Cornmeal: benefits and harms. Application of corn flour

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Corn is a large annual cereal and is considered one of the oldest crops mastered by mankind 7-12 thousand years ago. Today, corn crops occupy approximately 132 million hectares of land, and the annual harvest is about 450 million tons.

Approximately half of the world's crop comes from the US, where local farmers grow corn for home pastures. 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 questions such as:

• Corn flour, its benefits and harms to humans.
• Applications for cornmeal.
• Properties.

Corn flour: benefits and harms

Fresh corn is one of the favorite foods of many people. The grains of this wonderful cereal can be eaten boiled and dried (popcorn). Also very popular canned corn, which is an indispensable ingredientmany homemade dishes. Cereals are also made from corn, intended for making tasty and he althy porridge. An equally popular product is cornmeal, which is widely used by many culinary specialists for preparing a variety of pastries.

The benefit of cornmeal lies in 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 this question: “Is cornmeal he althy?” To answer it, you should consider in more detail the chemical composition and nutritional value of this product. Flour contains 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 has a fairly high calorie content (331 kcal per 100 g), some types of bread baked from it can be used as a diet food and promote weight loss.

The benefits of cornmeal have long been known in folk medicine. This wonderful product is used in the treatment of epilepsy and poliomyelitis, strengthens blood vessels, normalizes the functioning of the heart, stimulates bile secretion, increases hemoglobin and even prolongs youth. In diseases such as tuberculosis and chronic disorders of the digestive system, cornmeal is also an indispensable food product.

What are the properties of cornmeal? The useful qualities of this product are known for various inflammatory processes of the gallbladder, hypertension and nephrolithiasis. Many athletes try to incorporate cornmeal into their diets due to its high nutritional value.

It should be noted that this product does not include gluten (gluten) - a protein substance found in white grains (wheat, rye, etc.). Persons suffering from a disease such as celiac disease are prohibited from eating gluten-containing foods. In this case, patients with a diet can use corn flour as an alternative to wheat or rye. However, products made from it should not be eaten if:

• You have increased blood clotting. Cornmeal contributes to blood clotting, so its consumption should be kept to a minimum in such a disease.
• There are any pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, you should use cornmeal products 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 additional uses for cornmeal.

This product is known to be used in completely unexpected areas. For example, flour is widely used in fisheries as bait forwhite fish. In addition, it is used as a binder in the manufacture of a variety of sausages, brewing, etc. Another important property of it is slowing down the fermentation of carbohydrates, 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 are so loved by modern children. Coarse flour is used mainly for baking bread and confectionery. For the production of the most magnificent and airy culinary creations, a finely ground product is used. Cornmeal is used to make dishes such as pancakes, pancakes, baked goods, pies, various cookies and cakes, desserts, soups, main courses, etc.

Corn flour is also used in cosmetology. Recipes for various face and hand masks made using this product are known.

Rejuvenating Anti-Wrinkle Mask

2 tbsp. spoons 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 applied with a nourishing cream.

Peeling 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 residue must be washed off.

Lifting mask

1 tbsp a spoonful 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 smooth. For dry skin, brewed tea can be replaced with yogurt.

Apply face mask, wait 20 minutes. After the end of the procedure, the residues should be washed off.

Acne mask with cornmeal

2 tbsp. spoons of cornmeal must be mixed with 2 tbsp. spoons of liquid soap. Add 2 tbsp. tablespoons crushed almond powder and 1-2 tbsp. spoons of apple cider vinegar.

This mask has an extremely beneficial effect on the condition of oily facial skin, and will also help get rid of acne and various skin inflammations. This acne remedy can be used daily, leaving on the face until completely dry.

Substitute for cornmeal

Often, when making culinary masterpieces, housewives come across recipes with such an ingredient as cornmeal. Often this product is not available in household stocks. The question arises: "What can replace cornmeal?"

If the house does not have such an ingredient, you can cook it yourself. This requires ordinary corn grits and a coffee grinder. Dry cereals should be thoroughly ground to formflour.

After grinding, grains may remain in the flour. In this case, it can be sifted through a sieve, and large unground particles can be removed.

Conclusion

So, we have examined what properties cornmeal has, its benefits and harms. Let's pay a little attention to the problem of genetically modified products that have filled domestic shelves in the 21st century.

Recently, the cultivation of corn from genetically modified seeds has been expanding and increasing every year. What is the danger of GMOs?

GMO products are obtained by introducing “target genes” into the gene structure of plants in order to endow them with new properties. Thus, an artificial acceleration of evolution is produced.

Due to the lack of research in this area, one can be wary of overeating any corn product, since most corn is grown using this technology.