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Many are accustomed to the fact that corn always has a rich yellow color. But there is also black corn or maize, which has a number of beneficial properties.
Why is black corn useful?
The black color of corn is associated with its high levels of anthocyanins, which are natural antioxidants. It is the composition of corn that determines its beneficial properties:
- Antioxidants slow down the aging process in the body, are involved in the regulation of metabolic processes. It is believed that these substances play an important role in the fight against free radicals, which can cause the development of malignant tumors.
- Vitamins B1 and B2 are directly involved in metabolic processes, contributing to the production of energy in cells. Also, vitamins of this group are involved in the synthesis of nerve cells and epidermal cells, promote the production of red blood cells, and protect the retina from ultraviolet radiation.
- Vitamin K helps the blood vessels work and increases blood clotting.
- Nicotinic acid is involved in metabolism, helping to process proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and also helps to dilate blood vessels, which helps to cope with hypertension.
- The amino acids lysine and tryptophan help to effectively fight depression and insomnia.
- Potassium helps to strengthen blood vessels and heart muscle.
- The high fiber content in the cob has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and also helps to remove excess fluid, toxins and toxins from the body.
- Due to the increased protein content and a small amount of starch in the composition, black corn has a glycemic index lower than that of light varieties.
The use of black corn in folk medicine
Even the tribes of South American Indians knew about the beneficial properties of black corn and used it to prepare various medicinal decoctions and drinks. Many recipes have survived to this day and spread far beyond South America.
Black corn drink
One of the most popular black corn recipes used for medicinal purposes is the traditional Chicha Moranda drink. For the indigenous people of South America, this drink is a familiar part of the daily diet, as well as help with various diseases.
To prepare Chicha Moranda, you need the following ingredients:
- 1 kg of black corn;
- 1 pineapple;
- 2-3 apples;
- 1 lemon;
- spices to taste (cloves, cinnamon).
The recipe for the drink is pretty simple:
- Corn must be thoroughly washed and cleaned of leaves and fibers. Put the prepared ears in a container with water (4-5 liters).
- Wash the fruits, peel the pineapple, and cut the apples into large pieces. Pieces of apples, pineapple peels and spices are added to the corn and put on the fire.
- The drink is brought to a boil and then kept over low heat until the corn kernels burst.
- The drink is allowed to cool, filtered and lemon juice is added to it.
The drink is ready to drink. It can be drunk throughout the day instead of tea or juice.
The drink contains a minimum amount of calories, but at the same time it has an excellent energy effect.
Black corn drink can be used not only for ingestion, but also for external use (in the form of baths for skin rashes). In this case, sugar and lemon are not added to it.
Black Corn Aerial Root Tincture
Another medicinal use of black corn is to make a tincture from its aerial roots. For this you will need:
- 150 g aerial roots of black corn;
- 150 ml of vodka.
Recipe:
- Wash and chop the roots with a knife or blender.
- Pour the crushed mass into a bottle and pour vodka.
- Close the bottle tightly and store in a dark place for 10-14 days.
Residents of Peru use the resulting tincture for cancer, using 4 drops every 3 days. Also, the tincture is useful in the treatment of eczema and other skin diseases, in such cases, the agent is applied to the affected areas.
Black Corn Silk Tincture
Another popular recipe suggests making a tincture of black corn inflorescences.
This requires only 2 ingredients:
- 10 g inflorescences (stigmas) of black corn;
- 250 ml boiling water.
Cooking method:
- The stigma must be poured with boiling water and left to infuse for several hours.
- Cool the infusion and strain it.
This tincture can act as a sedative or as an adjuvant in the treatment of tuberculosis, joint diseases, kidney and gall bladder stones, high blood pressure.
The tincture should be 50 ml three times a day.
Contraindications to the use of black corn
It should be borne in mind that there are some diseases in the presence of which the use of black corn and medicinal products based on it is contraindicated:
- since the product helps to increase blood clotting, its use should be abandoned for thrombophlebitis and a tendency to form blood clots;
- corn causes the production of gastric juice, so it should not be consumed in case of exacerbations of an ulcer.
Growing black corn
Black corn has a number of beneficial properties that increase interest in growing this crop. It should be borne in mind that the plant came to Russia from the South American continent, therefore, similar climatic conditions are required for its cultivation.
To prepare the seeds for sowing, they are soaked for 5-6 days in an aqueous solution of wood ash (2 tablespoons per 1 liter), covered with damp gauze on top. Sites where beans, tomatoes or cabbage were previously grown are well suited for planting maize. The soil should be pre-treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
The optimal time for disembarkation is the end of April or the beginning of May, when the air temperature does not drop below + 20 ° C. The seeds are planted in moist soil to a depth of 6-8 cm.
The pollination of the variety is carried out with the help of the wind, therefore, in order to protect the crop from the ingress of pollen from other varieties of corn, it should be planted separately.
Caring for black corn consists of weeding and watering regularly, as well as fertilizing with superphosphates. The ripening of the ears takes place at 90-120 days.
Black corn is an unusual plant. It has many beneficial properties and a wide range of medicinal uses.
