Corn is native to Central and South America. It is widely cultivated in tropical and temperate regions of the world. Corn has high nutritional value.
It is an excellent food crop and one of the indispensable raw materials for food, medical and health care, the light industry, and the chemical industry.
At the time of Columbus' arrival in the New World in November 1492, corn existed only in the Americas. Corn was the most important food crop for the Indians at that time.
Without corn, Indian civilization would not have been possible. Through the selection of modern farmers and the work of breeders, maize has gained a higher yield and become one of the most important feed crops and food crops in the world.
Any wild seed plant has its method of seed dispersal that allows its offspring to continue. Modern maize is a highly domesticated crop, and its survival is entirely dependent on humans.
The ear of corn is a biologically distorted type that produces a large number of seeds but has no means of distributing them.
Under natural conditions, if the ear of fruit dropped from the ground is left to germinate and grow under conditions conducive to germination, it will produce a cluster of excessively dense seedlings, which compete for soil water and nutrients in the limited space, so that none of them can develop properly and bear fruit.
As a result, modern corn would be extinct within a few generations without human intervention.
They can only be preserved if they are harvested, threshed, and sown by people. Corn ears are created by human beings for their own needs through long-term selection and breeding. All wild plants and other plants do not have such ears. But corn must have evolved originally from some wild plant.
Some studies believe that corn originated in the Amazon River basin in central South America. Such as Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and so on. But some people think that Central America Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and so on are also the origin of maize.
Among them, teosinte, found in Mexico, is said to be the ancestor of various maize types. In recent times, archaeologists have worked in Mexico, South America, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and so on.
Evidence such as ears of corn was found in tombs and ruins, which are estimated to be between 7,000 and 5,000 years old. Among them, there are statues of Indian idols worshipping corn.
Corn has high nutritional value, rich in dietary fiber, B vitamins, vitamin E, and various minerals. Eating more corn has several benefits.
1. Corn has the effect of diuresis, clearing heat and detoxification, which is more suitable for chronic nephritis and for some patients with nephropathy to eat.
2. Corn is a very common coarse grain, coarse grain has a good function of strengthening the spleen and stomach, and often eating corn can effectively protect the stomach.
3. Corn contains A variety of vitamins, glutamic acid, and trace elements, among which vitamin A and vitamin E can effectively play the role of antioxidants. Vitamin B and trace element selenium have a protective effect on the gastrointestinal tract and nerve conduction system, so eating more corn can help skin anti-aging to some extent.
4. Corn is rich in cellulose, which can effectively stimulate gastrointestinal peristalsis and thus play a role in defecation. At the same time, it can promote the metabolism of cholesterol and accelerate the discharge of intestinal endotoxin, so constipation patients can eat more corn.
There are many ways to eat corn.
1. Boil corn.
Although corn loses some of its vitamin C from cooking, it gains more valuable antioxidants. Whether fried or boiled, corn releases more nutrients.
2. Make soup.
Soup made from corn is a good choice in any region.
3. Popcorn.
Popcorn is a favorite snack for many people because of its sweet taste.
