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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 useful properties.
Benefits of black corn
The black color of corn is associated with a high level 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. There is an opinion 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, contribute to the production of red blood cells, and protect the retina from ultraviolet radiation.
- Vitamin K helps blood vessels work and increases blood clotting.
- Nicotinic acid is involved in metabolism, helping the processing of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, and also promotes the expansion of blood vessels, which helps to cope with hypertension.
- 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 cobs 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 lower glycemic index than light varieties.
The use of black corn in traditional 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 come down to the present and have 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 quite simple:
- Corn must be thoroughly washed and cleaned of leaves and fibers. Prepared cobs put in a container of water (4-5 l).
- Wash the fruits, peel the pineapple, and cut the apples into large pieces. Pieces of apples, pineapple peel and spices are added to the corn and the container is put on fire.
- The drink is brought to a boil, and then kept on 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 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 option for using black corn for medicinal purposes is to make a tincture from its aerial roots. For this you will need:
- 150 g of air 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 put it in a dark place for 10-14 days.
The resulting tincture is used by the inhabitants of Peru for oncological diseases, 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 florets.
You only need 2 ingredients for this:
- 10 g of inflorescences (stigmas) of black corn;
- 250 ml boiling water.
Method of preparation:
- The stigmas must be poured with boiling water and left to infuse for several hours.
- Cool the infusion and strain it.
Such a tincture can act as a sedative or as an adjuvant in the treatment of tuberculosis, joint diseases, kidney stones and gallbladder, high blood pressure.
Use 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 with exacerbations of ulcers.
Growing black corn
Black corn has a number of useful properties, which increases the interest in growing this crop. At the same time, it must be taken into account that the plant came to Our Country from the South American continent, therefore, similar climatic conditions are necessary 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. Areas where beans, tomatoes or cabbages were previously grown are well suited for planting maize. The soil should first be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
The optimal time for landing is the end of April or the beginning of May, when the air temperature does not fall below + 20 ° C. Seeds are planted in moist soil at a depth of 6-8 cm.
The pollination of the variety occurs 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 regular weeding and watering, as well as superphosphate fertilizer. Cobs ripen at 90-120 days.
Black corn is an unusual plant. It has a large number of useful properties and a wide range of applications for medicinal purposes.
