Corn as a healthful menu

Corn act as a worthy part of any healthful menu. Our food ranking system qualified corn as one of the most popular vegetables, is also a good source of several nutrients like vitamin B1, B5, C, E folic acid, magnesium & phosphorus. Corn is a low-fat complex carbohydrate that deserves a regular place on any healthy table. These high-fiber, fat-fighting kernels of goodness are also hearty & satisfying.

For every 100 grams of maize, it contains 8.5 grams of protein, 73 grams of amylum, 4.3 grams of fat, 72.2 grams of carbohydrate, 22 milligrams of calcium, 21 milligrams of phosphorus, carotene and a variety of vitamins. The cellulose content in the corns is 7 times more than those in rice and wheat flours, and the carotene content is 5 times higher. The specific presence of gelatin in the corn constitutes about 20%-22% of the total contents.

Corn is a surprising source of several vitamins, including folic acid, niacin & vitamin C. Two ears of corn on the cob provide 20% of the daily recommended amount of the mineral, manganese. It stimulates the thyroid gland, to produce more triiodothyronine. Also known as T3, a hormone, that increases our bodies’ fat burning metabolic rate.

Corn oil extracted from corn shells is a high quality cooking oil, that contains monounsaturated fatty acids of more than 80%, and to high blood pressure, heart ailments and arterio sclerosis it has therapeutic effectiveness. On the industrial side, corn can be used to manufacture alcohol, beer, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, acetone, n-butanal and others. Corn syrup made from corn starch, is colorless, transparent and with a high content of fructose, tastes like honey, sweetness exceeds cane sugar, can be used for making high quality candies, cakes, breads, jams and a variety of drinks.
Besides, furfural can be extracted from the corn cobs, and paper and sound insulation boards can made from the corn stalks. The corn husks can also be used to make those handicraft products for daily use.

Child Benefits

As a natural plant which is high in fiber, corn is healthy and yet delicious snack to be taken by childrens. It also act as a good subsiture for childrens who are very much picky on their daily vegetable intakes. Corn are a popular snack as well as the treat that comes it like popcorn, cornflakes and etc.

Corn contains high levels of thiamine. Our brain uses this B vitamin to manufacture the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Acetylcholine maximizes communication between brain cells thereby improving recall and concentration especially in the growing stages of young adult.

Health Care Benefits

Good Source of Fiber

One cup of corn provides 18.4% of the daily recommendation of fiber. Its high fiber content is one of the biggest benefits of corn. Though it is hard to digest. But its insoluble fiber is tops at tackling common digestive ailments (like constipation and hemorrhoids) by absorbing water, which swells the stool and speeds its movement.

Prevent Heart Disease

The folic acid in corn is now known to be an important factor in preventing heart disease, according to studies that show folic acid can prevent a buildup of homocysteine, an amino acid, in the body. Long-term elevation of homocysteine has been linked to higher rates of heart disease; folic acid helps break it down. The soluble fiber in corn binds with cholesterol in bile from the liver. It then passes from the body taking the cholesterol with it.

Cancer Prevention

Corn has significant medical efficacy in managing diuresis, dicholestasis, in lowering blood pressure and the blood sugar. The presence of sitisterol and wood fibers in corns has medical efficacy in managing diuresis and promoting the secretion of bile, and has unique cure for those having nephritis, hypertension and obesity; the presence of lecithin on corns, can dissolve and remove cholesterol plaques around the blood vessels, and can prevent arterio sclerosis.

Other Health Care Benefits

Fiber has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Fiber is also useful in helping to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Its effectiveness in the prevention of cancer is quite significant. The presence of anti-oxidants in corns, is a factor in longevity, and due to the traces of glutathione, it forms the main delivery channel for oxygen, to allow normal cell breathing, and at the same time the glutathione also helps to stop the supply of molecular oxygen to any malignant tumour, resulting in the discharge of those carcinogenic substances from the digestive system after detoxification

Corn contains beta-carotene, which increases supplies of hemoglobin, a protein that delivers oxygen to cells, preventing fatigue. In addition, one cup of corn daily strengthens hair follicles with potent antioxidants like Vitamin C and lycopene; enabling our bodies to neutralize the UV generated free radicals than can weaken hair, Moever, these compounds also increase production of collagen, Collagen assists in maintaining smooth skin and hair.

Corn also contains zeaxanthin and lutein phytonutrients that help promote the health of the heart and the eyes. The lutein in yellow corn and yellow corn food products can protect against heart disease and macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is a condition of the eye which is typically seen in older age.

The folic acid in corn is now known to be an important factor in preventing neural-tube birth defects.

Farming, Care and Harvest

Farming

Sweet corn must be grown in full sun, where shelter from strong winds is provided. It is not too particular about the soil, although it hates clay because sweet corn sends down deep roots, it prefers a deeply dug bed.

Sweet corn pollinates best when sown in a block, so for planting, a minimum area of 1.2m (4 ft) square is required. Sweet corn will only grow from seed at soil temperatures above 10C (50F), but they stand their best chance at over 16C (60F).

A little care and planning in the early stages will go a long way to ensure that tasty sweet corn can be grown successfully in many areas.

Care

Sweet corn must be grown in full sun, where shelter from strong winds is provided. It is not too particular about the soil, although it hates clay because sweet corn sends down deep roots, it prefers a deeply dug bed.

Sweet corn pollinates best when sown in a block, so for planting, a minimum area of 1.2m (4 ft) square is required. Sweet corn will only grow from seed at soil temperatures above 10C (50F), but they stand their best chance at over 16C (60F).

A little care and planning in the early stages will go a long way to ensure that tasty sweet corn can be grown successfully in many areas.

Harvest

Sweet corn ears should be picked during the “milk stage” when the kernels are fully formed but not fully mature. The kernels are smooth and plump and the juice in the kernel appears milky when punctured with a thumbnail. Sweet corn remains in the milk stage less than a week. Other signs that indicate when the corn is ready for harvest are drying and browning of the silks, fullness of the tip kernels and firmness of the unhusked ears.

Sweet corn can be tested for ripeness by pressing a kernel with your fingernail – if they are ripe, this will show a creamy coloured liquid from inside the kernel. If the liquid is watery, the sweet corn needs more time to ripen; if the liquid is almost like dough, the sweet corn is over-ripe. Start this testing when the silks (long silky threads which grow out of the cobs) turn brown and start to shrivel.