Cornflakes: useful properties and contraindications

The modern world is arranged so that people often in the morning somewhere in a hurry. And for the preparation of a full breakfast they hardly have time. Therefore, as a rule, many families are not satisfied with healthy omelets or oatmeal for breakfast, and dry snacks in the form of corn flakes. And whether they are useful or, on the contrary, harmful, it is still worth to figure out.

Composition and Calorie

The properties of corn flakes depend not only on the basic composition, but also on the characteristics of the components with which the product is supplemented, depending on the manufacturer. Vitamins of synthetic origin are often used in this case.

Excluding additives, the pure product contains the following useful components:

• A large number of vitamins such as A, PP, B, H, E;
• amino acids;
• fiber;
• starch;
• Micro- and macro-elements such as zinc, cobalt, copper, potassium, sodium.

In 100 grams of product contains from 260 to 360 kcal. The value of this indicator depends on the additives added by the manufacturer. It is increased by adding synthetic components and sugar, which is used to increase the shelf life.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that ½ cup of cereal contains at least 8 teaspoons of sugar. To reduce the effect of this food on blood glucose levels, it is recommended to pour them with natural yogurt without additives or kefir before consuming. This will maximize the benefits of breakfast.

What are the benefits of cornflakes

General Benefits

The useful properties of cornflakes are a controversial issue. Since many manufacturers save on raw materials and introduce low-quality additives, the product can cause harm to the body. But if you consume a high-quality product in its pure form, it is noted that the flakes not only do no harm, but also have a beneficial effect.

It is known that corn flakes contain such a substance as tryptophan. When getting into the body, this component is converted into serotonin, which enhances brain activity, as well as the optimistic mood of man, which has a positive effect on the mood in general.

The glutamic acid present in the product increases the speed of metabolic processes occurring in the human brain, and the starch strengthens the nerve cells. Therefore, regular consumption of cornflakes increases intelligence and improves memory and strengthens the nervous system.

Consumption of cornflakes is useful for people who suffer from a lack of appetite. This is due to the fact that the food very quickly satiates the body, then at the same time in a very short period to replace satiety comes hunger. This allows us to conclude that cereal stimulates the appetite and helps people who all the time forget about the timely intake of food.

For women

Many women are convinced by a good advertising campaign that by consuming cornflakes regularly, not only can you not gain extra pounds, but, on the contrary, you can lose them. But this is not the case. This is due to the following characteristics of this food:

1. A high caloric value.
2. A large amount of sugar, which is added not only in the production of the flakes themselves, but also contained in the glaze.
3. High glycemic index.
4. The content in the composition of simple carbohydrates, which lead to a rapid onset of hunger after intake.

Therefore, with regular consumption of corn flakes to be slim will not work.

For men

For men, the benefits of cornflakes can only consist of strengthening muscle tissue.

In Pregnancy

There is no reason to forbid cornflakes to women who are expecting a child. In this position, girls have a need for vitamins, useful components, minerals, organic acids, especially since taste preferences at this time can be the most unpredictable. Thanks to the cereal can correct problems with the digestive system.

But the last terms in pregnant women are characterized by low mobility, and physical activity is completely absent. Therefore, it is recommended to exclude the consumption of cereal, starting from week 36. This is due to the fact that at term 37 weeks a woman will start to deposit fats, and the fetus will receive them daily. It will be about 30 grams. So, the baby's weight will increase, and this will adversely affect both the baby and the mother.

When breastfeeding

When breastfeeding, eating cornflakes is not harmful, on the contrary, it will have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract, because the product contains organic acids and minerals. In addition, they will reduce the cholesterol content in the blood and normalize the work of the heart muscle.

The main ingredient of flakes is cornmeal, which has the property of lowering blood pressure and cleaning the walls of blood vessels. In addition, the product will not harm the baby, as it does not contain components that cause allergic reactions. Together with milk, the child will also begin to get used to the taste of corn porridge, which will later be used as a complementary food.

It is important to pay attention to the composition of the cereal when buying. They should not contain gluten or any trace of it. Only such a product can be consumed by a nursing mother.

For kids

Recently, the number of children suffering from the problem of obesity has been growing disastrously. That's why nutritionists and other experts in the field have been researching the causes. For some time, they have been observing a group of children between the ages of 5 and 10. As a result, they found that those who eat cornflakes for breakfast every day are already one year overweight.

In addition to problems with obesity, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the children can be fed cereal at the earliest after reaching the age of three. It was by this time the nervous system is fully formed. The same applies to the gastrointestinal tract and circulatory system.

When losing weight

According to a large number of nutritionists, it is believed that the mono-diet, based on the use of corn flakes, is one of the most effective. Proper compliance with all conditions leads to a very rapid weight loss.

In this diet, the main product is cereal. Everything is very simple and effective. The special merit of such weight loss is that there is no need to spend time on cooking and observing difficult conditions. In addition, thanks to the sweet taste of this product reduces the desire to eat sweets and flour. It is worth noting that the duration of such a course should be no more than 1 week.

Nuances of a diet on corn flakes
When deciding to try a diet based on cornflakes, it is recommended to pay attention to the following nuances:

1. It is important to pay attention to the composition of the flakes consumed. They should contain the smallest amount of not only sugar, but also other harmful additives.
2. It is forbidden to abuse the product. Beforehand, it is worth calculating the amount of the daily norm, which depends on physical activity.
3. When dieting, it is advisable to eat cereal in the morning, remembering that the more varied the menu, the easier it is to make yourself go through the chosen method of weight loss. This will also reduce the degree of harm of such a diet to the body.
4. It should not be forgotten that cereal refers to the category of fast carbohydrates. Therefore, after eating it, the feeling of hunger will soon appear again. Therefore, beginners are not recommended to start immediately with such a diet - it is very difficult to endure it.
5. The daily rate of corn product should not be more than 60 g. In addition, it is recommended to pour them with low-fat milk or fermented dairy products.

Many nutritionists recommend using corn porridge instead of corn flakes. It is useful, more fully satiates the body.

Is corn flakes useful for breakfast

Do not think that corn flakes for breakfast will fully saturate the body and replenish the reserves of useful components. The greatest danger of this product is its high glucose content. Therefore, for diabetics, cereal is forbidden. But they themselves can cause type 2 diabetes.

If you consume corn product in the morning, it will lead to an instant rise in insulin. As a result, the feeling of hunger will appear much faster than in the case of eating any other food in the morning.

It will be much healthier to include the product in your diet as a regular snack. Especially if it is a cereal without sugar, which is much healthier than rolls or muffins with syrups and frosting.

Cornflakes in medicine

Consumption of cornflakes is contraindicated for some diseases. This may be due to a number of reasons.

In case of diabetes mellitus.

In the case of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the consumption of flakes is allowed, only if there are no additives there. In general, they can even have a beneficial effect, since they contribute to the production of insulin.

Eating cereal with frosting can increase the amount of sugar in the blood, but the insulin produced will cope with this problem. But it also depends on the amount of product eaten. It is better not to take a particular risk and consume cereal with tea or kefir. For patients with type 2 diabetes, this product is especially useful, because it allows the body to cope with an increase in blood sugar on its own.

Important: The glycemic index of corn flakes is 80 units.

In pancreatitis

With pancreatitis, people always have to leave the usual diet and carefully monitor the products consumed. But corn itself is not a contraindication here, especially if a healthy and tasty porridge is prepared from it. But this applies only to the period of remission, but when the disease is exacerbated, it is worth completely excluding the product from the menu. The same applies to corn flakes.

With gastritis

In such a disease as gastritis, gastroenterologists do not recommend eating cornflakes. This is due to the fact that such a load on the already sick stomach may lead to a worsening of the disease.

Often you can hear that with any diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, corn flakes can be beneficial. But it is worth paying attention to the composition of the product, where it is always indicated that it contains gluten. It is added to give the flakes an attractive taste and smell. For the development of gastritis, nothing else is needed, except food in the form of breakfast cereals or foods with high fat content. As a result, the person may require emergency medical care. And it's a good thing if it's all managed by a few drops. It is bad if the illness develops into something more serious.

For constipation

In such problems as constipation and colitis, the use of corn flakes is recommended. This is due to the fact that the product contains a large amount of fiber, which helps to normalize the metabolic processes of the body, and also stimulates the gastrointestinal tract to the full extent.

In case of gout

Most of the composition of corn flakes is represented by peeled from the skin and ground grains, water, licorice syrup, sugar and salt. All of these components are harmful to people suffering from gout. But at the same time they are saturated with corn starch, which is beneficial for the formation of muscle tissue, as well as its growth.

In addition, the flakes revealed the content of pectins, which are responsible for the regulation of metabolic processes, macro- and micronutrients that saturate the body with useful components. That is why the consumption of corn flakes in moderate doses in the case of gout is allowed.

In the case of cholecystitis

Cholecystitis, especially in the acute form, requires a strict diet. If the question concerns the first days of exacerbation, then here you need to refuse to eat at all. On the remaining days, it is necessary to develop your diet, including products from the list of allowed.

Features of the diet in cholecystitis:

1. There should be about 5-6 meals per day.
2. The portion for each meal should fill no more than 1/3 of the plate.
3. The end of each meal should be accompanied by a slight feeling of hunger.
4. The temperature of food should not be too hot - room temperature or slightly warmer.
5. Do not immediately drink tea or water, it is worth to wait at least 40 minutes.
6. The final meal should be finished at least two hours before going to bed.

As for eating cornflakes, it is forbidden to eat any fast food in cholelithiasis. This category also includes cereal, chips and other similar products.

Harms and contraindications

During the purchase of the product, it is necessary to be very careful to look at the composition. This will help keep it from harming your health. It is necessary to choose corn flakes that do not contain sugar and other additives. After all, the product itself is very caloric, since it consists not only of flour, but also other food components. And if you also supplement this product with honey, sugar syrup or yogurt, you can gain a lot of excess weight in the shortest period.

It is also important to pay attention to the fact that cereals are very nutritious, but quickly enough digested, so they lead to a sharp spike in insulin. And from this it follows that the feeling of hunger occurs very quickly after such a snack.

The use of cornflakes has some dangers:

1. Vitamins that could be contained in cereal are destroyed due to the powerful processing in the manufacturing process. And vitamins of artificial origin, added to the product later, can even harm the body. This is confirmed by the research of German scientists, who proved that the complex intake of vitamins can lead to the growth of malignancies.
2. You should not start the breakfast of an adult or child with sweets, because the diet, put in this way, sooner or later will lead to diabetes and food cravings disorder.

Of course, it is possible to consume cornflakes, but in moderation, especially since the vitamins that are still contained in the product can be found in other foods that are healthy and of good quality.

There are also cases where the use of corn flakes is strictly contraindicated:

1. Chronic tooth decay, since the product is noted for its high sugar content.
2. Tendency to allergic manifestations.
3. Individual intolerance of individual components of the product.

And it is worth noting that the recommended use of cereal is a snack between breakfast and lunch. And in no case can they be introduced into the diet as a permanent food.

How to choose and store

When choosing corn flakes, you should initially pay attention to the composition. It is ideal when the product is made of water, cornmeal and salt. These ingredients are enough for the cereal to get a familiar look, but at the same time not to become caloric.

Of course, thanks to sugar, various syrups or honey, the corn product becomes much tastier, but also caloric. Therefore, it is not recommended to include such food in a dietary menu.

Vitamins, which are included in the main ingredient - corn flour, are not indicated on the package. Therefore, if it is labeled "Vitamins," it will only mean that the product has been additionally vitaminized in the manufacturing process.

When buying chocolate flakes, you should also pay attention to the composition of the icing itself. An excellent option would be the addition of natural cocoa or cocoa butter.

As for the shelf life, the flakes have a long shelf life. But in this case, it is necessary to create acceptable conditions. Here an important role is played by the ambient temperature and the characteristics of the chosen place. It is not bad to use a special container of glass or cardboard. The place must be dry, without a sharp change in temperature and humidity. If all of the above conditions are met, then the product can be stored and consumed within 12 months.

How to make cornflakes at home

Making corn flakes at home is quite simple. This will require corn grits, sugar and water.

Step-by-step preparation of the product is as follows:

1. In a saucepan, combine sugar and water in equal proportions, and then cook over low heat until a homogeneous, slightly thickened syrup. In the process, the composition must be constantly stirred.
2. Then pour the corn grits into the syrup and boil until you get a thick dense mass. This process will take several hours.
3. Next, remove the composition from the stove and wait for it to cool. After that, form a layer and roll it out, using a rolling pin.
4. Then divide the layer into small pieces, using a knife. You can also just crumble it into small pieces.
5. Send them to the oven and roast at 300 ° C until the flakes get a nice golden color.

After cooling, you can consume the product by pouring it with milk, sour milk products or kissel.

What you can cook out of cornflakes: Recipes

There are quite a few interesting options for cooking dishes based on cornflakes. Let's consider the most interesting of them.

Chocolate "muffins"

Such "muffins" will be just a find for a tea party. They can easily replace any cake or candy. Especially fans of chocolate will be pleased with the recipe.

The preparation requires the following steps:

1. Cornflakes in an amount of 80 g put in a bag and thoroughly grind, using a rolling pin.
2. Melt the butter in an amount of 50 g in a water bath.
3. In a separate bowl in a water bath melt 100 g of dark chocolate, which should be broken into pieces. This will make the process much faster.
4. Combine in a common container melted butter and chocolate, add 5 tablespoons of natural honey and again send it all to a water bath.
5. When the mass becomes homogeneous, pour the prepared flakes. Thoroughly mix the composition.
6. Special forms for muffins grease with a little butter, and then distribute the resulting batter on them.
7. We send it to freezer to harden.

The cookies

Cookies made with cornflakes are unlikely to be suitable for a festive table, but for a quiet family evening it is not a bad option. What is the cooking process:

1. Place 3 egg whites in the bowl of a blender, add ¼ teaspoon of salt and whip for 1 minute. Then slowly add 100g of sugar and whisk until it forms a stiff white foam.
2. Cut 100 g apricots into small pieces, and also chop 100 g walnuts, but not to a powdered state. Walnuts can be replaced by any other nuts (hazelnuts, peanuts or almonds) - this will not affect the taste and may even improve it.
3. Grind 100 grams of corn flakes into crumbs. For this purpose you can use a blender or a rolling pin.
4. To the whipped whites put 200 grams of corn flakes in whole, all crumbled flakes, pieces of dried apricots, and chopped nuts. Gently stir the mixture to evenly distribute all the elements.
5. A handy baking tray lined with baking paper, grease with a little butter, and then spoon out the prepared dough in the form of small cakes.
6. Preheat the oven to 180°C and put the baking tray there. Baking time will be about 15 minutes. You should be guided by the color. The finished treat has a pleasant caramel hue.

Cornflakes casserole

Casserole based on corn product will be a good option for breakfast. You can serve it with fresh berries or sour cream.

The preparation consists of the following:

1. Skimmed cottage cheese in the amount of 400 g mash in a convenient bowl with 3 chicken eggs.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 150 ml of milk, a teaspoon of vanilla sugar, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 250 g of cornflakes. Mix the mixture thoroughly.
3. Grease a suitable baking dish with butter. You will need about 1 tablespoon. Then cover it with semolina and put the prepared dough in an even layer.
4. Grease the surface of the dough with 2 tablespoons of sour cream.
5. Preheat oven to 180°C and bake for 20 minutes.

Candies

A very simple recipe that allows you to get a delicious homemade treat.

How to prepare:

1. Add 2 teaspoons of sweet soy sauce to 100 g of cornflakes. Knead well with your hands so that the sauce is completely distributed on the flakes, which will eventually become much softer. Flakes can also be diluted with a small amount of candied fruits, granola or nuts.
2. Melt 100 g of dark chocolate in a water bath or in the microwave and add to the cereal.
3. Mix thoroughly.
4. Put on gloves, so it will be more convenient and hygienic, and form the resulting mass of balls or pyramids. For decoration, you can use coconut flakes or sesame seeds, which you then roll into the candies.
5. Leave to set. You can even put them in the refrigerator. After that, you can enjoy the delicious dessert.

Chicken chops in corn flakes

The preparation of the chops consists of the following steps:

1. Cut one chicken fillet into pieces and beat it a little with a kitchen mallet.
2. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, stir and pour 1 cup of milk. If this quantity is not enough to completely cover the meat, you can add boiled water. Leave it for 2 hours.
3. Now prepare the batter. Beat 2 chicken eggs in a container. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Beat thoroughly with a whisk. Add ½ cup of flour and mix again. Add the milk drained from the chicken meat to the mixture. Stir again.
4. Grind 4 tablespoons of cornflakes with a rolling pin and add them to the batter. Mix well.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a pan, dip the chicken meat in the prepared batter and fry on both sides until golden brown.

Corn flakes have a little sweetness, so the taste of chicken chops turns out interesting and unusual.

Interesting facts about corn

1. Corn is a staple for a large number of products. Not only grains can be used, but also other parts of the plant. Various animal feeds, plastics, plaster, alcohol, glue are made from this raw material.
2. Corn contains almost all the useful components necessary for the human body. Therefore it is possible to eat only this product and feel perfectly well.
3. Cornflakes were invented back in 1898. In the state of Michigan, the owners of a private sanatorium wanted to prepare a dish based on cornmeal for their patients. While cooking, the cook became distracted, causing the dough to curdle and seem to go bad. But there was nothing to serve, so the spoiled dough was fried on both sides and still served. The patients liked the dish and it has been served in the sanatorium ever since.

Cornflakes not always can bring benefit, especially if used in unlimited quantities. For such food to be beneficial, nutritionists recommend mixing them with kefir, nonfat yogurt, as well as supplementing them with crushed fruit or berries. This will slow down the absorption of consumed ingredients and prolong the feeling of fullness.

Photo of cornflakes