Ragi/finger millet is a natural skincare agent and an anti-ageing cereal. Ragi is abundant in carbohydrates, and since it is too small to be polished or processed, it is mainly consumed in its purest form.

The antioxidants found in ragi battle stress in your body that help slow down the ageing process. It is a rare plant source abundant in crucial amino acids such as Tryptophan, Methionine valine and Lysine work as natural relaxants. These amino acids make the skin tissues less vulnerable to wrinkles and sagging. 

Ragi is a nutritious food that has many health benefits. It is a cereal made into various products like bread, buns, pancakes and more. You can take it in both powders as well as dough forms. However, Ragi malt/java is the most common and easier way to take ragi.

Ragi Benefits

• Ragi is a low-cost source of a variety of nutrients
• It has very low cholesterol and sodium levels
• It contains anti-cancer properties
• Helps reduce diabetes
• Besides iron and magnesium, it consists of nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folate. 
• Ragi contains vitamin D, which increases calcium and Vitamin E for healthy skin formation by healing scars and preventing skin damage. Therefore, consuming ragi daily helps minimise the effects of ageing and keeps you young.
• With a regular intake of ragi malt, one can improve the body’s immune system and gain energy.
• It helps to reduce symptoms like constipation, diarrhoea, and upset stomach.
• Several studies proved that consuming ragi/finger millet daily helps deal with insomnia, anxiety, and depression. 
• It could also be very beneficial for people with regular migraine attacks. One of the principal reasons for people who are ageing faster is insomnia.
• You can be hale and hearty for a more extended period when mixing ragi malt with other cereals. 

A correlative study between Sleep and ageing

A study headed by Estée Lauder revealed that poor sleepers had accelerated skin ageing and slower recovery due to stressors, such as skin barrier disruption or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Insomniacs also had a worse analysis of their skin health and facial appearance. 

Refer https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130723155002.htm

Since finger millet promotes good Sleep by reducing anxiety and depression, we can undoubtedly say that it plays a crucial role in the anti-ageing process.

My experience using ragi for weight loss and anti-ageing:

As many of you know, South Indians, mostly Telugites and Kannadigas, consume ragi in the form of ‘ragi mudda’/ ragi ball. Ragi malt can be the best alternative if you have difficulty preparing it. But in the current times, people started becoming health conscious and began consuming ragi in the form of ragi dosa, ragi idli, etc.

Coming to my experience, I tried consuming ragi malt with six to seven almonds daily morning for 45 days consecutively. Most of the articles on the internet provide only information on types of ragi recipes and their health benefits. However, I primarily wanted to focus on weight loss and antiaging as I have my fair share of the story in using ragi malt. 

Hence I chose to share my experience rather than provide general information on this particular topic. 

I shed a lot of belly fat and lost at least 6-8 kgs within a month. Many of my dresses lying in the wardrobe are now useful too!. If you wonder how, it is due to the high amount of dietary fibre that makes you feel full for a longer time and prevents unwanted cravings. Eventually, it results in a minimised appetite and weight loss.

This magical drink also helped me to get a better jawline. Jawline deformation, ageing, increased weight and skin sagging are the most significant problems as you age. Drinking ragi malt daily boosted my confidence by keeping these issues at bay. 

When is the best time to drink and how?

Through switching timings and diet, I found that I got the most effective results when I drank it every morning by skipping breakfast. 

Nevertheless, I intermittently included dates or bread and peanut butter on every alternative day. This diet plan will give you proper balance by not affecting your hunger pangs or making your morning diet boring, and I strongly recommend it.