Maize also referred to as corn, makai or bhutta, has many nutritional benefits. Owing to its food value and numerous other uses in the food industry, corn is one of the most important crops in the world. Traditionally, Indian preparations generally center around the use of entire grain, such as in ‘makka ki roti‘ made from cornmeal, bhuna bhutta, popcorn, and most sweetcorn preparations.
Ferulic acid is a unique phytochemical mostly found in grains as well as in fruits and vegetables but in very meager amounts. It can be found however in high quantities in corn. Cooking corn increases the ferulic acid significantly.
Sweetcorn, is high in carbs, fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
Sweetcorn is a good probiotic as it contains some kind of good gut bacteria, which aids in digestion and facilitates better metabolism, eventually leading to weight loss. It also contains numerous antioxidants and vitamins – A, B and C – which aids your body in other ways too like maintaining healthy skin, vision, and mucosa which is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body and covers the surface of internal organs.
Further, it also contains healthy amounts of some essential minerals including zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese. Sweetcorn is also a gluten-free cereal and used for celiac disease. Apart from helping in weight loss, it provides essential calories for daily metabolism.
Rinki Kumari, Chief Dietician, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bangalore said “Though it a power-packed food, it is advisable to consume it in moderation to reap its benefits.”
Why you should include corn in your diet?
- Corn has a lot of carbohydrates, and even minerals and vitamins like potassium, phosphorus, iron, and thiamine.
- Cornmeal provides 15 percent fibre, of which nine percent is soluble. Deficiency of dietary fibre has been often linked to constipation, cancer, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
- The glycaemic index of corn is rated fairly high and therefore, diabetics and weight-conscious people should have it in moderation.
- Corn is known to be gluten-free, it is suitable for people who suffer from gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
- However, the protein content in maize are incomplete; they lack essential amino acids. It is advised to add legumes, nuts, dairy products or animal protein, which contain the essential amino acid.
