An ear of buttered corn on the cob is enough to indulge you satisfactorily during a barbecue. With the benefits of corn and its delicious taste, it’s easy to make this grain a part of your diet and boost your health.

There are many tasty dishes that can be prepared with corn. Mexican cuisine in particular has many delectable dishes prepared with corn as one of the main ingredients, such as tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and tortillas. Try some of these recipes or eat corn as it is, but ensure that you get a healthy serving of this grain regularly.

A Round-Up Of The Benefits Of Corn

The benefits of corn are many, as this grain:

Is A Rich Source of Calories

Amongst cereals, corn has the highest number of calories and forms the staple diet in many countries. It offers 342 calories per 100 grams.

Fights Colon Cancer

When you add one cup of corn to your diet, you’re adding 18.4% of the daily recommended dose of fiber, which helps fight against constipation, hemorrhoids, and colon cancer.

Is Abundant in Vitamins

Corn has plenty of vitamins, such as:

• Vitamin B Constituents

  Corn is rich in thiamin and niacin. Thiamin deficiency can cause damage to the nerves, while Niacin deficiency leads to pellagra, which results in dementia, diarrhea, and dermatitis. This malnourished state can be prevented by consuming corn.

• Pantothenic Acid

  Corn provides this vitamin that is essential for proper carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism in the body.

• Folate

  Folate when present in deficient amounts in pregnant women leads to underweight babies as well as babies with defects in the neural tubes. This condition can be prevented by a regular intake of corn.

• Vitamin A

  Corn is rich in beta-carotene, which is the precursor for Vitamin A and is important for healthy skin and good eyesight.

• Vitamin E

  This vitamin has natural antioxidant properties and is found in the kernels of corn.

Is Rich In Minerals

This grain has constituents such as phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. It also contains traces of like minerals like selenium. These nutrients are required for various bodily functions. For example, phosphorous is required for normal growth, bone health and normal kidney functioning, while magnesium is necessary for normal heart rate and bone strength.

Prevents Heart Disease, Diabetes, And Anemia

The risk of cardiovascular diseases is drastically lowered when you consume corn, as it has anti-atherogenic effects on cholesterol.

Vitamin B12 and folate prevent anemia. Also, LDL cholesterol is lowered in the body due to the slower absorption of cholesterol.

Also, here’s some good news for diabetics. Corn helps manage Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM) and hypertension quite effectively.

Some Of The Other Benefits Of Corn

Apart from such amazing health benefits, corn has cosmetic benefits too! Corn starch can be applied to areas of skin rashes and irritations to soothe them. Also, corn products are increasingly replacing carcinogenic petroleum products in cosmetics manufacturing.

The benefits of corn make it a must-have food all through the year. So, the next time you bite into a kernel of corn from its cob, think of the favor that you’re doing to your body, and do it often!