Corn is a tasty grain crop that is very popular all over the world. She is believed to be from Mexico. It was the main component of the diet of the Aztec and Mayan tribes.
This culture came to Europe thanks to Columbus. Although initially it was valued solely for the flour that was made from it. Only in the 19th century did it gain real popularity. Corn came to Africa thanks to the Portuguese.
Corn is widely used for making salads, casseroles, it is fried and boiled, baked. The calorie content of the culture fully depends on how it was prepared. In its raw form, the caloric value is 325 units.
Steamed heads of cabbage are considered the most useful. It is in this form that a large number of useful substances are stored.
The cobs of culture contain many chemical elements that are necessary for the human body. These are zinc, manganese, tin, copper, iodine, fluorine and others. Corn contains a lot of vitamin B1. To saturate the body with these vitamins for the whole day, you need to eat only 160 g of corn, preferably steamed.
Benefits of corn: vitamins and minerals
The cobs of the plant are rich in fiber, which improves the functioning of the stomach, helps to cope with constipation and eliminates putrefactive processes.
Corn is very useful for restoring vision. The carotenoids contained in it are an effective remedy for the appearance of cataracts and glaucoma. They contribute to the restoration of microscopic damage in the lens.
Corn contains:
ascorbic acid, which helps to strengthen the immune system;
vitamin E, which is an antioxidant and a means to maintain youth;
vitamin B9, useful for expectant mothers and babies themselves;
iron, which allows you to maintain normal hemoglobin levels;
calcium, which is responsible for the formation and functioning of bones;
starch, which promotes rapid recovery after physical exertion;
magnesium, which relieves spasms in blood vessels and saturates brain cells with oxygen;
copper preventing premature aging;
selenium, which enhances the outflow of bile and is an effective remedy for the appearance of liver pathologies;
sodium, which removes excess fluid from the body;
nicotinic acid, which improves metabolic processes in the body;
pantothenic acid, which normalizes hormonal levels;
thiamine, which enhances the action of all B vitamins;
phosphorus, which stimulates cognitive abilities.
And the most interesting element is gold. Its content in corn is in microscopic doses, but if you use the cobs on a regular basis, then this is quite enough to remove free radicals from the body.
The benefits of corn for women
For women, corn is useful due to the presence of B vitamins. They help to cope with nervous diseases. In the presence of depression, this product is recommended for daily use.
Selenium, which is part of the cobs, helps slow down the aging process and is an effective prophylactic against the development of cancerous tumors.
Corn stimulates the liver and helps to cope with swelling. It will be useful in the presence of nephritis and other pathologies of the kidneys.
Corn regulates blood clotting due to the presence of vitamin K. Therefore, it will be useful in the presence of anemia or hemophilia.
The benefits of corn for men
Corn has a positive effect on spermatogenesis and prevents infertility. It has a cleansing effect on the male body and helps prevent the development of prostate cancer.
Fiber, which is rich in corn, stimulates the digestive tract, eliminates fermentation processes and is useful in the presence of enterocolitis. Choline, which is found in corn, has a positive effect on metabolic processes.
Corn during pregnancy and breastfeeding
There are no contraindications to the use of corn during pregnancy and after it. Naturally, provided that there is no individual intolerance to the product.
Heads of cabbage will allow you to restore energy reserves and cope with puffiness. For this, you can even do compresses. A decoction is made from the grains of the culture, the fabric is moistened in it and compresses are applied to the swollen places.
In the third trimester, corn is especially beneficial. It contains a lot of calcium, which helps the growth of the bones and skeleton of the child.
When lactating, it is recommended to introduce corn into the mother’s diet from 2 months, not earlier. Nevertheless, this is a heavy product and can cause unpleasant reactions from the baby’s body.
Is it possible for children to eat corn
It is recommended to include corn in the child’s diet from 3-4 years. Heads of cabbage are very tasty, they can replace sweets and, moreover, they will enrich the baby’s body with vitamins.
Is corn good for weight loss?
Despite the high calorie content, corn can be present in the diet during weight loss. The main thing is not to exceed the daily dose of 300 g. This amount of the product will allow you to quickly get enough and will not allow you to gain excess weight.
Corn cleanses the body well and removes excess fluid from the body. These qualities of the product allow it to be used in dietary nutrition.
In the fight against obesity, corn stigmas are widely used. They help reduce appetite. To prepare a tincture, 20 g of stigmas are poured with boiling water in a volume of 200 ml. Insist for 1 hour. You can insist in a thermos. Take a tablespoon about 5 times a day.
Corn for diabetes
In general, corn is acceptable for consumption in the presence of diabetes. But a lot depends on the method of preparation, since the glycemic index changes from this. For a boiled product, it is 70 units, and for a canned product, it is 59.
In corn porridge (mamaliga), this indicator is the least – 42 units. Corn flakes have the highest GI at 80.
It follows from this that diabetics need to reduce the amount of corn flakes, and it is better to refuse them altogether. Eat boiled and canned corn in minimal quantities and very rarely. And porridge can even be included in the daily diet.
How to take corn for medicinal purposes
A decoction of the stigmas of the culture is used to treat urolithiasis. This recipe came to us from the southern territories of our country. To get rid of kidney stones, pour 1 tablespoon of stigmas with boiling water (250 ml) and boil for 1 hour. The stove fire must be very small. After that, the decoction is brought to the initial volume with boiled water and taken 4 times a day, 1-2 tablespoons.
A decoction of stigmas helps to cope with helminths.
In the East, stigmas are used as a cure for stomach diseases and as a choleretic agent. In this case, 2 tablespoons of raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water and infused for 30 minutes. Take before a meal, distributing the composition into three equal doses.
In Asia, stigmas are used in the complex therapy of tuberculosis.
Crushed fruits in a head help to cope with eczema and long non-healing wounds.
From a decoction of corn, enemas are made that stimulate the healing of small ulcers in the intestines.
Corn harm and contraindications
Corn and medicines from it are not recommended for severe blood clotting. The product contributes to the thickening of the blood, which can adversely affect the state of health and lead to the development of thrombophlebitis. For the same reason, you should not get carried away, but it is better to completely abandon corn if you have problems with blood circulation.
During exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases, the product is not recommended for use.
How to choose and store
Young corn is best suited for the human body. Kachan grains should have a milky yellow tint. It is in this product that most of the useful substances. It is quickly digested by the stomach and does not give a feeling of heaviness.
When purchasing heads of cabbage, see that the grains are not wilted. The leaves of the plant should fit snugly on the cob. Refuse to buy peeled heads, as they will quickly wither and deteriorate.
Young cabbages can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Grains can be frozen and canned, so they can be stored for a very long time.
Before freezing at home, it is recommended to hold the grains in saline for about 20 minutes. For 1 liter of water, add 1 teaspoon of salt, you can add a little lemon juice. After the grains are dried and frozen in sealed bags.
Cooked corn kernels can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.
Corn is a healthy grain crop that will help to cope with many problems and give the body a lot of energy. The main thing is not to overdo it and observe the measure, then there will be no side effects from using the product.