Marvellous Maize
Sham S .Misri
Maize is a
native of South America. Nearly seventy years back, it constituted the major
diet of Black in America. From South America maize travelled to Asia including India.
The maize is now grown in almost every state of India and extensively consumed
in rural areas as staple food, , it is also an important feed for the live
stock.
Corn is
consumed in different forms. Its flour is used for making chapattis. Powdered corn
grain flour has a cooling effect on body.
Unbroken
maize grains are processed in different ways. They are boiled and used for
making many dishes. Most common among them is corn coup. Due to its high
protein content it is a good appetizer and has high nourishment value. Unbroken grains are also roasted over hot
sand or burning coal. An average sized corn cob contains 9-10 % proteins, 73%
carbohydrates, 4% fat and nearly 1.6% fibre. It also contains micro nutrients
like Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Iron. It is also rich in Vitamin A,E,
and B1. Maize has tremendous medicinal and nutritional value.
Present day genetic engineers and
scientists have developed genetically engineered maize strain capable of
secreting human antibodies against cancer. These human antibodies produced in
corn fields are under clinical trial.
The Silky thread like extensions of
corn provides household remedy for scanty and burning urine. It is prepared by
boiling silky threads in water. Drinking this water provides an effective
remedy for urinary infections corn.
Eating maize bread and curd once a
day, is good for patients suffering from dysentery.
Corn
contains lot of fibre which makes the bowel action regular and protects us from
constipation, piles, colon diseases and appendicitis.
Corn is used for producing beer and
has replaced barley for this purpose.
Corn is rich in vitamin A and E hence
serves as an antioxidant, which has free radical scavenging property and
therefore retards aging process and prolongs healthy life.
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