How is corn porridge beneficial for the body and how to properly prepare and consume it?

What does it contain and what is the nutritional value?

Maize porridge is a healthy diet, and it can be prepared with any composition - milk, water or broth.

Important: heat treatment does not destroy any beneficial substance.

Cereals for porridge are produced by crushing grain, the final product comes in different sizes, divided into 5 types. The finest grinding is considered class 1 and is suitable for preparing a delicate dish with a viscous consistency. Everyone's favorite corn sticks are made from it.

The main feature of this cereal is the absence of gluten, which is found in abundance in cereals such as wheat, barley, oats and rye.

Corn and any products made from it are very high in calories - 330 kcal per 100 g, so people watching their weight should use them with caution. The cereal contains 8.3 g of protein, up to 75 carbohydrates and only 1 gram of fat, 80% of which is unsaturated. The porridge also contains amino acids such as tryptophan, lysine, histyrine, cysteine ​​and arginine, which are responsible for protein synthesis in our body.

The richness of the cereal does not end there:

• fiber, B vitamins, retinol and tocopherol;
• folic acid;
• disaccharides and ash substances;
• trace elements - zinc, iron, manganese, copper, tin, molybdenum, boron, nickel, cobalt and aluminum;
• macroelements - calcium, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus and silicon.

About the last one on this list, I would like to say that it is very important for teeth, having a positive effect on the enamel.

What is the richness of corn grits?

The calorie content of corn porridge, depending on how the cereal is cooked, with water or milk, will always be ambiguous at the end. Nutritionists believe that it is extremely difficult to theoretically calculate this indicator, since it is necessary to take into account fat content, the amount of milk and the cooking recipe.

Therefore, in the approximate calculation, only the energy value of ground grain cereals should be taken into account, as an initial dry product, 100 grams of which contains 362 kcal.

Taking into account the cooking technology and diluting the cereal, for example with water in a ratio of one to three or four, respectively, the calorie content of 100 grams of porridge can be reduced to 80 kcal, which makes it possible to use it as a dietary product in a diet for weight loss.

Further, experts claim that the composition of corn porridge is rich:

1. Plant proteins.
2. Fiber.
3. Folic and pantothenic acid.
4. Unsaturated fatty acids linolene, arachidone.
5. Beta carotene.
6. Vitamins from group A, PP, E, B.
7. Antioxidants.
8. For microelements, among which the leading positions are occupied by:

• Phosphorus;
• Nickel;
• Copper;
• Magnesium;
• Calcium;
• Silicon;
• Sodium;
• Selenium;
• Iron;
• Zinc.

A unique bonus of corn grits is the complete absence of gluten, which can harm the body of people with an autoimmune disease such as celiac disease.

Therefore, for those whose body suffers from intolerance to products made from wheat, rye or barley, corn porridge becomes a real “lifeline” for their life, giving them a feeling of fullness.

About beneficial properties

The benefits of corn porridge for the body are, naturally, due to its composition. If you regularly consume the dish, your body will receive a lot of positive benefits, and this applies to both adults and children.

Benefit for adults

Excellent ability to quickly digest in the gastrointestinal tract even with existing problems in this area, as well as:

1. Getting rid of toxins and waste.
2. Eating porridge regularly will strengthen your immune system.
3. The structure of hair and nails will improve, filling them with strength and beauty.
4. The absence of allergens in the composition allows even small children to consume the dishes.
5. Despite its high nutritional value, it promotes weight loss due to its fiber.
6. Improves intestinal motility, relieving constipation.
7. Prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases and the formation of blood clots and plaques, effectively coping with “bad” cholesterol.
8. A large amount of folic acid makes corn porridge beneficial during pregnancy.
9. It has a preventive effect against the appearance of various types of neoplasms. This effect has been scientifically proven for all orange and yellow grains.
10. The dish also has a positive effect on the hematopoietic system due to the iron and copper it contains, which are responsible for the level of hemoglobin in the blood and protect against anemia.

All of the above gives reason to introduce corn porridge into your weekly diet and enjoy the benefits with a delicious taste.

Important: corn porridge is an excellent antidepressant, which also relieves muscle tension.

Benefits for children

The beneficial effect of corn porridge extends to the child’s body, helping the little person grow and develop normally.

This dish can be introduced into the baby’s menu from the age of 7 months, as it is considered too heavy for the child’s digestive system.

And here's how it's useful:

• the ability to gently cleanse the intestines of fermentation and putrefaction products;
• healthy carbohydrates fill the growing body with energy, which is necessary for its activity;
• silicon in the composition is good for teeth.

By introducing corn porridge into your child’s diet up to 2 times a week, you will strengthen the immune system, protecting him from gaining excess weight, which happens when eating, for example, semolina.

About the benefits and harms during pregnancy and lactation

Corn porridge is also indicated during pregnancy, due to its rich vitamin and mineral composition and nutritional value. In order to provide your body and the little person inside with the necessary elements, it is enough to include this dish in your diet twice a week.

And the absence of gluten will protect the expectant mother from possible allergic reactions. And if you are used to limiting yourself in many ways, then it is porridge made from corn grits that will make up for the lack of important substances.

It is not recommended for pregnant women who are prone to blood clots and those with high blood viscosity to eat this dish.

When breastfeeding, corn porridge is recommended for the same reasons as for all other categories of people inhabiting our planet. You should not use it only if you have existing ailments of the digestive system, so as not to provoke a worsening of the situation.

Weight loss and corn porridge

Due to the high ability of corn grits to absorb water, the energy value of the finished dish is reduced several times - from 80 to 100 Kcal, which depends on the thickness. And this gives reason to consider it useful for getting rid of extra pounds. You just need to use it correctly for these purposes.

For example, by applying the following diet, you can lose up to 3 kg in 4 days:

1. For breakfast, eat corn porridge with water and any fruit - orange, apple or grapefruit.
2. For lunch again, porridge with a piece of boiled chicken breast.
3. For an afternoon snack, buy a tomato.
4. And for dinner, a serving of corn porridge with fresh cucumber will be enough.

If you need to quickly lose 1 kg of excess weight, make yourself a fasting day, eating 200 g of corn grits without adding spices and fats. During this day you can eat up to 2 apples and up to 400 ml of kefir with 0 fat content.

Portion sizes should always be the same, and meals should be eaten every 3 hours, while drinking up to 2 liters of water (tea, coffee or herbal drinks without added sugar).

Vitamins and minerals

In addition to vitamins, this food contains many valuable minerals that strengthen the body, give vigor and energy:

Corn porridge can be a valuable addition to the menu of people who want to maintain their health, energy, slim figure and youth for many years.

Popular cooking recipes – top 5

The most important thing is to master the preparation of corn porridge so that it does not burn and turns out to be as tasty, aromatic and healthy as possible.

Here are the most popular and accessible recipes:

• pour 250 ml of water into a prepared bowl with a thick bottom, boil and add salt; Pour 100 g of pre-washed cereal into boiling water and stir, add 40 g of sugar and reduce heat to low; Cooking time is about 20 minutes with constant stirring. After placing the dish on a plate, add 10 grams of butter if desired;
• The porridge is quickly prepared in a slow cooker - pour a glass of corn grits into the bowl, pour 2 and a half glasses of water over it. Set the “Groats” mode. At the end of cooking, if your oven has a cooking time of half an hour, cook for another 10 minutes at 150 degrees. This will make the porridge crumbly and soft;
• The following recipe is also suitable for baby food - preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Pour water and milk in equal quantities (100 ml each) into a glass dish or pot, add 2 tablespoons of cereal, immediately adding salt to taste, then 20 g of washed raisins and a little sugar, mixing everything well. The porridge is cooked in the oven for 30 minutes, after which it must be stirred and simmered for another 15 minutes;
• corn porridge with apples in milk - boil a glass of water with 2 milk, add a glass of clean cereal and cook with constant stirring for 15 minutes. Now add salt and sweeten with a pinch of regular and vanilla sugar, leaving on the fire for another 15 minutes. Two peeled apples are grated and added to the prepared porridge, after which the pan can be removed from the heat.
• This recipe is suitable for those who want to get rid of excess weight - mix a glass of cereal with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 100 grams of pre-washed and soaked raisins in a baking container, adding sugar and salt to taste, pour everything with 2.5 glasses of water and put in the oven . Baking lasts 30-40 minutes, where readiness is determined by the golden crust. Instead of raisins, you can use cranberries, which will add piquancy to the dish.

At the end of cooking according to any of the given recipes, it is advisable to let the dish stand for about 20 minutes before eating, after which it can be placed on plates, adding a little butter for taste.

How to choose, store and cook?

You only need to buy cereals that are bright yellow in color and free of foreign inclusions.
Friable (without lumps formed due to the fact that the product is damp). The product quickly goes rancid and absorbs foreign odors and moisture. Therefore it should:

• purchase in small quantities (no more than you can eat within a month);
• store in a dark place at room temperature in glass or porcelain containers with tight-fitting lids;
• Do not keep it in the refrigerator, as it gets damp there.

There are many recipes for making corn porridge. Unfortunately, they often advise making the dish too sweet, for example, adding dried fruits to it. Such advice is useful only for those who want to gain weight.

Everyone else (both those who are losing weight and those who want to maintain their weight) should eat corn grits not with sugars, but with vegetables and spices. For example, as shown in the video.

In what cases can corn porridge be harmful?

Corn porridge, as you already understand, is very useful, but at the same time it can also harm the body in some cases:

1. First of all, this applies to people with individual intolerance to corn itself.
2. It is also not indicated for diabetics due to the high glycemic index, which increases with heat treatment.
3. It is not recommended to consume the dish if you have existing gastrointestinal ailments.
4. Anorexia is also on the list of contraindications.

As you can see, it provides much more benefit than harm, so if there are no contraindications, feel free to include corn porridge in your weekly diet. Health to you and your loved ones!

Interesting facts from history

The Mayan and Incas tribes began cultivating corn on ancient lands. Then they worshiped it and considered it a truly divine product. The second name of the crop is maize. Until now, when excavating territory on the American continent, cobs are discovered, which, according to scientists, have been stored in the ground for over 50 thousand years. Today, this crop is actively cultivated, but without human participation, the cobs simply do not grow or reproduce. Due to its numerous beneficial properties and nutritional value, it is grown wherever climatic conditions are suitable.

On the territory of Russia, the cultivation process first began during the Russian-Turkish battle. Then, as a result of the seizure of the Crimean land, corn was known as “Turkish wheat.”

By the way, some ufologists persistently convince us that the corn we all know well has a cosmic origin; it was from the solar system that unique seeds came to earth. Believing this version or not is everyone’s personal choice, but it’s worth knowing about the benefits and harms of corn porridge.