Little millet or samai is among the many sages or medicinal herbs used in India. It was used as a treatment for several conditions like diabetes, flatulence, heart failure, neuralgia, palsy, gout, toothache, rheumatism, insomnia, stress, bronchitis, kidney stones, gastritis, eczema, anemia, piles, inflammation of tonsils, oral cancer and piles in women. Sages or herbal medicines called sancharas are believed to prolong life and provide psychological support and motivation to perform certain yogic exercises or treatments. Little millet is also known by the names: chiore, santele, nisarga, sama, Gandhi, then, savanna, punarnava, pancha and bhel puri. These names were based on places where sages used to grow it like: Pratapgarh, Bhatye Beach, Kedarnath, Ram Nagar, Mahalaxmi, Vrindavan, etc.
Little millet is considered as the best source of carbohydrates as it has a high-glucose content, medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and very low Glycemic Index (GI). It has no effect on blood sugar level and is rich in manganese, iron, potassium, fiber, copper, magnesium, calcium, zinc and vitamins C, D, E and K. All these nutrients have health benefits when consumed in correct proportions according to the recommended diet. The health benefits of this rice differ from one person to other. Some people claim that little millet has more health benefits than other wheat varieties and the reason behind this belief is that little millet contains a large amount of iron, which is required in the human body for its synthesis of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. However, research says that iron-deficiency anemia is the most common problem associated with the consumption of iron-deficiency anemia and in such situation consuming little millet is a good option as it contains a good quantity of iron.
Modern millet is modified and enriched so that it can be used for cooking and baking. They are available in different flavors and colors to cater to the ever-increasing demand for healthy foods. It has become quite popular for its health benefits. One can try out a number of miles to satisfy their cravings and tastes.