Corn is a large annual cereal andIt is considered one of the oldest cultures, developed 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 grows onthe United States, where local farmers grow corn for home pastures. The grain of this culture is 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:
- Cornmeal, its benefits and harm to humans.
- Scopes of cornmeal.
- Properties
Cornmeal: the benefits and harm
Fresh corn is one of the favoritedishes of many people. Grains of this wonderful cereal can be eaten boiled and dried (popcorn). Canned corn is also very popular, which is an indispensable ingredient in many home cooking dishes. Corn is also used for making cereals intended for the preparation of tasty and healthy cereal. No less popular product is corn flour, which is widely used by many culinary specialists to prepare a variety of pastries.
The use of corn flour is 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 corn flour useful?” To answer it, the chemical composition and nutritional value of this product should be considered in more detail. The composition of the flour includes many minerals like: calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, vitamins of group B (B1, B2), vitamins PP and E, starch and beta-carotene.
Although this product is differentsufficiently high in calories (331 kcal per 100 g), some types of bread baked from it can be used as a diet food and contribute to weight loss.
The benefits of cornmeal have long been known intraditional medicine. This wonderful product is used in the treatment of epilepsy and polio, strengthens blood vessels, normalizes the heart, stimulates biliary excretion, increases hemoglobin and even prolongs youth. In diseases such as tuberculosis and chronic disorders of the digestive system, corn flour is also an indispensable food.
Каковы свойства кукурузной муки?Known useful qualities of this product in various inflammatory processes of the gallbladder, hypertension and kidney disease. Many athletes are trying to include in their diet meals made with the use of corn flour, due to its high nutritional value.
It should be noted that this product is not included.Gluten (gluten) is a protein substance found in white grains (wheat, rye, etc.). Persons suffering from diseases 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. Nevertheless, products made from it should not be eaten if:
- You have increased blood clotting. Cornmeal helps to thicken the blood, so with this disease, its use should be minimized.
- There are any pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, one should eat products from corn flour with care, in order to avoid exacerbations of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Application
What other properties does corn flour have? The benefits and harms of this product have been described above. Consider additional applications of corn flour.
It is known that this product is used intotally unexpected areas. For example, flour is widely used in fishing as bait for white fish. In addition, it is used as a binder in the manufacture of a variety of sausages, brewing, etc. Another important feature of it - slowing the fermentation of carbohydrates, and therefore products with the addition of such a component longer retain shelf life.
The use of cornmeal is known in variousareas 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 cornflakes, which are so fond of modern children. Coarse flour is used mainly for baking bread and pastry. For the manufacture of the most magnificent and airy culinary creations, a finely ground product is used. Such dishes as pancakes, fritters, bakery products, pies, various cookies and cakes, desserts, soups, main dishes, etc. are made from corn flour.
Cornmeal is also used in cosmetology. Recipes of various masks for face and hands made using this product are known.
Anti-Wrinkle Mask
2 tbsp.spoonful of cornmeal should be mixed with protein 1 eggs before the formation of foam. Apply a thin layer on face or hands with a cotton swab. After 20 minutes, the mask should be washed off or rubbed with a wet cloth. To achieve the effect of narrowing the pores, rinse the face with cold water and apply a nourishing cream.
Exfoliating mask
A tablespoon of honey must be mixed with Art.a spoonful of cornmeal. Use the resulting mass can be as a scrub or mask. It is advisable to apply the mass in a circular motion. After 10 minutes, the remains must be washed off.
Tightening mask
1 ст. ложку белой глины следует смешать с 1 ст.spoon flour. Add 2 tbsp. spoons of strong brewed black tea and 1 teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, then mix the mass until it becomes homogeneous. For dry skin, brewed tea can be replaced with yogurt.
Apply mask to face, wait 20 minutes. After the procedure, the remains should be washed off.
Acne Mask With Cornmeal
2 tbsp. spoon cornmeal must be mixed with 2 tbsp. spoons of liquid soap. Add 2 tbsp. spoons of crushed almond powder and 1-2 tbsp. spoons of apple cider vinegar.
This mask is extremely beneficial effect onable to oily skin, and also help get rid of acne and various skin inflammations. This remedy for acne can be used daily, leaving on the face until completely dry.
How to replace corn flour
Often the hostess in the manufacture of culinarymasterpieces are encountered in recipes with an ingredient such as cornmeal. Often this product is absent among domestic 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 the usual corn grits and coffee grinder. You should thoroughly grind dry cereal before the formation of flour.
After grinding in flour grains may remain. In this case, it can be sifted through a sieve, and large non-grinded particles removed.
Conclusion
So, we looked at what propertiescorn flour, its benefits and harm in what they are. Let us pay a little attention to the problem of genetically modified products that have filled domestic counters in the 21st century.
Recently, the growing of corn from genetically modified seeds has been expanding year by year. What is the danger of GMOs?
GMO products are obtained by introducing “target genes” into the plant's genetic structure in order to impart new properties to them. Thus, an artificial acceleration of evolution is made.
Due to the lack of research in this area, one may fear the excessive consumption of any corn products, since the majority of corn grain is grown according to this technology.
