Corn Porridge: Nutritional Value and Health Benefits

Drinking corn porridge is not just for filling the stomach, but also has various health-promoting functions. For those who value health preservation, the efficacy of various porridges is of great concern. Corn porridge is primarily made from corn, and its nutritional value and health benefits all come from corn. Regular consumption can help delay aging, prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and bring many other health benefits. Let's explore the nutritional value and health benefits of corn porridge below.

Nutritional Value of Corn Porridge

According to traditional Chinese medicine, corn has a sweet and neutral taste, and it affects the spleen and stomach meridians. It has the functions of strengthening the spleen and stomach, promoting urination, nourishing the lungs and calming the mind. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" states that it "regulates the middle and stimulates the appetite." Nutritional research shows that corn is not only high in starch but also contains high levels of protein, vitamins, fats, fiber, and minerals. Therefore, nutrition experts from both domestic and international circles refer to corn as "golden food". This description is not an exaggeration. Corn has anticancer properties due to its rich content of vitamin A, glutathione, and magnesium, which all have inhibitory effects on the reproduction and development of human cancer cells. The fiber and carotenoids in corn can not only enhance intestinal wall contractions, promote bowel movements, eliminate toxins, and prevent colon cancer, but also differentiate cancer cells. Reports from relevant domestic and international sources indicate that the incidence of cancer is generally lower in areas where corn is the main food, possibly due to the rich content of magnesium, selenium, and other trace elements, as well as 40% gluten, which can inhibit tumor development, increase intestinal motility and bile excretion, and promote waste elimination.

Health Benefits of Eating Corn Porridge

1. Delaying Aging: Corn has a sweet and neutral taste, and it affects the liver, kidneys, and bladder meridians. It has functions such as promoting urination, relieving swelling, nourishing the liver and gallbladder, strengthening the spleen and penetrating dampness, regulating the middle and stimulating the appetite, nourishing the lungs and calming the mind, and clearing heat and dampness. Eating corn during the autumn season can not only dispel autumn dryness but also help delay aging.

2. Preventing Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases: Modern medicine believes that corn is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, trace elements, and amino acids. Research has confirmed that the unsaturated fatty acids in corn, especially linoleic acid, account for more than 60% of its content. When combined with vitamin E in corn germ, they can reduce blood cholesterol levels and prevent its deposition on the vascular wall. Therefore, corn has certain preventive and therapeutic effects on coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension.

3. Improving Vision: Corn contains flavonoids, which have a certain effect on the macular region of the retina. Therefore, eating corn regularly can improve vision.

4. Preventing Cancer and Anti-aging: The selenium and magnesium found in corn have anticancer effects. When selenium and vitamin E work together, they can prevent more than ten types of cancer, especially the most common types such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Additionally, selenium can regulate thyroid function and prevent the occurrence of cataracts. Magnesium can not only inhibit the development of cancer cells but also strengthen intestinal wall contractions, promoting the excretion of waste from the body, which is also significant for cancer prevention. Corn contains a longevity factor called glutathione, which, with the participation of selenium, generates glutathione oxidase, which has the function of restoring youth and delaying aging.

5. Beautifying and Weight Loss Functions of Corn Silk: The vitamin E in corn germ can promote cell division in the human body and prevent wrinkles from forming on the skin. Additionally, corn silk has diuretic properties that can aid in weight loss. Expanded cornflakes have a large volume and can eliminate hunger in obese individuals after consumption, but they have a low caloric content, making them one of the foods suitable for weight loss.