When it comes to delicious, healthy and versatile ingredients, sweet corn should be top of your list. While the vegetable has had a number of myths circulated about it over the year that has put many people off including it in their diet, it is actually a great option for those wanting to improve their health.
While you can get corn in slightly unhealthy foods – such as tortilla chips – the vegetable itself is really great for you. So long as you cook it in a healthy way – such as boiling, steaming or grilling – and don’t add other ingredients that are high in fat, you should enjoy a range of benefits from eating more sweet corn.
To help you see why you should make room for sweet corn on your plate, here are five reasons it is brilliant for your health:
Low carbs
If you’re watching your carb intake, sweet corn shouldn’t have you worried as it is naturally low in carbohydrates. While the fact that it is high in starch means that it has more carbohydrates than vegetables like broccoli and peas, it is still low-carb, meaning it’s also low calories.
While it does contain carbohydrates, they are complex, which means sweet corn gives you an energy boost while also controlling your blood sugar. This means you won’t find you suffer an energy crash after an initial high.
Full of nutrients
Sweet corn is also chock full of nutrients that are vital for your overall health. Just as with other yellow and orange vegetables, sweet corn contains high levels of lutein and beta-carotene, which are responsible for its bright colour. As well as creating colourful veggies, these nutrients are also important for maintaining eye health and reducing your chances of eye disease.
On top of this, sweet corn is full of a number of B vitamins, potassium, vitamin C and magnesium, all of which help you stay healthy. This means that regular portions of sweet corn could be really beneficial.
High in antioxidants
No matter what type of corn you eat, it is high in antioxidants, which is always a good thing. In fact, corn has almost double the amount of antioxidants that you’ll find in an apple. Antioxidants are important when it comes to protecting your body from disease and cells from damage.
You don’t need to worry about cooking killing off some of the antioxidant power in sweet corn either, as cooking it actually increases the activity of the antioxidants. So long as you don’t overcook it, this means that sweet corn is actively fighting to keep you healthy.
Gluten free
If you suffer from coeliac disease or are gluten intolerant, corn is a safe vegetable for you to eat. It is naturally gluten-free so won’t cause any problems or discomfort, making it a great substitute for other ingredients.
The fact that it is so versatile means you can also use it in numerous ways – such as in bread – in order to create gluten-free meals that are healthy and delicious.
High in fibre
Most of us don’t eat enough fibre, but sweet corn can soon solve this issue. When it is prepared in foods – such as tortilla wraps – it is classed as a grain due to its high fibre content, which gives you a hint as to how much it contains. A single cup of corn has more than 3.5 grams of fibre, which can help you reach your recommended daily intake.
Foods that are high in fibre aid digestive health, keep you feeling fuller for long and so help you avoid snacking, and reduce the chances of high cholesterol. All of this makes sweet corn the perfect addition to your diet.
