Kambu? What’s that? Perhaps many of us are unfamiliar with the term “kambu.” But then it’s okay! Kambu is also known as the pearl millet. Pearl millet itself is the most commonly grown type of the millet family, native to the hot and dry lands of Africa and the Indian Subcontinent.
It has since been used as a primary commodity as food for the people of that region. And then starting the mid-19th century, kambu saw its first export to the United States for cultivation.
Anyway, these are some interesting information about kambu, and of course the health benefits of kambu during pregnancy!
Nutritional Facts of Kambu Flour
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- Serving Size – 100 g
- Water – 88.02 g
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- Calories – 382kcal
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- Total Fat – 4.3 g (7% of DV)
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- Saturated Fat – 0.5 g (2% of DV)
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- Sodium – 4 mg (0% of DV)
- Total Carbohydrates – 75 g (25% of DV)
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- Sugar – 1.7 g
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- Dietary Fibre – 3.5g (14% of DV)
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- Protein – 11 g (22% of DV)
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- Vitamins and Minerals
- Vitamin A – 0 IU (0% of DV)
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- Vitamin B6 – 0.372 mg (19% of DV)
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- Vitamin C Benefits – 0 mg (0% of DV)
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- Vitamin D – 0 mg (0% of DV)
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- Vitamin E – 0.11 mg (0% of DV)
- Vitamin K – 0.8 mcg (1% of DV)
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- Calcium – 14 mg (1% of DV)
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- Copper – 0.535 mg (27% of DV)
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- Cobalamin – 0 mg (0% of DV)
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- Iron – 3.94 mg (22% of DV)
- Magnesium – 119 mg (30% of DV)
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- Magnesium – 1,002 mg (50% of DV)
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- Phosphorus – 285 mg (28% of DV)
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- Selenium – 32.7 mg (47% of DV)
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- Sodium – 4 mg (0% of DV)
- Zinc Oxide for Skin – 2.63 mg (18% of DV)
All the information above are in relation to a 2,000-calorie diet. The percentage of daily value (% of DV) may differ depending on personal calorie needs.
What are its Health Benefits?
- Kambu is Good for the Heart
Kambu, just like the common grain is good for the heart. It is in fact a wealthy source of benefits of magnesium at 1,002 mg per 100 g, which makes up 50% of the recommended daily value! Magnesium works by lowering down blood pressure, because high blood pressure leads to cardiac arrest and also stroke.
2. Kambu Manages Cholesterol Well
Second, kambu is also known for its excellence in managing cholesterol, all thanks to fibre that it possesses at 3.5 g per 100 g, which composes 14% of the daily recommended fibre value. Fibre prevents the clogging of blood arteries and also cardiac arrest.
3. Kambu Prevents the Likelihood Diabetes
Diabetes is one disease that is all about managing instead of curing it entirely. The high reserves of magnesium inside kambu is also effective in preventing the likelihood of diabetes. In addition, it is a popular belief that cultures that include kambu inside the diet has their risk of diabetes reduced by 30%!
4. Kambu Aids Digestion
It is no secret that fibre is very helpful in aiding digestion, in which it also applies to kambu as well! Other than that, the fibres present inside kambu also help to eliminate several stomach-related problems and diseases, such as gas, pain, cramps, ulcers, acidity, inflammation, up to colon cancer!
5. Kambu Acts as a Shield Against Cancer
Kambu is identified to be able in dealing with two types of cancer. The first one is colon cancer as mentioned in the point above, and second is breast cancer. Women consuming just 30 grams of kambu products could possibly reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 50%! This of course, is a major draw of kambu.
6. Kambu’s Vitamin B Contents
Kambu is especially rich in vitamin B and also its related compounds. One compound of vitamin B, which is vitamin B6 or pyridoxine can be found inside kambu at 0.372 mg per 100 grams, which composes 19% of the recommended daily value.
7. Kambu is Gluten Free
Here comes one highlight of kambu! Kambu is gluten free, which in turn can be useful for preventing celiac disease. It is dangerous because it directly interferes with the small intestines, disturbing the flow of nutrients from the food eaten.
8. Kambu is Rich in Protein
Kambu is also rich in protein to the point that it is also good for muscles, in terms of making the muscles leaner and stronger as time goes by, and therefore preventing gradual muscular degenerations as well. Kambu contains 11 g of protein, which is equivalent to 22% of the recommended daily value.
9. Kambu for Detoxification
This is another highlight of kambu; for detoxification. All is possible thanks to the number of antioxidants present inside.
10. Kambu is Healthy for Pregnant Women
And finally, here is the main theme of this article! Kambu or health benefits of millet and sorghum, along with other grains such as whole wheat, barley, oats, corn, and also rice are important to be included inside pregnancy diet because of the nutrients it contains, which are iron, selenium, vitamin B complexes such as niacin, folic acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and magnesium. All of these supply energy for the baby’s growth as well as to help the placenta grow.
Cautions and Recommendations
Despite being rare, there are allergies to kambu or millet products present. Kambu allergy has the symptoms of asthma when inhaled or anaphylaxis caused by ingestion of millet products.
Anaphylaxis itself is a severe and life-threatening allergy symptomized by skin rash, skin swelling, nausea, suffocation and shock. To find out accurately whether or not one has this rare type of allergy, patch test could be conducted.
How to Prepare Millet – A Gluten-free Alternative to Couscous and Pasta
Ingredients
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- 1 ½ cups of raw millet
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- 3 cups of water
- Kosher salt
Steps
- First, pour the whole 1 ½ cups of millet into a dry pan.
- Toast the millet for about 2 to 3 hours over medium heat, and stir frequently in between.
- Next, pour in 3 cups of water into the millet and also some Kosher salt.
- Let it boil, and afterwards set the heat into “low.”
- Cover the pot and let it simmer for approximately 17 minutes, when the water is completely absorbed.
- Finally, fluff the millet using a fork, and use some salt to flavour it.
- Millet is now ready to be served! For extra flavors, one can also enjoy it with butter, olive oil, herbs or other spices too!