6 amazing reasons why you should add corn to your diet

Corn is one of the most popular cereal grains in the world. It is also known as Maize. It is a seed grain of a plant which originates from the grass family. It is grown in almost every part of the world.

There are so many nutritional and health benefits of eating corn and adding it to one’s diets. Some of these health benefits include the control of diabetes, prevention of heart ailments, lowering hypertension and the prevention of neural-tube defects at birth. Many people eat corn because they want to get rid of hunger; some eat it because they are drawn by the smell of the fresh roasted or boiled corn they perceive from afar.

Corn is basically yellow but comes in a variety of other colours like red, orange, white and black. Corn could be eaten as sweet corn, popcorn, and other refined products.

Corn has many health benefits due to the presence of the rich nutrients that it contains. Corn is rich in phytochemicals and provides protection against a number of chronic diseases. Find below some of the amazing reasons why you should add corn to your diet:

1. It helps reduce the risk of hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer

It has been discovered that the fiber content in one cup of corn has about 18.4 percent of the daily recommended amount.

This helps to prevent digestive problems like constipation and hemorrhoids. It also helps to lower the risk of colon cancer because it is whole grain.

Fiber also assists in bowel movements which stimulates peristaltic motion and enhance the secretion of gastric juice and bile.

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2. It is a rich source of vitamins

Corn is rich in vitamin B constituents like Niacin and Thiamin. A deficiency in Niacin leads to a disease characterized by diarrhea, dementia, and dermatitis.

This disease is called Pellagra and is commonly observed in malnourished individuals. Thiamin is also important in maintaining nerve health and cognitive function.

Corn also has an appreciative amount of pantothenic acid; this is an essential vitamin for carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism in the body.

A deficiency of folic acid in pregnant women can result in the birth of underweight infants. It could also cause neural tube defect in babies.

3. Protection of the heart

Corn oil has an anti-atherogenic effect on cholesterol levels. This means it reduces the risk of various cardiovascular diseases. Corn is close to an optimal fatty acid combination which makes it good for the heart.

This means that it allows omega 3 fatty acids to replace the damaging bad cholesterol at the binding sites.

This will reduce the chances of the arteries getting clogged. It will also reduce blood pressure and generally lower the risk of having a stroke or a heart attack.

4. Prevention of anemia

Adding corn to your diet would help you prevent anemia which is caused by a deficiency of these vitamins. It contains an appreciable level of iron which is an essential mineral needed to form red blood cells. One of the causes of anemia is a deficiency of iron.

5. Control of diabetes and hypertension

Diabetes is a widespread disease in the society now, eating more of organic fruits and vegetables could help reduce the risk and signs of this disease.

The consumption of corn kennel assists in the management of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. It is also effective against hypertension because of the presence of phenolic phytochemicals in whole corn.

These phytochemicals can help reduce the chance of spikes and drops for diabetic patients by regulating the absorption and release of insulin in the body.

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6. Other uses

Apart from the listed health benefits you could have from adding corn to your diet, it also helps reduce cholesterol absorption in the body. It improves bone strength and boosts the immune system.

Adding corn to your diet would also help maintain good skin and vision. Corn can also be used for cosmetic products; corn starch may be applied topically to the skin to soothe skin rashes and prevent irritation.

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