Corn: Healthy enjoyment
Corn has a permanent place in our diet: In many households, the day starts with a portion of cornflakes. The grain can also be eaten boiled or fried as a side dish, as corn porridge instead of rice , or in the form of popcorn as a snack between meals. In contrast to other cereals, corn has the advantage that it does not contain gluten and is therefore also suitable for people with celiac disease. But does that mean corn is healthy? Find out here how many calories corn has and what ingredients are in the yellow grain.
Corn: Valuable ingredients
Maize consists mostly of water – around 72 percent. In addition to water, the grain contains fat, protein and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are made up of glucose, fructose and sucrose, among other things. Corn tastes sweetest right after harvest. Because: The longer it lies, the more sugar is converted into starch.
In addition, the grain has many other healthy ingredients to offer. It contains provitamin A, various B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E.
Besides, it is also rich in minerals. Particularly noteworthy are:
Corn also contains essential amino acids such as leucine, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine and threonine.
Calories in Corn
100 grams of corn – fresh from the cob – contain around 90 calories. The calorie content of the corn kernels changes depending on the processing. For example, canned corn contains only about 80 calories, while dried corn has about 350 calories.
For comparison: 100 grams of barley contains 320 calories, 100 grams of oats contain 350 calories, 100 grams of rye contain 290 calories, 100 grams of wheat contain 310 calories and 100 grams of rice contain 350 calories.
Is Corn Healthy?
Due to its healthy ingredients and its high nutritional value, corn can definitely be described as healthy. Particularly noteworthy is the high proportion of dietary fiber. Dietary fibers are indigestible food components that swell up in the intestine and stimulate digestion. Thus, regular, moderate consumption of dietary fiber can prevent digestive problems.
Fresh corn that is prepared straight from the field is the healthiest because it is full of vitamins and minerals. Outside of the harvest season, however, the grain is usually only available in cans. If possible, use frozen corn, which contains more nutrients than canned corn. But even canned foods still contain a high proportion of minerals. However, the vitamin content can drop significantly.
prepare corn
Fresh corn should be cooked before consumption. You can either cook the whole cob or remove the grains beforehand. Alternatively, you can grill the corn on the cob or fry it in a pan. Then you should rub the cobs with a little (herb) butter or oil beforehand.
Maize can not only be eaten directly, it can also be further processed. For example, corn flour is made from certain varieties , which then serves as the basis for foods such as corn porridge (polenta), corn bread or tortillas.
An edible oil – corn oil – can also be obtained from the kernels of the corn kernels . It is best to only use this in cold dishes.
In addition to its importance as food and animal feed, the yellow grain also plays a central role in the production of biogas.
Popcorn – a healthy snack?
In addition to cornflakes, corn flour and corn oil, corn can also be used to make a popular snack, namely popcorn. Popcorn is made from popcorn, which bursts open when heated, turning into popcorn. In Germany, the snack is usually sweetened with sugar, but sometimes also salted.
Popcorn itself is not as unhealthy as you might think. 100 grams of the snack bring about 330 calories, but popcorn, like corn, is rich in valuable dietary fiber. However, fat and sugar are usually added to the popcorn in the cinema or at the Christmas market. Then the snack is of course no longer so healthy and has a direct impact of about 70 more calories.