat.
Panicum miliaceum is available in two main forms; fresh and dried. In addition to the fiber content of this legume, the other nutrients present in the plant are almost similar to that of whole wheat. However, it can be stored in dry air for about a week in storage rooms without any harm to the fiber content. Therefore, these are some of the best reasons as to why people prefer to purchase this legume because of its availability in many places available and its health benefits that are just like those of whole wheat.