New Delhi: It was magic of the ‘marginalized’ that enthralled audience of elite club India International Centre (IIC) not long ago. Nimble footed girls belonging to marginalized section of society nurtured on ‘marginalized grain millets danced as a dream and captivated the audience which rose to give standing ovation to them. The aura that these children of millets wove on the stage was beyond words.
They were veritable vision of pink of health, thanks to nutrition from millets. If millet is a magic for gut health which is be all and end all of health and wellness, these girls abundantly exemplified it. The happy blend of two marginalized made it an unforgettable moment. They are thriving on millets. It is a veritable marginalized meets marginalized. The glow that wafted from those girls who are nourished on millets juice and food spoke a volume about nutrition value of millets.
These girls from marginalized section are being groomed and empowered by Sarvam Shakti Foundation. They are excelling in different walks of life. In their empowerment, millet nutrition are playing very crucial role by keeping them in best of health. They have become the most effective ambassadors of Millet magic. Hemangi Bhatnagar, the chief Empowerment officer at Foundation is very passionate about empowering marginalized girls and has invested herself completely towards this mission.
The occasion was a seminar on the theme of ‘Microbiome, Gut and Millets- The Inflammation Fix’ under the joint aegis The Celiac Society of India , Indian Coalition for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and health dedicated program Illness to Wellness. The seminar aimed to illuminate the critical role of gut health in combating prevalent nutritional deficiencies and chronic diseases, emphasizing practical dietary changes for improved public health outcomes.
Distinguished guests, including Dr. Vinod Paul, Member of NITI AAYOG, Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister; and Dr. Chandrakant S. Pandav, Padma Shri awardee and Former Professor & Head of Community Medicine at AIIMS, advocated for rightful eating, Gut Health and the need for the use of Magic Millet in our daily lives.
The seminar highlighted the importance of gut health in addressing the epidemic of nutritional deficiencies and chronic degenerative diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and mental health issues. Often referred to as the second brain, the gut houses two-thirds of the immune system and underscores the crucial role in overall health. Recent studies emphasize the profound impact of gut health on overall well-being, highlighting its role in managing obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mental health.
The eminent speakers who enlightened the audience with their insights included Dr. Arjun Dang, MBBS, MD, CEO & Partner at Dr. Dang’s Lab; Dr. Meena Mishra, MBBS, MD, Chairperson of the Brain Behavior Research Foundation of India; Dr. Kapil Yadav, MBBS, MD, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS; Ms. Ishi Khosla, Clinical Nutritionist, Columnist, Author, Entrepreneur & Researcher and Dr. Asha Chandra, Founder of Asha Chandra Welfare Consultancy among others.
Pressing on the need for behavioural change, Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul, Member of NITI Aayog said, “We must tackle the nutrition crisis through behavioural change, shifting to nutritious foods like millets instead of processed ones. Our ancestors knew diet influences behaviour, and our Prime Minister has promoted this by celebrating the International Year of Millets and the G20 Presidency. Millets benefit both health and the environment.
Describing how Millets has changed her life, Meenakshi Lekhi, Former Union Minister said, “We need a millet revolution, much like the green revolution. Ancient texts from the Neolithic period and the Harappa and Indus Valley civilizations reference millets, highlighting their historical significance. Varieties like Black Millet, Barnyard Millet, Foxtail Millet, and Sorghum Millet were once staples in our diet before colonial influences changed our eating habits.
Renowned Clinical Nutritionist & Author, Ishi Khosla said, “Grain Changer is a game changer as modern science reconnects us with our gut. Millets boost haemoglobin in pregnant women carrying twins. The ‘four G’s’—Gut, Girth, Gluten, and Glucose—interconnect to transform our eating habits and lifestyle permanently.”
