In Indonesia, corn can play a role as a healthy snack if processed as popcorn (popcorn) without added flavor, boiled corn, to pipil corn which can be a child's snack. Pipil corn can also be an additional blend of soup, traditional vegetables, or even salads. In addition to delicious, the benefits of corn were also equipped with important nutritional content and can be processed into other products.
Corn which is also known as Maize was first processed by Mexicans around 7000 years ago. Columbus then brought this plant to Spain from Indian tribes in America. These vegetables then spread to the southwestern United States and southern Peru. From Spain, maize then spread to Western Europe, throughout the world.
Now, there are many different types of corn. But certainly, the benefits of corn are widely known as vegetables that are rich in fiber and nutrients that help digestion. Corn is also rich in thiamin, phosphorus, folate, vitamin C, and can meet 10% of the body's daily magnesium needs. In addition, the benefits of corn were not only limited to the seeds.
Corn silk
Corn silk is long fine fibers found at the tip and base and enveloping the corn body. Corn silk contains carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, minerals, and fiber that can absorb fluids, relieve inflammation, and affect blood sugar levels. This content makes corn silk can be used as a medicine to treat various diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, fatigue, high cholesterol, prostate inflammation, kidney stones, bladder infections, urinary tract inflammation, and bedwetting. But the effectiveness of the use of corn silk to treat these conditions still needs to be further investigated.
Besides reducing potassium levels in the blood, corn silk can also cause allergic reactions, itching, and rashes if you apply lotions that contain these ingredients. Pregnant women also need to limit their consumption because it can stimulate the uterus and cause miscarriage.
Cornstarch
Corn flour is one of the choices for non-wheat flour which is free of gluten. Gluten is a protein in wheat, couscous, and can sometimes be found in vanilla extract. The body of a person suffering from gluten intolerance cannot process the protein, causing a reaction or a health problem. Cornflour can be an alternative ingredient for those who have Celiac disease who also must avoid gluten.
Corn syrup
The benefits of corn can also be processed into corn syrup made from processed corn flour, thus producing natural glucose plus water. In the body, glucose is a type of sugar in the blood that provides energy for body cells. In the manufacturing process, an enzyme is added that converts some of this glucose into fructose, which is sugar that is naturally present in the fruit. The taste is sweeter and more easily processed to make high-fructose corn syrup is widely used in the food and beverage industry such as soda and snacks.
However, there is controversy that says that high-fructose corn syrup is more dangerous to health than other sweeteners such as honey, sucrose, or even fruit juice concentrate. It is suspected that there is a tendency that people who consume more high-fructose corn syrup are more at risk of developing health problems and obesity. Compared to sucrose which is easier to digest, this syrup has no binding chemicals, so it is slower to digest.
However, the study found that there was no difference between sucrose and fructose consumption. Sugar consumption in general needs to be limited to avoid the risk of certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure. Consumption of excess sugar is also not good for oral health.
Besides being consumed in processed form, these vegetables are best consumed fresh after being cooked in their original form to get the best nutritional content and the benefits of corn which are good for health.
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