Corn, belonging to the Grape family, is one of the most widely cultivated crops around the world. It can be boiled and eaten, and since it is used as a main ingredient in various processed foods, its use can be said to be very wide. In addition, corn contains not only carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, but also contains essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid. Purple corn is native to South America and is a kind of corn that is mainly cultivated in countries such as Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Unlike general yellow corn, it has a purple color, and not only the kernel, but also the flower stalk, stem, and skin are all dark purple. Also, in Korea, new varieties of purple maize, which have been improved according to the climate and climate, are being actively cultivated. In addition, purple corn contains a large amount of essential fatty acids and dietary fiber, including anthocyanins, which are key ingredients, and is known to have various beneficial effects on our body. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the main benefits of purple corn.
Main Benefits of Purple Corn
1. Antioxidant action
Purple corn is rich in anthocyanins, recognized as powerful antioxidants. This anthocyanin component is a flavonoid-based substance, and the characteristic purple color of purple corn is also due to the anthocyanin pigment. According to data published and researched by Ohio State University, the anthocyanin content of purple corn is much higher than that of blueberries or grapes.
It is said that this abundant anthocyanin component lowers the concentration of free radicals that cause cell damage and DNA modification, and helps improve immunity, which acts as a shield that protects our body.
2. Inhibition of inflammation
Inflammation is one of the natural immune responses to external stimuli, but when it becomes overactive, it acts as a factor that damages and attacks each organ inside the body. And when such over-generated inflammation is present in our body for a long time, it leads to the occurrence of various metabolic diseases and chronic inflammatory diseases. The large amount of anthocyanins contained in purple corn helps to reduce the level of inflammation that is over-produced, thereby helping to prevent various diseases caused by chronic inflammation.
3. Weight Control
Purple corn has a low fat content and is rich in dietary fiber to keep you full for as long as possible, which helps you lose weight. In addition, the rich anthocyanin component in purple corn inhibits the synthesis of visceral fat and at the same time has an effective action in preventing the differentiation of visceral fat. In addition, the rich dietary fiber of purple corn has the effect of promoting intestinal peristalsis, which is said to have a good effect in preventing and improving constipation, which tends to occur during dieting.
4. Eye health
The retina contains rhodopsin, a photopigment that detects light. When rhodopsin is insufficient, the eyes become tired easily, and when it is prolonged, it causes deterioration of vision and increases the risk of various eye diseases. The rich anthocyanin component in purple corn promotes the resynthesis of rhodopsin in the retina of the eye, preventing eye fatigue and helping to improve the symptoms of stiff and dry eyes. This related action is said to help prevent eye-related diseases such as night blindness and dry eye syndrome.
5. Vascular health
Purple corn contains a large amount of essential fatty acids, which are also abundant in other corns, so it is said to help improve the overall health of blood vessels by controlling cholesterol levels. In addition, the rich anthocyanin component of purple corn reduces the concentration of free radicals that cause inflammation by attacking the cell membrane of blood vessel walls, and increases antioxidant enzymes. it is said to be
other effects
When the concentration of free radicals rises, it adversely affects the weakening of the skin’s immunity, acting as the main culprit in speeding up the aging process and the formation of wrinkles in the skin. It is known that the excellent antioxidant power of the rich anthocyanin in purple corn helps to prevent skin aging and improve elasticity.
In addition, it is known to help prevent diabetes by controlling blood sugar, prevent cancer by suppressing the generation of cancer cells, and help brain health by preventing lipid peroxidation in brain tissue.
