Ragi: nutrition for pregnancy & family
Also known as Ragi, Finger millet, Bavato, Bhakri, Ukrai, Panjapulle, Kodo, Mandia, Mandal, Madhulika, Kelvaragu, Mandwa. Food group: Cereals and Millets. Vegetarian.
What 100 g gives you in pregnancy
| Folate | 35 mcg — 6% of the daily need in pregnancy |
- Folate lowers the risk of neural tube defects, which form in the first weeks of pregnancy.
Daily requirements are NIH / US Dietary Reference Intakes recommended intakes for pregnancy. Requirements differ by country — folate is 600 mcg in US guidance against 570 mcg in India's — so percentages are only meaningful against the authority named here. They are for 100 g of this food and are a guide, not a meal plan; your doctor may advise different amounts for you.
Explore further
Ragi is a notable source of folate, iron and calcium — see what each does in pregnancy.
More cereals and millets: Amaranth seed, black, Amaranth seed, pale brown, Bajra, Barley, Jowar, Maize, dry.
Ragi in Indian languages
| Assamese | Ragi |
| Bengali | Ragi |
| English | Finger millet |
| Gujarati | Bavato |
| Hindi | Ragi |
| Kannada | Bhakri |
| Khasi | Ukrai |
| Malayalam | Panjapulle |
| Marathi | Bhakri |
| Odia | Mandia |
| Punjabi | Mandal |
| Sanskrit | Madhulika |
| Tamil | Kelvaragu |
| Telugu | Ragi |
| Urdu | Mandwa |
Regional names as recorded by ICMR-NIN in the Indian Food Composition Tables.
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 321 kcal |
| Protein | 7.2 g |
| Fat | 1.9 g |
| Carbohydrate | 66.8 g |
| Fibre | 11.2 g |
| Iron | 4.6 mg |
| Calcium | 364 mg |
| Folate | 35 mcg |
Why it can help during pregnancy
- Iron: Iron supports the extra blood your body makes during pregnancy.
- Calcium: Calcium helps build your baby's bones and teeth.
Consensus public-health guidance (WHO / ICMR-NIN). A balanced, varied diet matters more than any single food.
Nutrition source: ICMR-NIN — Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT). Values are typical per 100 g and vary by variety and preparation.
Educational information, not medical or dietary advice. Most everyday foods are fine in normal amounts — ask your doctor or dietitian about anything specific to your pregnancy.