This type of millet is generally known as the most widely grown millet variety. The common synonym of Bajra is Pennisetum glaucum. People know bajra as pearl millet worldwide. Since the period of prehistory, bajra has been grown in the Indian subcontinents and Africa.
The suggested domestication areas and the centre of diversity for bajra or pearl millet are in West Africa’s Sahel zone.
Bajra plants can grow up to 0.5 to 4 meters or 1.8 to 13.1 feet. The colour of bajra can be pale yellow, grey, white, slate purple or blue. Compared to other millets, bajra or pearl millet has more variations in terms of characteristics. Different structural classifications of bajra are – lanceolate, hexagonal, elliptical, obovate, and rounded. Lanceolate, hexagonal, and globular are Africa’s primary structures of bajra.
This article is all about pearl millet, including the topics like – Bajra in Kannada, its cost, nutritional value, health benefits of bajra or pearl millet, popularity, recipes, availability, and many more.
| English name | Pearl millet |
| Kannada name | Sajje |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Species | C.americanus |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Subfamily | Panicoideae |
| Order | Poales |
| Genus | Cenchrus |
Bajra in Kannada name
Sajje is the Kannada name of bajra. Bajara is the most popular name for pearl millet in India. But it is not possible that people from different states in India can understand the word. Suppose you are in a typical Kannada-speaking area ( Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc.) and want bajra.
In that case, You must ask for Sajje for better communication because there is a chance that the people or shopkeepers of those regions need help understanding the English word.
There are so many different names for bajra in other Indian regions. Some are Saaje in Kannada, Bajra in Hindi, Saujalu in Telugu, Baajri in Marathi, and Kambu in Tamil.
Health benefits of bajra
Bajra provides so manyhealth benefits like other grains. It is considered a whole-grain food. Bajra helps to prevent chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and various cancers as whole grain food. But it would help if you intaken bajra regularly. Some health benefits of bajra are –
1. Bajra helps to lose weight
Bajra is a low-calorie density crop and a whole grain food. So it is beneficial for losing weight. Calories density foods like bajra measure their calorie content relative to their volume and weight. Foods which have low calories can keep you full for a long with a negligible amount of calories. 1.2 is the calorie density of bajra. So it is beneficial for weight loss.
Overweight people have different health issues. If you want to shed extra fat, there is no better food choice than pearl millet or bajra. As a protein-rich grain, bajra helps to repair tissues and strenthening and build muscles. Vegetarian people can choose bajra without any thought because it helps reduce their carb intake.
2. Bajra is helpful for diabetic patients
Nowadays, diabetes has become a common chronic condition worldwide. Dietary fibre is essential to control blood glucose. Bajra is an excellent combination of an ample amount of dietary fibre and a good amount of carbs. These two factors make bajra an ideal food for diabetic patients. If diabetes runs in your family or you are a pre-diabetic, you are at a high risk of being diabetic.
It would help if you ate bajra two to three times per week. By consuming bajra, your body can get the positive impacts of slow digestive starch. It helps to decrease lifestyle disorder risks and regulate the glucose level of your body. To get better results, you can consume bajra roti with fenugreek powder or Methi or the leaves of the fenugreek plant 6 to 7 times a month.
3. Bajra is helpful in polycystic ovarian syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a common health issue seen in women of all age groups ( from teenagers to menopause ). PCOS is a hormonal disorder that discomforts women by causing many problems like mood swings, unwanted hair growth and severe fatigue. Except for medication, PCOS-suffering women should follow strict dietary control and lose weight.
Bajra is an excellent food source that helps overcome this condition and offers ample help. As a fibre and iron-rich food, pearl millet or bajra helps to decrease visceral fat ( fat around the abdominal areas ). In this way, this crop helps to prevent various lifestyle disorders and regulate the menstrual cycle.
4. Bajra helps keep your heart healthy
A regulated diet can help properly function optimally. As a vital organ heart must be healthy. As a powerhouse of potassium and magnesium, bajra facilitates better blood circulation and dilates blood vessels. Regular consumption of bajra helps to decrease LDL or harmful cholesterol levels. In this way, pearl millet also helps prevent artery blockages. The wonder millet bajra also has an eye-catching amount of plant lignans and omega-3 fatty acids.
5. Bajra helps in good digestion
An indication of a healthy body is a healthy gut. Bajra helps to prevent constipation and offers good digestive health. Bajra is one of the gluten-free cereals ideal for those with celiac disease. If your battle is with constipation, you should consume bajra regularly. The insoluble fibre in bajra helps to regulate bowel movement by bulking the stool.
6. Bajra works as a natural detoxifier
Bajra is an excellent source of antioxidants, including phytic acid, tannins, and phenol. This cereal is also full of exceptional components. These elements help to prevent various types of cancer, cardiovascular problems, and stroke. Bajra has quercetin and catechins. These two help to clean the kidneys and liver. Also, promote beautiful skin and detoxify the body.
7. Bajra helps boost the lungs’ power
You can consider bajra an ideal food for winter. It is a blessing for those suffering from COPD ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ) and asthma. Bajra or pearl millet has anti-inflammatory properties and omega – 3 fatty acids. So it helps in proper breathing, clears mucous, and reduces swelling.
8. Bajra helps to fight against acidity
Bajra comes under the alkaline food category. So you can consider it as a fighter agent against acidity. Gastric problems in stomach acidity can lead to several complications like a burning feeling in the stomach and oesophagus and discomfort in the chest. You can decrease acidity by following diet rules of eating on time and bland foods. You can cook a mix of vegetables and bajra to reduce acidity.
9. Bajra helps keep your bones strong
You should add bajra to your diet list if you are above 30 and you face joint pains. Bajr is a phosphorus-rich millet—the calcium content of bajra help to prevent joint pains and strengthen your bones. Calcium and phosphorus help decrease the risks of osteoporosis, a chronic condition.
10. Bajra helps to improve your eyesight
Chronic condition includes night blindness. In some cases, this condition is hereditary. Poor vision or night blindness in adults and children can lead to severe complications. Bajra is full of zinc and vitamin A. These components help to provide better eyesight, reduce vision-related issues ( presbyopia or macular degeneration ), and prevent night blindness.
11. Bajra is helpful for hair and skin health
As a powerhouse of different nutrients, the contribution of bajra is highly praisable. It helps in healthy hair growth and ravishing skin. It would help if you were thankful for the fibre, protein, niacin, folate, and iron content of the bajra. These elements make bajra a superfood. Bajra helps to make the skin glow and keep the hair follicles strong.
Some photos of bajra
Nutritional value of Bajra
Bajra is among the best millet varieties, like finger millet, foxtail, Job’s tears, kodo millet, and fonio. The nutritional value of bajra is imposing. The average dietary value you can get from 1 cup or 170 grams of cooked bajra –
| Nutrients | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 201 kcal |
| Carbs | 40 grams |
| Protein | 6 grams |
| Fiber | 2 grams |
| Fat | 1.7 grams |
| Sodium | 286 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 11% of the daily value |
| Iron | 6% of the daily value |
| Folate | 8% of the DV |
| Niacin | 14% of the DV |
| Thiamine | 15% of the DV |
| Magnesium | 18% of the DV |
| Riboflavin | 11% of the DV |
| Zinc | 14% of the DV |
| Phosphorus | 14% of the DV |
Generally, Cooked bajra is a decent source of fibre and a good source of carbs and protein. It also has minerals and vitamin content in reasonable amounts. Overall you can consume bajra as a nutritious carbohydrate source. As a gluten-free crop, it is best for people who follow gluten-free diets and celiac disease patients. But you must buy bajra from a company that sells gluten-free certified products.
Polyphenols, antioxidants, and phytochemicals are plant chemicals which are beneficial for health and are present in bajra in high quantities. These chemicals are helpful in human health optimal in various ways. Polyphenols in bajra help to inhibit some minerals like zinc and iron in bajra from being fully absorbed by the body.
Cost of bajra in Kannada telling area or in India
According to the latest market prices, the average cost of bajra or pearl millet is about Rs 26 to 40 per kg in Karnataka. The cost depends on factors like quality, brand, packaging, and buying place (whether purchased from an online store, local shop, or marts ).
From any region of India, you can get 1 kg bajra by spending around Rs 25 to Rs 60. Bajra is one of the cheapest crops because of its easy availability and high production.
Availability and popularity of bajra in Kannada areas
The primary bajra producer state of India is Rajasthan. This crop is also cultivated in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. The Indian state Tamil Nadu takes the first place in the highest Bajra yield. Rajasthan produces 44% of bajra or pearl millet.
February to May is the best month to grow bajra—cultivation and availability of bajra in India in huge. India also exports bajra to other needed countries. So there is a sufficient amount of bajra in India.
Bajra is considered a powerhouse of nutrients and superfoods. Bajra is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and various nutrients. So people love to purchase and consume bajra. It is easy to incorporate with a diet chart and also very cheap.
Recipes of Bajra in Kannada areas
If you are tired of eating the same grains like rice and wheat or want to add more nutritious food to your diet, then there is no better option than bajra or pearl millet. You can incorporate it into your diet in exciting ways.
Some fantastic recipes of bajra are – bajra roti, bajra Khichdi, bajra potato pancake, bajra cauliflower roti, bajra paratha, bajra Raab, bajra dosa, bajra Nimki, bajra Methi puri, bajra chocolate pancake, bajra Chila, bajra pizza, bajra soup, bajra Pulav, bajra Kheer, bajra Ladoo, bajra chicken salad, bajra upma, bajra cutlets with paneer, bajra paniyaram recipe, bajra toast, bajra crackers, bajra thalipeeth, bajra bhakri, and many more dishes.
Side effects of bajra
You can consume a moderate amount of bajra because it is safe to intake the correct quantity. Even people with celiac disease can consume bajra because of its gluten-free nature. There is no cross-contamination of bajra with other gluten-containing grains. But it works differently depending on the body type. You should consult your doctor or dietician before adding bajra to your daily life.
- Millets like bajra contain antinutrients. They are responsible for inhibiting or blocking beneficial nutrient absorption. According to some research, bajra has oxalate and phytates, which could interfere with th absorption of phosphorus, zinc, iron, and other micronutrients in the same meal.
- People suffering from thyroid gland dysfunction should avoid consuming bajra or pearl millet because it can cause different metabolic disorders and compromise the butterfly-shaped gland’s functioning.
- It would help if you cooked bajra properly. If not, the oxalate in it leads to kidney stones. And the phytic acid content may provide problems with food absorption in the gut.
Final verdict
Bajra is the traditional Hindi name for pearl millet. The seeds of the pearl millet plant are edible and are known as bajra. This crop is also known as Saaje, Saujalu, Baajri, Kambu, Sanio, Gero, Dukn, or Bulrush millet.
Bajra is primarily cultivated in India and Africa as a significant nutrient source. But this gain is consumed and grown in so many different countries worldwide. White, brown, bluish-purple, grey, and yellow are the different shades of bajra.
The above article is all about pearl millet, including the topics like – Bajra in Kannada, its cost, nutritional value, health benefits of baajra or pearl millet, popularity, recipes, availability, and many more.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the different names of bajra?
There are so many different names for bajra in other Indian regions. Some are Saaje in Kannada, Bajra in Hindi, Saujalu in Telugu, Baajri in Marathi, and Kambu in Tamil. This millet variety is Mexoeira in Mozambique, Bajeer in Maiwa and Kumaoni, Za in the Dagbani language. It is famous as Mahangu in Nambia and Mwere in Meru.
2. How does bajra help to lose weight?
Bajra is a low-calorie density crop which is also a whole grain food. So it is beneficial for losing weight. Calories density foods like bajra measure their calorie content relative to their volume and weight. Foods which have low calories can keep you full for a long with a negligible amount of calories. 1.2 is the calorie density of bajra. So it is beneficial for weight loss.
Overweight people have different health issues. If you want to shed extra fat, there is no better food choice than pearl millet or bajra. As a protein-rich grain, bajra helps to repair tissues and strenthening and build muscles. Vegetarian people can choose bajra without any thought because it helps reduce their carb intake.Â
3. What are the health benefits of Bajra?
1. Bajra helps to lose weight
2. Bajra is helpful for diabetic patients
3. Bajra is helpful in polycystic ovarian syndrome
4. Bajra helps to keep your heart healthy
5. Bajra helps in good digestion
6. Bajra works as a natural detoxifier
7. Bajra helps to boost the power of the lungs
8. Bajra helps to fight against acidity
9. Bajra helps to keep your bones strong
10. Bajra helps to improve your eyesight
11. Bajra is helpful for hair and skin health
4. How does Bajra help to keep your heart healthy?Â
A regulated diet can help proper heart functioning at the optimum level. As a vital organ heart must be healthy. As a powerhouse of potassium and magnesium, bajra facilitates better blood circulation and dilates blood vessels.
Regular consumption of bajra helps to decrease LDL or harmful cholesterol levels. In this way, pearl millet also helps prevent artery blockages. The wonder millet bajra also has an eye-catching amount of plant lignans and omega-3 fatty acids.
