Great Reasons to Eat More Corn

Amy Taylor June 03, 2015

Is corn healthy or not? This crop has gotten a bad rap over the years because of the issue in genetically modified products. But corn is actually a nutritious food that provides plenty of health benefits. It’s time that you learn about them today.

It is rich in antioxidants.

Corn is a good source of manganese. It also contains anthocyanins, beta-carotene, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, lutein, syringic acid, zeaxanthin, vanillic acid, coumaric acid and protocatechuic acid. All these are powerful antioxidants that guard your body against diseases.

It is good for digestion.

Corn is high in dietary fibre – both soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre helps block cholesterol by turning into a gel-like consistency while insoluble fibre guards against constipation and intestinal problems by promoting soft and bulky stool that can move easily through the intestines.

It helps slash the risk of diabetes and hypertension.

Fruits and vegetables, including corn, are effective in lowering the risk of diabetes. Regular consumption of corn assists in the management of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and protects against hypertension as it contains phenolic phytochemicals. Such compounds regulate the absorption and release of insulin in the body, thus preventing spikes in your blood sugar.

It can protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Corn is a great source of thymine which plays a significant role in maintaining brain function by participating in enzymatic reactions. It is also needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine – a neurotransmitter that is essential for memory. Deficiency on thymine has been shown to speed up age-related impairment in mental function and contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

It’s good for the skin.

Yellow corn is rich in beta-carotene which forms vitamin A – the nutrient that plays a key role in promoting and maintaining healthy, youthful skin. This sweet and delicious crop also contains high levels of Vitamin C and lycopene that help prevent UV-generated free radicals from harming your skin while stimulating collagen production.

It promotes healthy hair too.

Corn oil has the right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that controls inflammation and prevents the scalp from becoming dry and flaky. These fatty acids help facilitate the transport of fat and deficiency of any of these can cause brittle hair or hair fall.

It has anticancer properties.

The antioxidants in corn help fight cancer by blocking free radicals from harming your body. In particular, corn is rich in phenolic compound, ferulic acid which is shown to be effective in fighting tumours in the breast and liver.

It’s beneficial to the heart.

Corn oil has an optimal fatty acid combination which promotes cardiovascular health. The ability of the nutrients in corn to fight bad cholesterol prevents the arteries from becoming clogged, which results to lower blood pressure, and smaller risk of heart attack and stroke.

Whether you steam it or grill it – corn remains juicy and delicious. Above all, it’s great for your health too!