Benefits of Corn for Heart Diseases and Cancers
As per a study presented on the 238th National level meeting of the Society of American Chemicals (ACS), scientists have discovered that popcorn and a variety of breakfast cereals are chockfull of anti-oxidants, called polyphenols. Polyphenols are chiefly responsible for decreasing the risk of heart disorders, cancer and other chronic disease conditions.
Joe Vinson – the lead researcher of the study, at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, said that early researchers believed that it was the fibre content in the whole grain that was responsible for the nutritional benefits in warding off these disorders. But, the recent study has highlighted that ‘polyphenols’ have potentially a more important effect.
Other recent studies have pointed out that regular consumption of wine, coffee, tea and chocolate have similar benefits which is also attributed to the presence of “ Polyphenols” and their ability to reduce cardiac disorders and cancers. A large content of polyphenols are also found in fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, olives and walnuts. As per the researchers, 66% of Americans depend on pasta, breakfast cereals, salty snacks and crackers for their whole grain intake.
As per the other findings of the study, whole grain flours has the highest levels of antioxidants, while snacks prepared from whole grain are slightly lower in concentration of antioxidants. Among the cereal snacks, popcorn was found to have the highest level of polyphenols.
Diet to Manage and Prevent Cancer
- Onions and garlic contain ‘Allicin’, which is a phyto-chemical efficient in fighting cancers. Other fruits that contain similar forms of phyto-chemicals are found in citrus fruits, oranges, grapefruits, apples.
- Vegetables like spinach, beans, onions, cabbage, broccoli and turnips contain ‘Flavonoids and Indoles’ which contain sulphur and active agents that destroy cancer causing chemicals. Similarly ‘Isoflavones’ found in soybeans and soy products are known to have significant beneficial effects.
Diet to Prevent Heart (Cardiovascular) Diseases
- Barley and brown rice work towards reducing cholesterol levels, preventing the arteries from getting blocked. Nuts including cashews, almonds, walnuts are rich in potassium, fibre, proteins and vitamins, which facilitate the absorption of oils from other foods and reduce the strain on the heart.
- Olive oil and cold water fishes are rich in omega-3 fatty acids are vital for the normal functioning of the heart.
- Steer clear of fried foods, chips, fried potatoes, greasy, fatty foods which have a damaging effect on the heart.
- Keep the consumption of salt to the lowest. Salt causes retention of water, which increases the strain on the heart.
- Milk and diary products are rich in proteins, calcium, the B vitamin complex like niacin and riboflavin, and vitamins A and D. However, milk also contains a high concentration of fats hence, skimmed milk is recommended. Products like cheese, buttermilk and yogurt should be low-fat or non-fat.
Tips for Healthy Living
- Regular exercise like a 30 minutes each day will be very beneficial.
- Controlled consumption of alcohol will prove very helpful. One to two servings of an alcoholic drink (especially red wine) tends to have several health and medical benefits.
- A bowlful of strawberries promise to keep cancers away. Strawberries have strong anti-carcinogenic effects. In one study, strawberries topped a list of eight foods, most linked to lower rates of cancer deaths.
2 Responses to “Benefits of Corn for Heart Diseases and Cancers”
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I was told that corn help relieve heartburn. Is that true?
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Grains definitely are a great choice to help reduce heartburn. They absorb liquids and that alone should make them a regular component of your meals. Cereals, and rice are healthy choices to eat regularly. Corn bread, pretzels and crackers are also good grains to eat while watching your risk of heartburn.
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