Development and Standardization of Mango Leaf Incorporated Health Mix

Abstract

With increase in diabetes and non communicable diseases and changing diet and lifestyles, it is essential to realize food anthropology. Millets plays an important role in human health. It is low calorie and has easily digestible components. Millets are small seeded grasses that are tough and grow well in dry zones as rain-fed crops, under marginal conditions of soil fertility and moisture in semi dry tropic area. They are highly nutritious, non-glutinous and not acid forming foods. Millets release lesser percentage of glucose compared to rice. Intake of fiber and antioxidant rich millets may promote the human health. In addition to millets, mango leaves have antioxidant properties and control the degenerative diseases like diabetes mellitus, asthma and so forth. The present study aims to utilize the mango leaves and millets to improve human health. The objective of the study is to develop healthy diet including millets, pulses and nuts. Some easily available millets, pulses and nuts were selected to formulate health mix. Mango leaves powder was incorporated in health mix in the ratio of 5, 10 and 15%. The acceptability trial was conducted organoleptically to standardize the health mix. Nutrient present in standardized health mix incorporated with mango leaves powder was analysed. The formulated health mix was prepared as porridge to evaluate the acceptability. Based on the organoleptic evaluation 5% of mango leaves powder incorporated health mix was highly acceptable. Nutrient analysis showed that standardized health mix with mango leaves powder was rich in macronutrients and micronutrients. The study reveals that easily available and low cost millets, pulses have more nutritional properties. There is need to propagate traditional millet based recipes with value addition phytonutrient rich leaves like mango.