Corn is a large annual cereal and is considered one of the oldest crops developed by humanity 7-12 thousand years ago. Today, corn sowings occupy approximately 132 million hectares of land, and an annual yield of about 450 million tons.
Approximately half of the world's crop grows in the United States, where local farmers grow corn for home pasture. The grain of this culture is intended not only for human nutritional needs. It is also the main feed for livestock and poultry. In this article we will consider issues such as:
- Corn flour, its benefits and harm to humans.
- Scopes of cornmeal.
- Properties
Cornmeal : benefits and harms
Fresh corn is one of the favorite foods of many people. Grains of this wonderful cereal can be eaten in boiled and dried form (popcorn). Canned corn, which is an indispensable ingredient in many home cooking dishes , is also very popular. Corn is also used to make cereals, which is used to make tasty and healthy cereal. No less popular product is cornmeal, which is widely used by many chefs to prepare a variety of pastries.
The benefit of cornmeal is its high nutritional properties. A variety of products made from such a component are well absorbed by the body, improve digestion and metabolism.
You can often hear the following question: "Is cornmeal useful?" To answer it, it is necessary to consider in more detail the chemical composition and nutritional value of this product. The composition of the flour includes many minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins (B1, B2), vitamins PP and E, starch and beta-carotene.
Despite the fact that this product is quite high in calories (331 kcal per 100 g), some types of bread baked from it can be used as a diet and contribute to weight loss.
The use of cornmeal has long been known in folk medicine. This wonderful product is used in the treatment of epilepsy and poliomyelitis, helps strengthen blood vessels, normalizes heart function, stimulates bile secretion, increases hemoglobin and even prolongs youth. In diseases such as tuberculosis and chronic digestive disorders, cornmeal is also an indispensable food product.
What are the properties of cornmeal? The beneficial qualities of this product are known for various inflammatory processes of the gallbladder, hypertension and kidney stone disease. Many athletes try to include in their diet dishes prepared using cornmeal, due to its high nutritional value.
It should be noted that this product does not include gluten (gluten) - a protein substance contained in white grains (wheat, rye, etc.). People with a disease such as celiac disease are not allowed to eat gluten-containing foods. In this case, patients following a diet can use cornmeal as an alternative to wheat or rye. Nevertheless, products made from it should not be eaten if:
- You have increased blood clotting. Cornmeal contributes to blood thickening, therefore, with such a disease, its use should be minimized.
- There are any pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, corn flour products should be used with caution in order to avoid exacerbations of chronic gastrointestinal diseases.
Application
What other properties does cornmeal have? The benefits and harms of this product have been described above. Consider the additional uses of cornmeal.
It is known that this product is used in completely unexpected areas. For example, flour is widely used in fishing as a bait for white fish. In addition, it is used as a binder in the manufacture of a variety of sausages, brewing, etc. Its other important property is the slowing down of carbohydrate fermentation, and therefore products with the addition of such a component retain their shelf life longer.
The use of cornmeal is known in various fields of human activity. Most often it is used in cooking. In addition to a variety of pastries, this product is used in the manufacture of corn flakes, which modern children love so much. Coarse flour is mainly used for baking bread and confectionery. For the manufacture of the most magnificent and airy culinary creations, a fine grinding product is used. From corn flour, dishes such as pancakes, pancakes, bakery products, pies, various cookies and cakes, desserts, soups, main dishes, etc. are made.
Corn flour is also used in cosmetology. Known recipes for various face masks and hands made using this product.
Anti- wrinkle anti-aging mask
2 tbsp. tablespoons of cornmeal should be mixed with the protein of 1 egg until foam is formed. Using a cotton swab, apply a thin layer on the skin of the face or hands. After 20 minutes, the mask must be washed off or wiped with a damp cloth. To achieve the effect of narrowing the pores, the face should be rinsed with cold water and apply a nourishing cream.
Exfoliating mask
A tablespoon of honey must be mixed with Art. a spoonful of cornmeal. You can use the resulting mass as a scrub or mask. It is advisable to apply the mass in a circular motion. After 10 minutes, the residues must be washed off.
Lifting mask
1 tbsp. a spoon of white clay should be mixed with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of flour. Add 2 tbsp. tablespoons of strong brewed black tea and 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, then mix the mass until a homogeneous consistency. For dry skin, brewed tea can be replaced with yogurt.
Apply the mask to the face, wait 20 minutes. After the procedure, the residues should be washed off.
Acne mask with cornmeal
2 tbsp. tablespoons of cornmeal must be mixed with 2 tbsp. tablespoons of liquid soap. Add 2 tbsp. tablespoons of crushed almond powder and 1-2 tbsp. tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Such a mask is extremely beneficial for the condition of oily skin, and will also help get rid of acne and various skin inflammations. This acne remedy can be used daily, leaving it on the face until completely dry.
How to replace corn flour
Often, housewives in the manufacture of culinary masterpieces come across recipes with an ingredient such as cornmeal. Often this product is not available among home stocks. The question arises: "What can replace corn flour?"
If the house does not have such an ingredient, you can cook it yourself. This requires regular corn grits and a coffee grinder. Thoroughly grind dry cereals until flour is formed.
After grinding, grains may remain in the flour. In this case, it can be sieved through a sieve, and large non-ground particles can be removed.
Conclusion
So, we examined what properties corn corn has, its benefits and harms. Let us pay a little attention to the problem of genetically modified foods that filled the domestic shelves in the 21st century.
Recently, each year the cultivation of corn from genetically modified seeds has been expanding and increasing. What is the danger of GMOs?
GMO products are obtained by introducing “target genes” into the plant genetic structure in order to endow them with new properties. Thus, artificial acceleration of evolution is made.
Due to the lack of research in this area, one can fear the excessive consumption of any corn products, since most corn grains are grown using this technology.