What is the most taboo to put in millet porridge

Millet porridge, a traditional health product, is widely loved by people because of its rich nutrition and easy digestion and absorption. However, when many people cook millet porridge, they often add various ingredients and seasonings out of habit or to increase the taste. In fact, not all ingredients are suitable for cooking with millet. Below, we will discuss in detail which ingredients should be avoided when cooking millet porridge.

1. Salt and plenty of seasonings

Salt and seasonings play a vital role in cooking, as they are able to enhance the taste of food and make dishes more delicious. However, adding salt and seasonings too early or too much when cooking millet porridge may have adverse effects.

Let's talk about the effects of salt. Salt is a condiment and one of the minerals needed by the human body. However, in the process of cooking millet porridge, if salt is added too early, it will cause the skin of the millet grains to harden. This is because salt causes the proteins on the surface of the millet to coagulate, which affects the millet's absorption of water. When the skin of millet hardens, it will not only affect the taste of the porridge and make it not soft and glutinous enough, but also reduce the dissolution rate of nutrients in millet, thereby reducing the nutritional value we can consume.

A lot of seasonings are also something to avoid. Seasonings often contain various chemical components, such as flavor enhancers such as monosodium glutamate. Although these ingredients can enhance the umami taste of food, excessive intake is not beneficial to health. Especially when cooking health foods such as millet porridge, we should pay more attention to the original taste of the ingredients and avoid too much seasoning covering up the nutritional value of millet itself.

For people who need to control salt intake, such as patients with high blood pressure, the amount of salt and seasonings should be strictly controlled when cooking millet porridge. Excessive salt intake can increase the burden on the kidneys and be detrimental to health.

It is recommended to add an appropriate amount of salt and other seasonings when the porridge is almost cooked to maintain the taste and nutritional value of the porridge. At the same time, it should also be added in moderation according to personal taste and health status to avoid excessive intake.

2. Sugar and artificial sweeteners

Sugar and artificial sweeteners are common additives in modern foods that add sweetness and enhance the taste of food. However, when cooking millet porridge, added sugars or artificial sweeteners can pose some potential health problems.

Let's take a look at the effects of sugar. Although the right amount of sugar can provide energy for the body, excessive sugar intake may lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Especially when taking millet porridge as a breakfast or diet food, too much sugar intake can completely go against the principles of a healthy diet. Therefore, we should try to avoid adding too much sugar to our millet porridge.

Artificial sweeteners are also additives to be wary of. While artificial sweeteners are low in calories or even zero, they are not good for health. Long-term intake of large amounts of artificial sweeteners may cause potential harm to the human body, such as affecting the balance of intestinal flora and increasing the risk of metabolic diseases. Therefore, we should also try to avoid the use of artificial sweeteners when cooking millet porridge.

So, what if we want to increase the sweetness of millet porridge? A healthy option is to use natural fruits to enhance the flavor. For example, you can add some chopped apples, pears, or fruits such as dates, which will both sweeten the porridge and allow for more vitamins and minerals. Of course, you should also pay attention to the appropriate amount when adding fruits to avoid affecting the overall taste and nutritional value of the porridge.

3. Grease

Fats and fats are an integral part of our daily diet, providing rich taste and flavor to food. However, when cooking millet porridge, the addition of fats and fats may have some adverse effects.

Millet itself contains a certain amount of natural fat, which plays an important role in maintaining the nutritional value and taste of millet. However, if additional fats are added during the cooking process, the total calories of the porridge will be raised, which is not good for people who need to control their weight or lose weight. In addition, excessive fat intake may lead to elevated blood lipids and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

In addition to the heat issue, the addition of oils and fats may also affect the absorption of millet's water-soluble fiber. Water-soluble fiber plays an important role in maintaining intestinal health and lowering cholesterol. The addition of oils and fats may reduce the solubility of fiber, which can affect its health benefits in the gut.

Of course, this is not to say that you can't add fat at all when cooking millet porridge. If you really need to adjust the aroma or taste of the porridge, you can choose a healthy source of oil, such as olive oil, flaxseed oil, and other oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and pay attention to using them in moderation. This can not only increase the flavor of the porridge without causing too much impact on health.

4. Soybeans and other legumes

Soybeans and other legumes are high-quality plant-based protein sources that are rich in nutrients such as protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. However, when it comes to cooking millet porridge, soybeans and other legumes are not the best partners.

Soybeans and other legumes contain antinutrients such as phytic acid, trypsin inhibitors, etc. These ingredients combine with minerals in millet such as calcium, iron, zinc, etc., to form compounds that are difficult for the body to absorb, thereby reducing the bioavailability of these minerals. Therefore, if soybeans or other legumes are cooked with millet, it may affect the nutritional value of millet porridge.

Soybeans and other legumes take a different cooking time than millet. Beans usually take a longer time to cook, whereas millet porridge takes a comparatively shorter time to cook. If they are cooked together, it may result in undercooked or overcooked beans, which can affect the taste and nutritional value of the porridge.

If you want to add beans to your millet porridge, it is recommended that you cook the beans independently before adding them to the cooked millet porridge. This avoids the aforementioned adverse effects while preserving the nutritional value of the legumes. Of course, you should also pay attention to the appropriate amount when adding beans to avoid changing the original taste and nutritional value of millet porridge too much.

5. Heavy ingredients and complex ingredients

Millet porridge is loved by many people for its light, easy-to-digest characteristics. However, some people like to add a variety of heavy ingredients and complicated toppings when cooking millet porridge to increase the flavor and texture of the porridge. In fact, this is not conducive to retaining the original nutrition and taste of millet porridge.

Heavy-flavored ingredients such as spicy seasonings, large amounts of onions, ginger and garlic, etc., although they can increase the taste and flavor of food, can also stimulate the stomach and affect the mild characteristics of millet porridge. Especially for people with stomach problems or indigestion, too many irritating spices may aggravate the condition or cause discomfort.

Complex ingredients such as meat, seafood and other high-protein foods can increase the nutritional value of porridge, but it can also make porridge greasy and difficult to digest. This is contrary to the principle that millet porridge is light and easy to digest. In addition, too many ingredients may also mask the fragrance and taste of millet itself, making millet porridge lose its original characteristics.

When cooking millet porridge, it is recommended to avoid using heavy ingredients and complicated toppings. In order to retain the nutrition and taste of millet porridge, you can choose simple ingredients such as vegetables, a small amount of meat, etc., which can not only increase the flavor and nutritional value of the porridge, but also ensure its light and easy to digest characteristics. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the amount of ingredients and cooking methods to avoid adverse effects on the original taste and nutritional value of millet porridge.