I'm
into white corn!
WHITE
CORN OFFERS REFUGE
FOR 7.2-M FILIPINO DIABETICS
FOR 7.2-M FILIPINO DIABETICS
By
Manny Piñol
It
pays to have two doctors in the family.
Late
last year, my two daughters, Dr. Ma. Krista and Dr. Josa Bernadette, prevailed
on me to have a long-delayed medical check-up following a bout with mild
pneumonia.
It
was then when it was found out that I had a sugar-level which was beyond the
allowable limits.
That
was when remedial measures were made, including a recommendation for a lower
intake of rice.
But
I love eating rice. I was raised in a rice-eating family.
Lately,
Dr. Krista told me that white corn could be a very good substitute for rice.
Here
is what I found out about white corn in relation to diabetes: "white corn,
when processed into grits, can be a good staple suited for diabetics as it has
higher amylose content that makes it harder to gelatinize and digest.
"It
is also known to have a low Glycemic Index (GI), causing carbohydrates to
metabolize slower and more efficiently, thus gradually releasing glucose
(simple sugar or monosaccharide) into the bloodstream, avoiding 'sugar rush' or
excess of sugar presence in the body.
"Since
diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by too much sugar or glucose in the
bloodstream, patients diagnosed to have the condition are advised to shift to
food low in Glycemic Index, one of which is corn, particularly the white
variety."
I
checked out the different websites for the benefits that could be derived from
eating corn and I was amazed by what this staple food of the Visayans,
derisively referred to as the food of the poor farm workers, offers.
There
are three vitamins white corn offers in large doses and these are Thiamine,
Niacin and Riboflavin.
Read
this: Niacin "Lowers Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Aside from helping to
balance cholesterol levels and triglycerides, vitamin B3 niacin has other
benefits for heart health, including the ability to reduce atherosclerosis,
which is the dangerous hardening of the arteries that can lead to heart
disease."
Here
is what Thiamine could do: "Thiamine is among eight B vitamins that play a
key role in helping the body convert food into fuel for our bodies. That fuel
(glucose) is then used to produce energy. Vitamin B1, along with all the B
vitamins, is needed to keep the brain and nervous system functioning optimally,
as well as for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver."
And
Riboflavin?
"Riboflavin
is simply another name for vitamin B2. It’s one of eight B vitamins that your
body uses to metabolize fat and protein and to convert carbs into the glucose
your cells require for energy. Your nerves and brain need riboflavin to
function properly and it also helps keep your skin, eyes, hair, and liver
healthy. As a water-soluble vitamin, your body doesn’t store it, so you need to
regularly get enough in your diet."
At
63, is it to late for me to shift to a corn diet?
I
don't believe so. It is never to late to change diet, especially since I intend
to live up to age 120. Just kidding.
This
weekend, I started my gradual shift from white rice to white corn and I am thankful
that my house help, Mina, a Maguindanao Muslim who has stayed in my farm along
with her husband and children for many years now, is an expert in cooking white
corn grits.
She
initially started with two cups of rice and one cup of corn and when I told her
that I liked more corn in my diet, she increased it to 50-50 ratio, meaning one
cup of rice and one cup of corn.
At
first, she cooked it the traditional way which was to allow the water to boil
first before the rice and corn are poured into the cooking pot.
Today,
she succeeded in cooking the 50-50 mix in a rice cooker by simply putting two
cups of water for the two cups of rice and corn.
I
love the taste and the firmness of the cereals she served.
Plant
more white corn please.
Source:
Sec. Manny Pinol Facebook Page
Disclaimer:
The above Article is not owned and does not reflect the views and opinions of
Partners for Change Philippines
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