Corn: Benefits And Harms

Corn is a favorite summer treat for many people, but nutritionists and healthy lifestyle adherents have an ambiguous attitude towards it. Corn is rich in vegetable protein, although inferior (we wrote more about proteins here), vitamins, minerals and antioxidants - carotenoids, which give it a bright yellow color. At the same time, the cereal plant contains a decent amount of sugar, starch, gluten and many other substances, the benefits of which are highly questionable. Whether corn can be useful for the body and how much of it there is, so as not to harm health, we tell in our material.

Beneficial features

Corn owes its bright color to powerful natural antioxidants - carotenoids. Their content in corn is high enough to protect cells from free radical damage, reduce inflammation and slow down the aging process. In addition, carotenoids play an important role in maintaining healthy vision - they can prevent age-related degeneration of the eye and reduce the risk of cataract formation. The active substances in corn kernels significantly improve digestion, prevent inflammation and gastrointestinal diseases - especially corn is beneficial for intestinal health.

Why shouldn't you eat corn too often?

Corn belongs to starchy vegetables (read more about them here), which means that in your quest to lose weight, it is not your assistant. Starch is a polysaccharide, and when digested, it turns into glucose, which, in large quantities, is known to lead to weight gain and a host of health problems. Corn also contains sugar in abundance, which results in a high carbohydrate load and a rather large calorie content.

In addition, corn contains antinutrients - substances that prevent vitamins and minerals from being absorbed into your body. For example, corn grains are rich in zinc, magnesium and manganese, which are necessary for the proper functioning of the body, but due to phytic acid (an antinutrient), they are practically not absorbed.

It is not necessary to give up corn altogether, especially if you love it very much. It's just that it should be on a par with cakes and fries - that is, you can eat it, but rarely and in small quantities.