Boiled corn: health benefits or harms

Corn is one of the oldest cereals known to mankind. Europeans met him relatively recently. But he quickly gained popularity on this continent. And this is not surprising, because you can make flour and cereal from corn, and it can also be boiled, and it will be a very tasty and healthy dish.

Which corn is healthier: raw or boiled

Theoretically, the largest amount of vitamins and minerals is found in raw corn. But to use it in this form would be at least difficult. Firstly, raw corn has a very specific taste, and not everyone will like it. Secondly, it is more difficult for the body to digest such grains, and this can provoke certain problems with the stomach.

There are varieties of corn that can be eaten raw. Their grains have a relatively soft shell and have a sweet taste. The length of such an ear does not exceed 5 cm. But in Russia such varieties are not grown.

Corn is cooked for a long time, and during this time, under the influence of high temperatures, many vitamins are destroyed. According to scientists, boiled corn contains only 20-30% of the nutrients of the amount that was originally in it. But even so, it is good for the body. Fiber is perfectly preserved in it, helping to normalize digestion. Therefore, for people who adhere to a therapeutic diet, boiled corn is much more useful than raw, because it is better absorbed and gives a lower burden on the digestive tract.

In general, boiled corn is not only healthier than raw, but also canned analogue, since there are no additives in it. Canned contains vinegar, sugar and salt, so it is contraindicated in some diseases. As for frozen corn, it is boiled before freezing, so that it has all the properties of boiled.

Composition and calorie content

The energy value of boiled corn is 123 kcal per 100 g. Moreover, it contains a lot of useful elements. First of all, it is fiber, which helps to normalize digestive processes. In addition, boiled corn contains:

1. Amino acids are a kind of building material for proteins. They play a crucial role in metabolic processes. Amino acids normalize the functioning of the heart, improve brain activity, promote the accelerated elimination of toxins and heavy metals from the body, and protect the liver from harmful effects. Corn contains glycine, methionine, choline, tyrosine and other amino acids.
2. Ascorbic acid and vitamin E are two fairly powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, they have a beneficial effect on the state of blood vessels. And vitamin E takes care of the condition of the skin, hair and nails; it is not for nothing that cosmetics are enriched with them.
3. B vitamins are responsible for the normalization of metabolic processes.
4. Vitamin PP, necessary for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.
5. Trace elements, including fluorine, molybdenum, iodine, phosphorus, copper, etc.All of them participate in metabolic processes and contribute to the saturation of body cells with oxygen.

It is curious that corn grains even have a microscopic amount of gold. This is the only food product that contains this element.

Thus, boiled corn is a vegetable protein, vitamins and complex carbohydrates, which makes it an ideal dietary product, especially since its grains do not contain gluten. So, they can be consumed even by those people who suffer from celiac disease. Properly prepared corn does not cause any dyspeptic symptoms like bloating and flatulence precisely because of the lack of this protein.

What is boiled corn good for?

General benefit

This cereal, even when boiled, is useful to everyone. Eating corn regularly:

1. Helps lower cholesterol, prevent plaque formation, and thereby reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
2. Allows you to regulate metabolic processes.
3. Helps to improve the conductivity of nerve impulses.
4. Strengthens the immune system.
5. It relieves constipation and some other digestive system problems.

Young ears of corn help cope with kidney stones and gall bladder. Boiled culture hairs, also called stigmas, are also useful, so you should not throw them away during the preparation of a dish.

For women

Corn contains amino acids that help reduce pain before menstruation, as well as get rid of migraines. In addition, methionine present in grains will be useful to women who take hormonal contraceptives. The antioxidants that make up corn prevent the development of inflammatory diseases, including pelvic organs.

For men

Boiled corn is one of those products that give a person strength. Men need it for strength training and physical labor. After all, corn contains amino acids that muscles need. And the grains of this cereal are champions in the content of vitamin K, which is so necessary for the heart and blood vessels.

During pregnancy

For future mothers, corn is useful in that it allows you to eliminate puffiness, which is often accompanied by pregnancy. In addition, corn is a low-calorie product, so that it allows a woman to control weight, which is very important during pregnancy. But at the same time, corn supplies the body with all useful substances and perfectly satisfies hunger.

Fiber, which is contained in its grains, helps to improve digestive processes, therefore, it is an effective prevention of constipation, which future mothers often encounter.

In the early stages, eating corn helps to cope with toxicosis. And the iron contained in its grains allows you to normalize the level of hemoglobin and prevent the development of anemia, which threatens a woman throughout pregnancy.

Of course, boiled corn should be consumed in moderation. In addition, it is worth consulting with a doctor first. The fact is that during pregnancy, blood coagulability may increase, and in such cases, boiled corn is contraindicated.

In addition, you need to choose only high-quality corn and cook it at home yourself. Buying boiled ears somewhere in the bazaar or on the beach (as is often the case in the southern regions) is impossible, because it is impossible to say under what conditions all this was cooked.

When breastfeeding

For young mothers, boiled corn is useful because it helps to quickly return to normal after childbirth - to reduce weight, improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails. But you can enter it in your diet only after the child is a month old, because before that any similar product can provoke colic.

For children

Pediatricians do not have a unanimous opinion as to how old a baby can be given boiled corn. Some say that from the moment the baby is two years old, others say that you need to wait until 2.5-3 years.The fact is that the child’s gastrointestinal tract must be ripe so that he can digest the corn. Even if the cob was brewed correctly, the digestive enzymes of a one-year-old baby simply cannot cope with the dense shell of grain. Many parents can share their experience - when a child picks up a corncob, as they say, sharpen his teeth, seduced by its bright color and smell, but then the grain “comes out” practically unchanged.

So, boiled corn is given to the baby in 2.5–3 years. At the same time, it should be very well boiled. And it is best to give the child the grains already cut from the head. Moreover, they should be tried to trim just above the place where they are attached to it, since the head of the grains at the head is very hard and dense, the child’s stomach simply can’t digest it.

Children over three years of age can be given whole ears of corn. But still, you need to slightly ease the process of digestion and hold a sharp knife directly over the grains on the cob. Then the baby will eat the soft contents of the grains, and the densest part of the shell will remain on the head. Of course, any grain has the largest number of useful elements in its shell. But the children's body is still not able to absorb them, because it is poorly digested. So you have to make compromises in a certain sense. The maximum amount of boiled corn that can be given to children is 100-150 g.

Is it possible to eat boiled corn while losing weight

Although boiled corn has a rather high glycemic index, in the absence of direct contraindications it can be eaten by those who are on a diet and want to lose weight. The fact is that its grains contain many vitamins and amino acids that accelerate metabolism. In addition, with a relatively low calorie content, it helps to alleviate hunger, and its use allows you to control your appetite. Finally, eating corn helps to normalize digestive processes, which is very important for weight loss.

You only need to know the measure. When losing weight, it is enough to eat up to 150 g of boiled grains per day, with a small amount of salt and, if possible, without additional fats. In extreme cases, you can afford a little butter.

Boiled corn in medicine

Substances contained in boiled corn help strengthen blood vessels and heart muscle. A unique set of trace elements and vitamins helps to maintain the body in good shape. But with some diseases boiled corn will have to be abandoned.

With diabetes

Although corn is considered a low-calorie product, it is strictly prohibited in this disease. This is not only about boiled, but also about canned corn and even cereal from it, since they can negatively affect blood sugar levels. The glycemic index of boiled grains is 70. This is even more than canned corn!

With pancreatitis

In the stage of exacerbation of the disease, boiled corn is not recommended, because it requires a lot of enzymes for digestion, and this creates an additional burden on the pancreas.

As for the stage of remission, then boiled corn is not recommended. Unless we are talking about a very small number of grains - up to 100 g and not more than twice a week. Moreover, the corn should be well-boiled to minimize the load on the pancreas.

With gastritis

In the stage of exacerbation of this disease, a special diet is prescribed - in fact, this is a therapeutic fasting, and boiled corn is not included in the diet at this time. You can use it only in a state of remission. And at the same time, it is better to choose young ears, as they are easier to digest and do not create additional burden for the digestive tract.

For the intestines

Even in an adult, corn is digested in the body for a long time. This creates an additional burden on the intestine, therefore, with inflammatory diseases of this organ in the acute stage, it is not recommended to use this product. But corn has a beneficial effect on a healthy intestine.

For constipation

Grains of this cereal contain fiber in large quantities. This component helps to cope with constipation. You only need to regularly include boiled corn in your menu.

With gout

Substances contained in cereal grains help normalize salt metabolism. That is why boiled corn is advised to eat with gout. You just need to choose young ears, they are not only tastier, but also cook faster, and nutrients are better absorbed from them. Only with gout you can’t eat boiled corn with salt, as many people like to do. It is better to use it with a small piece of high-quality butter.

For the liver

Many believe that only boiled corn stigmas (hairs) are useful for the liver. Indeed, their use facilitates the course of hepatitis, positively affects the work of the liver and gall bladder. But boiled corn also possesses such properties. Only it should be consumed in moderation.

With hemorrhoids

With this disease, it is very important to normalize the digestive processes in order to prevent constipation. To do this, you need to establish proper nutrition, including including boiled corn in the diet, which contains a large amount of fiber. In addition, its grains contain substances that help strengthen blood vessels, and this is also very important for hemorrhoids.

With cholecystitis

Corn is believed to be beneficial for cholecystitis. Moreover, even in those cases when it is accompanied by the formation of stones. But we are talking only about young ears of corn. They are boiled and eaten, but they do not throw out the broth, but drink a glass a day.

Harm and contraindications

Although corn is generally healthy, in some cases it can be harmful. As already noted, do not use it for diabetes. Boiled corn is also contraindicated in case of increased blood coagulation and some vascular diseases (for example, thrombosis and thrombophlebitis).

You can not eat corn and exacerbation of diseases of the digestive tract. It is not recommended for people with pathologically low body weight.

How to store boiled corn

As a rule, corn is cooked immediately in large quantities. In this regard, the question arises of how to store her ears so that they do not deteriorate. Suppose, if corn is cooked for dinner, you can calmly warm it for breakfast. At room temperature, it is stored for 10-12 hours, it does not even have to be refrigerated.

In the latter case, it can be stored at low temperatures for 2-3 days. So that the cobs do not lose moisture, each of them is wrapped in cling film. If there is free space, you can put in the refrigerator the entire pan in which the corn was cooked, along with water.

Another option - grains are selected from the cooked corn cobs and laid out in pre-prepared glass jars that have been sterilized. Then salt is thrown into boiling water (based on the calculation of 1 teaspoon per liter of water), the resulting solution is poured into cans with corn and closed with airtight lids. When the banks have cooled, they are placed in the refrigerator, and in this form they can stand for 2-3 months.

Is it possible to freeze

If desired, boiled corn can be frozen and kept in the freezer for a year - until the next season. In this case, after cooking, corn should be taken out of boiling water, wait until it cools down, after which each ear should be wrapped in cling film and put in the freezer. In the future, it is cooked like this - removed from the freezer, placed in a pot with boiling water and boiled for 10 minutes.

How to cook corn

Corncobs can be cooked in a pot or in a slow cooker. The main thing is to choose them correctly. You need to take the ears with light grains (this is milk ripeness), with juicy leaves. If they are dry, this indicates that the ears were ripped off for a long time. If you want to make them more juicy, then you can add a little sugar to the water.

In the pan

The cobs are washed, the upper leaves are removed and soaked for a couple of hours in water to make the grains softer. You need to cook them without adding salt, it just gives rigidity. After soaking, young corn is cooked for literally 20 minutes. Overripe cereals are cooked for a long time - almost 2 hours. Readiness can be determined only by taking a sample - if the seed has become soft, you can turn off the gas. After that, the pan is removed from the stove, water is poured out of it, covered with a lid and wrapped in a terry towel so that the cobs reach the desired condition and the grains become more tender.

In a slow cooker

Ears of corn are prepared in the same way as described above. Water is poured into a multicooker to a maximum level. Then spread the ears in the bowl, cover them with upper leaves, set the high temperature mode and turn on the device for 15 minutes.

In a pressure cooker

The top leaves are removed from the ears, washed thoroughly in running water. The more delicate leaves and stigmas, which are adjacent to the grains themselves, are also washed and laid on the bottom of the pressure cooker.

Spads cleaned in this way are spread on top of the hairs and leaves and poured with a small amount of water. Until it boils, salt is not added so that the grains do not become hard. On the device set the appropriate mode and turn it on for 10-20 minutes. The cooking time depends on the corn itself. If we are talking about young cobs, then 8-10 minutes is enough. This applies to appliances such as a slow cooker. If we are talking about a conventional pressure cooker, which is put on the stove, then boiling water is poured into it so that it completely covers the ears. Cooking time for dairy corn is the same 8-10 minutes after boiling.

How to cook corn for fishing

Experienced fishermen say boiled corn is a great bait. Almost any non-predatory fish pecks on it; many use it to catch carp, crucian carp, roach, and grass carp. But especially loves corn carp.

At the same time, grains must be taken raw, not pickled. The corn that is sold in banks in supermarkets, firstly, contains vinegar, and secondly, small grains are usually selected for it. This means that such bait will mainly attract every little thing. In addition, manufacturers usually incise grains, so they are worse hooked.

So, it’s best to cook raw corn for these purposes. Its grains need to be washed and left in water for 1-3 days. During this time, they should significantly swell. You need to cook the corn in a pan, over medium heat, so that it does not burn, at least for an hour. It is also recommended to add sugar to it, literally 20–40 g per 1 liter of water. Finished grain is considered when it has already become soft, but has not yet had time to boil.

After cooking, the grains are left in the water for a couple of days. Experienced fishermen say that at this time you need to give the bait a more pronounced aroma, for example, add honey to it. This is done exactly when the grain is ready, since honey cannot be subjected to prolonged heat treatment - it loses its properties from this.

Is it possible to heat boiled corn in the microwave?

The main problem faced by those who want to heat boiled corn in the microwave is how to preserve its juiciness. Indeed, under the influence of microwave rays, moisture from products quickly evaporates, and this can make corn too dry and almost inedible.To prevent this, you need to add a little water to the container in which the cereal is heated, and heat with it. The liquid will give a steam effect, and the ears will remain juicy. It is also recommended to cover them with a special cap designed for microwave ovens.

How much boiled corn can I eat per day

A healthy person can eat two ears of medium-sized corn a day. This is approximately 150-200 g of grain.

Can I eat at night

Theoretically, it’s better not to eat anything at night. However, not everyone can adhere to this rule. In such cases, nutritionists are advised to eat some boiled corn. This is one of the few foods you can eat at night. In addition, it reduces the level of "bad cholesterol" and helps prevent the formation of fatty deposits.

How to clean

There are two ways to peel boiled corn. The traditional option - the cobs are cooked in the usual way and cool to such an extent that it is convenient to hold them in your hand. Then they take a small sharp knife and carefully, at one end, pick out grains from one row. Having reached the end, repeat the same procedure for another series. This, of course, takes a lot of time, but the grains remain intact and beautiful.

The second option is suitable for those who do not want to gnaw grain from the cob. Take boiled corn and divide the ear into several shorter pieces. Then, using a knife, one row of seeds is picked out. After that, the thumb press on the adjacent row of grains - they are separated literally by a whole strip.

Can boiled corn be given to animals

Some pets are very fond of boiled corn. But what do vets say about this - is it possible to give this cereal to animals?

Dog

Many ready-made dog foods include corn. It really contains many useful elements, but sometimes there is more harm from it than good. After all, it can cause allergic reactions in the animal. This also applies to boiled corn. Unlike raw, it will not block the intestines, and it is prepared without vinegar, which is present in pickled. But nevertheless, they give it to dogs in a small amount, carefully observing the reaction.

Cat

Many cats love boiled corn. But do not give them this product in large quantities. Better let it be a treat, which the cat receives little by little. The fact is that corn in the cat’s stomach is poorly digested. On the other hand, it helps to cleanse the intestines, so a spoonful of grains is quite enough for medical purposes. In addition, corn should not be given to cats with digestive disorders. And you need to carefully monitor the reaction of the pet, as some cats are allergic to corn starch.

Rabbits

These animals are given not only boiled corn grains, but also its leaves, but only in the amount recommended by the veterinarian, since it is impossible to overeat handsome beauties.

A parrot

Boiled corn is given in small quantities to birds - not more than a quarter of an ear per day.

Hamsters

Dried corn grains are often bought for these rodents, but in fact they prefer to nibble on the cob. So they can and should give boiled corn to them, only it should not be their main food.

Guinea pigs

Corn is useful for these animals, but only young cobs should be given. Veterinarians advise giving corn in combination with alfalfa.

To rats

Boiled corn grains will benefit these rodents. It is only necessary not to overfeed them.

Interesting facts about corn

1. Corn is a cereal that was brought to Europe from the New World, where it was called maize. And by the way, this is the only cultivated cereal of American origin. In Mexico, it was grown for 5000 years. True, in those days, the ears of corn were very small, literally 5-7 cm in length.
2. In the ordinary view, cereal is always a spikelet, but corn does not look like wheat or rye. She does not have a spikelet, but there are cobs sticking out of the leaf sinuses. Of course, corn had a wild ancestor. But now this cereal does not occur in nature, therefore the ancestor of maize is unknown to botanists. Although there is a theory that it was cereal - theosinte Mexican, which resembles corn outwardly, although it just has spikelets, not ears. This plant in South America grows like a weed.
3. It is also interesting that modern corn does not run wild, unlike other cereals. And the reason is in the cobs, because of them the grains do not crumble to the ground and do not sprout on their own.
4. In general, the grains of this crop are an ideal dietary product. Vitamins and oil are concentrated in their pulp, but amino acids and trace elements are in a hard shell. Their specific content depends on which group of varieties corn belongs to - vegetable or cereal. By the way, the first contains more sugars.
5. Although there are a lot of amino acids in corn grains, they lack lysine (unless, of course, maize is the only cereal in the diet). But they have a lot of other amino acids - tryptophan. Of course, the Maya Indians did not know anything about these substances. But at the same time, they experimentally found that it is best to mix corn with beans, because they just have a lot of lysine, but tryptophan is not enough. So in the modern diet it is better to include dishes of Mexican cuisine, where corn is adjacent to beans.

Photo of boiled corn