Millet-Based Probiotic Beverages

Millet is a category of tiny-seeded grass cultivated mainly in arid, tropical, and subtropical areas. It is generally utilized throughout the globe as cereal for human consumption and animal fodder. It is the main staple food in emerging nations, like Asia and Africa (Singh et al., 2018). Millet grains are leading compared to other cereals in their nutritional factors and mineral contents and play a significant part in the nutrition of humans because of their various advantages (Sharma & Sharma, 2021).

- Khumbaron Kiranbala Kabui and K.A. Athmaselvi

Probiotics are good and live bacteria promoting the host's health when given in adequate quantities by enhancing the microbial balance. They are also known as "health-friendly bacteria" having health benefits such as the prevention of bowel diseases, and lactose intolerance, enhancing the immune system, and decreasing travelers' diarrhea (Geetha et al., 2021). Probiotics from the genera Streptococcus, Lactococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and a few types of Enterococcus and Escherichia coli are the most popular and commonly utilized (Budhwar et al., 2020).

Millet as probiotics and prebiotics

Probiotics enhance the existing flora or help repopulate the colon when antibiotics, chemotherapy, or disease reduce the levels of bacteria (Salam et al., 2012). Prebiotics are indigestible food ingredients that have positive effects on the host by specifically promoting the growth and activity of one or a few bacteria in the colon. The consumption of prebiotics promotes the maintenance and development of probiotics, and the health benefits of the host depend on the intestinal microflora microorganisms (Farooq et al., 2013).