Health Benefits of Corn

Health Benefits of Corn

Health benefits of corn include controlling diabetes, prevention of heart ailments, lowering hypertension and prevention of neural-tube defects at birth. Corn or maize is one of the most popular cereals in the world and forms the staple food in many countries including USA, Africa etc. It not only provides the necessary calories for daily metabolism, but is a rich source of vitamins A, B, E and many minerals. Its high fiber content ensures that it plays a role in prevention of digestive ailments like constipation and hemorrhoids as well as colorectal cancer. The antioxidants present in corn also act as anti-cancer agents and prevent Alzheimer’s.

Health benefits of corn are offered by presence of quality nutrients in it. Also, being rich in phytochemicals, it provides protection against numerous chronic diseases. Following are some of the health benefits of corn:

Rich Source of Calories: Corn is a rich source of calories and forms a part of the staple diet among many populations. The calorific content of corn is 342 calories per 100grams, among the highest in cereals.

Prevention of Hemorrhoids and Colorectal Cancer: The fibre content of one cup of corn amounts 18.4% of the daily recommended amount. This aids in alleviating digestive problems such as constipation and hemorrhoids, as well as lowering the risk of colon cancer.

Rich Source of Vitamins:

Corn is rich in vitamin B constituents, especially Thiamin and Niacin. Thiamin is essential for maintaining nerve health and cognitive function. Niacin deficiency leads to Pellagra; a disease characterized by diarrhoea, dementia and dermatitis and is commonly observed in malnourished individuals.

Corn is also a good source of Pantothenic acid which is a vitamin necessary for carbohydrate as well as protein and lipid metabolism in the body. Deficiency of folic acid in pregnant women leads to birth of underweight infants and may also result in neural tube defects at birth.

Corn provides a large chunk of the daily folate requirement.

Yellow corn is a rich source of beta-carotene which forms vitamin A in the body, essential for maintenance of good vision and skin.

The kernels of corn are rich in vitamin E, a natural antioxidant essential for growth.

Provides Necessary Minerals:

Corn contains abundant phosphorus apart from magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron and copper. It also contains trace minerals like selenium. Phosphorus is essential for maintenance of normal growth, bone health and normal kidney functioning. Magnesium is necessary for maintaining normal heart rate and for bone strength.

Antioxidant Properties of Corn: According to studies carried out at Cornell University, corn is a rich source of antioxidants which fight the cancer causing free radicals. In fact, cooking increases the antioxidants in sweet corn.

Corn is a rich source of a phenolic compound ferulic acid, an anti-cancer agent which has been shown to be effective in fighting tumours in breast cancer and liver cancer. Anthocyanins, found in purple corn also act as scavengers of cancer-causing free radicals.

Cardio-Protective Attributes: According to researchers, corn oil has been shown to anti-atherogenic effect on the cholesterol levels, thus preventing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Prevents Anemia: The vitamin B12 and folic acid present in corn prevent anemia caused by the deficiency of these vitamins.

Lowering LDL Cholesterol: According to Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, consumption of corn husk oil lowers plasma LDL cholesterol by reducing cholesterol absorption by the body.

Protection against Diabetes and Hypertension: Consumption of corn kernels assists the management of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and is effective against hypertension due to the presence of phenolic phytochemicals in whole corn.

Cosmetic Benefits: Corn starch is used in the manufacture of many cosmetics and may also be applied topically to soothe skin rashes and irritations. Corn products can be used to replace carcinogenic petroleum products which form major components of cosmetic preparations.

Corn is a rich source of many essential nutrients and fibre. A meal rich in corn can go a long way in protecting against many diseases and ailments

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Reasons for Euthanasia

Reasons for Euthanasia

I have written about this issue before but the more I think
about the more I am compelled to write and encourage others to speak up about
it

Here is what they say are the reasons for Euthanasia

1. The Unbearable pain as the reason for euthanasia

Probably the major argument in favor of euthanasia is that the person involved
is in great pain. Today, advances are constantly being made in the treatment of
pain and, as they advance, the case for euthanasia/assisted-suicide is
proportionally weakened.

Euthanasia advocates stress the cases of unbearable pain as reasons for euthanasia, but then they soon include a "drugged"
state. I guess that is in case virtually no uncontrolled pain cases can be
found - then they can say those people are drugged into a no-pain state but
they need to be euthanized from such a state because it is not dignified.

You See the opening for the slippery slope? How do you measure "dignity"?
- it will be euthanasia "on demand".

The pro-euthanasia folks have already started down the slope. They are even now not stopping with "unbearable pain" - they are already including this "drugged
state" and other circumstances.

PAIN CAN BE MANAGED
Nearly all pain can be eliminated and - in those rare cases
where it can't be eliminated - it can still be reduced significantly if proper
treatment is provided. It is a national and international scandal that so many
people do not get adequate pain control. But killing is not the answer to that
scandal. The solution is to mandate better education of health care
professionals on these crucial issues, to expand access to health care, and to
inform patients about their rights as consumers. Everyone – be it a person with
a life-threatening illness or a chronic condition has the right to pain
relief Medication.

With modern advances medical technology pain can be controlled, no
patient should ever be in excruciating pain. However, most doctors have never
had a course in pain management so they're unaware of what to do. If a patient
who is under a doctor's care is in excruciating pain, there's definitely a need
to find a different doctor. But that doctor should be one who will control the
pain, not one who will kill the patient.

There are board certified specialists in pain management who will not only help alleviate physical pain but are skilled in providing necessary support to deal with emotional suffering and depression that often accompanies physical pain.

2. Demanding a "right to commit suicide"
Probably the second most common point pro-euthanasia people bring up is this
so-called "right." But why should we be talking about is not giving a
right to the person who is killed, but to the person who does the killing. In
other words, euthanasia is not about the right
to die. It's about the right to kill. Euthanasia is not about giving
rights to the person who dies but, instead, is about changing the law and
public policy so that doctors, relatives and others can directly and
intentionally end another person's life. People do have the power to commit
suicide. Suicide and attempted suicide are criminalized. Suicide is a
tragic, individual act.

Euthanasia is not about a private act. It's about letting one person facilitate the death of another. That is a matter of very public concern since it can lead to tremendous abuse, exploitation and erosion of care for the most vulnerable people among us.

3. Should people be forced to stay alive? Yes/No. And
neither the law nor medical ethics requires that "everything be done"
to keep a person alive. Insistence, against the patient's wishes, that death be
postponed by every means available is contrary to law and practice. It would
also be cruel and inhumane. There comes a time when continued attempts to cure
are not compassionate, wise, or medically sound. “But we are human beings and
we have desires to have a relative with us for a long time”. That is the time
when all efforts should be "PUT" in place to make sure that the patient's remaining time is comfortable. Then, all interventions should be directed to alleviating pain and other symptoms as well as the provision of emotional and spiritual support
for both the patient and the patient's loved ones.