Millets and Millet Starch: Chemical Composition, Functional Modification, and Applications

Millets, popularly known as Shree Anna, are now gaining worldwide recognition. Besides their nutritional benefits, millets have a short cultivation period, less water requirement, high adaptability towards adverse climatic conditions, and better productivity on marginal lands than the major cereal crops. Millets based products are in high demand globally because of their enormous health promoting attributes. The primary ingredient in millet is its starch, which makes up over 70% of the grain. Starch is one of the major components responsible for the structure of final food products. Product-specific properties can be achieved by modifying the structure of starches. Information deficit on millet starch has undermined its potential utilization in food and other industries. Millets and millet starch: Chemical Composition, functional modification, and applications incorporate information about the geographical distribution, cultivation, storage, processing, bioactive compounds, health benefits and industrial uses of Millets. The book sheds light on the method of starch isolation from millets, and the method applied for tailoring millet starch functionalities for their utilization in industries. The specific roles of bioactive compounds of nutri-cereals in disease prevention are discussed in depth. Millets based food products are being increasingly developed due to their gluten free nature, and in this book, you will find comprehensive information on millets based food products. Researchers and product developers working on millets will find useful information on recent developments in the production, cultivation, and potential industrial applications of nutri-cereals. It presents thorough information regarding the industrial potential of some lesser known or forgotten cereals starches and their role in maintaining good health, achieving food security. Researchers, stakeholders, students, and farmers would find this book helpful in learning about millets and their applications. Experts in the area have compiled it and can serve as a handy document for the entrepreneurs.