Diet can play an essential part in avoiding diseases and health problems, including cancer. If you’re looking to balance your diet with nutritious food, consider adding corn in one of your meals. Here’s why.
Nutritional Value of Corn
Corn is an essential crop and one of the food staples packed with high nutritional value. It is loaded with antioxidants, dietary fiber, folate, and thiamin. It is also low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium. More so, corn is extra special because it falls under two food categories. If you eat its kernels straight off the cob, then you’re having it as a vegetable. Meanwhile you’re using it as grain if you consume it after it has been dried and popped into popcorn.
Corn for Cancer
Eating corn may help minimize the risk of certain cancers such as colon cancer and lung cancer.
Because it is rich in fiber, corn helps lower cholesterol levels and minimize colon cancer risk. Meanwhile, the beta-cryptoxanthin present in corn helps promote healthy lungs and may reduce the chances of lung cancer.
Other Health Benefits
Because it’s a nutritional powerhouse, corn can also be helpful in other health concerns such as:
- Cardiovascular health – Corn has been linked to improved cardiovascular health if eaten in moderation.
- Pregnancy – Corn help the generation of new cells essential prior and during pregnancy, thanks to its rich folate content.
- Nervous system development – Corn is a good source of vitamins; hence, it also contributes to the proper development of the nervous system.
- Common digestive ailments – Corn has insoluble fiber, which aids individuals in dealing common digestive ailments such as hemorrhoids and constipation.
- Standard growth and bone health – Corn is also rich in minerals like iron, copper, zinc, magnesium and phosphorous, which is important for the standard growth and bone health.
- Carbohydrates breakdown – The thiamin present in corn helps breakdown carbohydrates.
- Anemia – Some patients suffering from anemia indicated positive effects after eating corn, and this can be linked to its folic acid and vitamin B12 content.
- Physiological functions – Panthothenic acid present in corn help the body perform its physiological functions well.
How to Select and Store Corn
Indeed, corn can be beneficial in improving a person’s health. But in order to maximize its benefits, make sure to pick the right one. Here’s how.
Choose a corn whose husks are appear fresh and green. Don’t go for those that look dried out. More so, they should cover the ear.
Meanwhile, the kernels should be fat and arranged tightly in rows. Press the kernel using your fingernail to determine its freshness. You’ll know it’s fresh when a white milky substance comes out.
Only purchase corn on the day you plan to cook it. You can purchase newly harvested corns in farmers’ markets. In case you need to store them, place them in heavy-duty freezer bags. If you keep them whole on the cob, they will last until a month. Kernels, on the other hand, can stay in the freezer for three to four months. During storage, keep the husks on so you can preserve the corn’s flavor