Health Benefits of Maize Corn

Indian Sweet Corn

Types of Corn – Nutrition & Health Benefits
Whenever we go out on evenings to beach or outskirts of the city first we see vendors roasting maize corns and selling them. People usually purchase and eat them for a time pass or an uncontrollable fresh aroma of the roasting maize corns. Maize corns are healthy food to eat because they are nutritious and with low calories. They contain fiber essential to control cholesterol and also an anticancer agent. Maize is eaten in several ways as corns burnt, steam cooked, as chips, corn powder and as a vegetable in the
preparation of curries and soups. One should not miss to eat this healthy food commonly available nowadays throughout the year due to intensive cultivation methods and availability of transport facilities from any corner of the world. There are several varieties of maize corns. The important varieties are Flour corn, Flint corn, Pop corn, Dent corn, and sweet corn. Maize is usually in golden yellow color. However light yellow, white, pink, black, purple, red, and blue colored maize are available due to hybridization and breeding.

Flour corn: This type is exclusively used for making maize flour. The kernels are soft and useful for making flour easily.

Flint corn: It is also called as Indian corn. The seeds are hard and slightly coated with starch. Used as corn meal.

Dent or field corn: Dent corn is found in two colors yellow and white. These are mainly used for cattle and poultry feeds.

Pop corn: The seeds are hard and available in yellow and white colors. These are used for making pop-corn.

Sweet corn: They are sweeter and now days many are interested to buy and eat these corns due to their availability. The seeds are little round and juicy and more yellowish and sweet. The seeds can be eaten fresh as they are soft and tasty.

Corns contain plant phyto-nutrients like dietary fiber, Vitamins, and antioxidants and minerals.

Nutritional and medicinal uses of maize corns:

    Corns contain antioxidant Ferulic acid that can control the free radicals in the body and protect against cancer of breast and liver. In addition corns contain beta carotene and beta cryptoxanthin which help in fighting against lung and oral cancers.
    Corns are natural resources of fiber and therefore control blood cholesterol and protect the cardiovascular system against diseases.
    If corns are regularly consumed controls type I and II diabetes by regulating the blood sugar levels.
    Since corns contain natural fiber eating corns help digestion, prevent constipation thereby formation of piles.
    Corns contain Thiamine (Vitamin B) hence help in maintaining the nervous system healthy. It is said that deficiency of Thiamine is responsible for development of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition corns contain minerals required for the body.

How to select maize corns for consumptions:

    The leaves on the corns should be fresh and green. If they are dried or brownish it can be considered that they are not fresh.
    The seeds should be soft and if pressed milk should come out of them. The seeds should be closely packed.

How to preserve maize corns:
Maize corns can be preserved by wrapping them in a plastic sheet and can be kept in refrigerator. They can also be kept in air tight containers and preserved in the refrigerator. Seeds can also be frozen and preserved.