You probably don’t realize just how frequently you consume a corn product. In addition to eating it directly off the cob, it’s also used to make a cooking oil used by millions of people every day. Also, breads, muffins, and tortillas are also made from corn. Considering how frequently we add corn to the dinner table, it may be helpful to know what this product does for the body.
A Cautionary Note to Diabetics
While corn is a nutritious plant-based food, it is a carb. In fact, a 100 gram serving contains 21 grams of carbs even though the corn is primarily comprised of water. It also contains 4.5 grams of sugar. While carbs and sugar are present in corn, these amounts are low compared to the content in pasta and other starchy grains. Nonetheless, diabetics should be aware that corn can have an impact on their blood sugar levels if eaten excessively. Since corn is digested quickly, it is still ranked low to medium on the glycemic index (GI).
Is Popcorn Healthy?
While you should limit the use of salt and butter when eating popcorn, this popular treat does provide a few health benefits. Here are a few good reasons to eat popcorn as a snack.
Phosphorus
Found in high amounts in cooked popcorn, this compound helps the body keep tissue and muscle healthy. It also helps the body grow new tissue, so it has restorative powers.
Magnesium
Another nutrient found in abundance in popcorn, magnesium helps the immune system fight off disease and infection.
Copper
The typical western diet lacks sufficient quantities of copper, so eating more popcorn will help you adjust for a deficiency. Copper is essential to heart health.
Adding More Corn to Your Diet Will Help Your Health
Eating corn straight off the cob or in canned or frozen form will provide you with a wealth of health benefits. Two examples are listed here.
Vision Health
As people get older, macular degeneration and cataracts become more likely, and these conditions lead to blindness in many cases. The lutein and zeaxanthin in corn are powerful antioxidants that help the body fight off these conditions. They’re particularly helpful in fighting off the oxidative harm caused by excessive or long-term exposure to blue light.
Diverticular Disease
A common condition in older men that results in pockets or pouches in the colon, this condition was once mistakenly linked to popcorn consumption. While not fatal in itself, it does cause bloating, flatulence, and indigestion. In extreme cases, it causes bleeding and cramps. A recent study found that men who ate popcorn regularly had a 28% lower chance of developing diverticular disease than those who did not eat popcorn.
Eating a broad range of vegetables will provide you with even more helpful nutrients and vitamins, but corn can be added to give almost any meal extra flavor. It’s a great companion to many other vegetables, or it can be used to give your rice some extra zing. Eating corn in its various forms will help your family eat more nutritiously without it seeming like a chore.
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