Benefits of Corn And Its Side Effects

The fibre content of one cup of corn amounts to 18.4% of the daily recommended amount. This aids in alleviating digestive problems such as constipation and haemorrhoids, as well as lowering the risk of colon cancer due to corn being a whole-grain.

Fibre has long been promoted as a way to reduce colon risk, but insufficient and conflicting data exist for fibres relationship with preventing cancer, although whole-grain consumption has been proven to reduce that risk.

Fibre helps to bulk up bowel movements, which stimulates peristaltic motion and the production of gastric juice and bile. It can also add bulk to overly loose stools, which can reduce the chances of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and diarrhoea.

Corn is rich in vitamin B constituents, especially thiamine and niacin. Thiamine is essential for maintaining nerve health and cognitive function. Niacin deficiency leads to pellagra; a disease characterized by diarrhoea, dementia, and dermatitis that is commonly observed in malnourished individuals.

Corn is also a good source of pantothenic acid, which is an essential vitamin for carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism in the body. Deficiency of folic acid in pregnant women can lead to the birth of underweight infants and may also result in neural tube defects in new-borns.

Corn provides a large percentage of the daily folate requirement. The kernels of corn are rich in vitamin E, a natural antioxidant that is essential for growth and protection of the body from illness and diseases.

Corn is a rich source of calories and is a staple in many places. The calorific content of corn is among the highest for cereals. This is why, it is often associated with for quick weight gain, and combined with the ease and flexibility of growing conditions for corn, the high-calorie content makes it vital for the survival of dozens of agricultural nations.

Corn consists of abundant minerals, which have positive benefits for the body in a number of ways. Phosphorous, along with magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron, and copper are found in all varieties of corn. It also contains trace minerals like selenium, which are difficult to find in most normal diets.

Phosphorous is essential for regulating normal growth, maintaining bone health, and optimal kidney functioning. Magnesium is necessary for maintaining a normal heart rate and for increasing bone mineral density.

Researches have proven that corn is a rich source of antioxidants which fight cancer-causing free radicals. Unlike many other foods, cooking actually increases the number of usable antioxidants in sweet corn. It is a rich source of a phenolic compound called ferulic acid, an anti-carcinogenic agent that has been seen to be effective in fighting tumors that lead to breast and liver cancer.

Anthocyanin, found in purple corn, also act as scavengers and eliminators of cancer-causing free radicals. Antioxidants play an important role in reducing many of the dangerous forms of cancer because of their ability to induce apoptosis in cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. This is particularly relevant when phytochemicals are the source of the antioxidants, which is another type of chemical found in high volumes in corn.

According to some researchers, corn oil has been shown to have an anti-atherogenic effect on cholesterol levels, thus reducing the risk of various cardiovascular diseases. Corn oil, particularly, is the best way to improve ones heart health and this is derived from the fact that corn is close to an optimal fatty acid combination.

This allows omega-3 fatty acids to eleminate the damaging “bad” cholesterol and replaces them at the binding sites. This on the other hand will reduce the chances of arteries becoming clogged, will reduce blood pressure, and lower the chances of heart attack and stroke.

Corn helps to prevent anaemia caused by a deficiency of these vitamins. Corn also has a significant level of iron, which is one of the essential minerals needed to form new red blood cells and this helps to cope up the deficiency of iron and hence prevents anaemia.

Consumption of corn husk oil lowers plasma LDL (bad) cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption in the body. This reduction in LDL cholesterol does not mean a reduction in HDL (good) cholesterol, which can have beneficial effects on the body. They include the reduction of heart diseases, prevention of atherosclerosis, and a general scavenging of free radicals throughout the body.

In recent decades, many people throughout the world suffer from diabetes. Although the appropriate reason for this has not yet been found out, it is generally related to nutrition. Studies have shown that the consumption of corn kernels assists in the management of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and is effective against hypertension due to the presence of phenolic phytochemicals in whole corn. Phytochemicals can regulate the absorption and release of insulin in the body, which can reduce the chance of spikes and drops for diabetic patients and help them maintain a normal lifestyle.

Yellow corn being a rich source of beta-carotene forms vitamin A in the body and is essential for the maintenance of good vision and skin. Beta-carotene is a great source of vitamin A because it is converted within the body in accordance to the amount required by the body.

However, vitamin A can be toxic if consumed in higher amounts and hence deriving it through beta-carotene transformation is ideal. It also benefits the health of skin and mucus membranes, as well as boosts the immune system. The amount of beta-carotene in the body that is not converted into vitamin A acts as a very strong antioxidant, like all carotenoids and helps to combat terrible diseases like cancer and heart disease.

Smokers need to be more careful about their beta-carotene content, because smokers with high beta-carotene levels are more likely to contract lung cancer, while non-smokers with high beta-carotene content are less likely to contract lung cancer.

Cornstarch is used in the manufacturing of many cosmetic products and may also be applied topically to soothe skin rashes and irritation. Corn products can be used for replacing carcinogenic petroleum products which are major components of many cosmetic preparations. Many of the traditional skin creams contain petroleum jelly as a base material, which can often block pores and make skin conditions even worse.

Diverticular disease (diverticulosis) is a condition characterized with pouches in the walls of the colon. The main symptoms include cramps, flatulence, bloating, and less often, bleeding and infection. Despite lack of evidence, avoiding popcorn and other high-fibre foods, such as nuts and seeds, has been recommended as a preventive strategy against diverticular disease. In fact, popcorn consumption was found to be protective. It was found in a research that people who ate the most popcorn were 28% less likely to develop diverticular disease than those with the lowest intake.