Corn sticks: useful properties and contraindications

The airy treat is loved by adults and the elderly, young children and teenagers. Nowadays, the product is made with different flavors, making sticks of different shapes and colors. Today you can buy corn sticks with flavors of condensed and melted milk, nuts. Older generations will enjoy bacon or cheese flavored sticks. Today's popular sweet treat can be found on the shelves of any store.

Many people think that corn sticks are made directly from the grain of the cereal, but this is far from being true. The product is made from the foam of corn flour. You need to have special equipment for production. You can buy flour in ready-made form in a store, or prepare your own by grinding cereal grains in a coffee grinder.

How to make corn sticks

The product is based on cornmeal. During manufacturing, corn sticks undergo additional processing at high temperatures, so they are deprived of most of their valuable nutritional properties. When manufactured on an industrial scale, corn sticks are made with the addition of powdered sugar, various preservatives and food colorings. In order to make the product a little healthier, various vitamin complexes are added to it.

The production technology goes through several important stages, each of which plays a significant role. The main component of the product are whole corn kernels, which in the process of processing are dried and ground into flour. The resulting flour is carefully sifted so that large parts of raw materials do not get into the finished product. The next step is to mix the corn flour with sweeteners, flavorings, and flavorings. At this stage of production there is excess moisture in the flour, which must be removed. After processing on special equipment, not only excess moisture evaporates, but also a plastic mass of mixed components is obtained.

The formed corn sticks are placed in an extruder, where at a certain temperature the mixture passes through the equipment, foams and increases in volume. In the final stage, special knives cut the finished sticks, giving them the desired shape and size. After the product is ready, it goes through the final stage - it adds vegetable oil, flavoring additives, and is dipped in powdered sugar.

Composition and calories

The treat consists of only four ingredients: corn flour, powdered sugar, vegetable oil and salt. Still, the product is characterized by high calories. There are 325 kcal per 100 grams. In the composition of the product there are such elements:

• Carbohydrates - 75 grams.
• Fats - 1.2 grams.
• Protein, 8.3 grams.
• Manganese, magnesium, copper, sodium, vitamin B2.

The vitamin composition is quite scarce and appears in the finished product only as a result of adding during production. Natural components are completely absent here, so the product does not have a particularly positive effect on the human body.

What are the benefits of corn sticks

The benefits of corn sticks are small, but still there is. The nutritional value of the product is as follows:

1. In 100 grams of corn sticks contains half of the daily norm of vitamin B2, necessary for the normalization of the nervous system, thyroid, vision, good condition of the skin and hair.
2. The high caloric content of the product allows you to quickly suppress feelings of hunger in an emergency.
3. The large amount of carbohydrates allows not only to give a feeling of satiety, but also to lift your mood. If you eat a small amount of sticks for breakfast, you can energize yourself for the whole day.

There are no recommendations for the daily dosage of the product. The permissible dosage of the treat depends on the health of the person, the age and the individual characteristics of the body.

Can I eat corn sticks?

Everyone's favorite treat, like all foods, should not be overdone. In some cases, the use of corn sticks should be reduced to a minimum, and in serious diseases completely excluded from the diet.

When breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, women have to carefully monitor their diet. After all, with milk the child receives not only useful and nutritious substances, but also harmful substances that can cause harm. Corn flour can cause an allergic reaction. Even if the woman herself does not suffer from susceptibility to the components of the product, the baby may have problems. It will be best to give up the sweet treat until the end of breastfeeding.

Pregnant

During pregnancy, you can sometimes indulge yourself with a sweet treat, but you should not forget about the high caloric content of the product and know the limits. If the future mother has problems with the digestive system, it is not recommended to eat corn sticks to avoid exacerbation of the disease. Also, the sweet product is very caloric and promotes the gain of excess weight in a woman. This can have a negative impact on the development of the fetus.

Children

Small children are not recommended to give corn sticks. They can contribute to a metabolic disorder in the immature body, which will subsequently lead to weight problems. It is recommended to give corn sticks to children from the age of three. Children should not be given more than one packet a day. When starting to use the product, you should monitor the child's condition. If red spots, itching or rashes appeared on the skin, then the treat should be excluded from the diet.

When losing weight

For those who want to lose weight, it is not advisable to consume it. The product is high in calories and only contributes to gaining weight, not losing it. There are very few useful substances in corn sticks, and in the composition are not natural ingredients, and flavorings and flavor enhancers. When ingested, the crushed particles of the sticks stick to the walls of the intestines and stomach, and other food in turn sticks to them.

For pancreatitis.

People who suffer from pancreatic problems can consume sticks only during the remission period. In no case should they be eaten during an exacerbation of the disease. In addition, during this period it is necessary to follow a strict diet.

In case of gastritis

The disease of the stomach involves a certain diet, in which the action of food is aimed at not irritating the weak walls of the mucosa. Corn sticks can provoke pain, especially in the acute phase. With gastritis, corn sticks can be consumed only during remission and only in small portions.

Harm and contraindications

Negative effects from the use of corn sticks have an extensive range. The sweet treat can bring more harm to the body than good. Due to the presence of powdered sugar, the caloric value of the product is high, but there are very few useful properties in it. Moreover, some manufacturers do not use powdered sugar, but a cheaper and harmful sweetener in order to save money.

Corn sticks can bring negative consequences in the form of development of tooth decay. While chewing, the corn mass sticks to the teeth in places where it is difficult to get rid of with a toothbrush. This is especially bad for children, because they are not inclined to keep their mouths clean. In addition, the product does not have the properties that will help eliminate toxins from the body, but even slows down the process of their elimination.

Contraindications:

1. It is not recommended to consume the treat for people suffering from diabetes. The product contains a lot of sugar and preservatives. Some additives can cause allergic reactions.
2. Corn sticks are contraindicated for people suffering from diseases of the digestive system, especially during the phase of acute aggravation of the disease. Patients during this period are put on a strict diet. Sometimes, during remission, you can allow a small amount of sticks, but only after the approval of the attending doctor.
3. People who suffer from skin diseases should refrain from such a treat. Corn sticks can cause an aggravation of the disease and aggravate skin rashes. Especially it concerns chronic inflammatory processes.
4. People who have problems with being overweight are also not recommended to eat corn sticks. This can further worsen the condition and certainly will not help to reduce the number of pounds.

It is also not recommended to consume the product for children under three years old, pregnant and lactating women.

What can be cooked from corn sticks

The sweet treat is used as an independent product and is used to prepare various desserts: cakes, cookies or cakes. Many culinary masterpieces made of corn sticks do not require heat treatment. If you have a simple set of the right products in your house, you can make a cake from corn sticks. To make it, you will need:

• corn sticks - 1-2 packs (depending on what size cake you want to make);
• condensed milk - 1 jar (you can take boiled condensed milk);
• butter - 1 packet;
• Chocolate - 1 bar;
• bee honey - 1 tsp;
• cocoa powder - 2-3 tbsp;
• fresh or frozen berries (you can not use in the preparation).

Two-thirds of a packet of butter, half a can of condensed milk and honey should be mixed and well whipped with a mixer. This will be the cream for the cake. Add cocoa to the prepared thick mass and beat well with a mixer again. In a deep bowl pour corn sticks, you can pre-cut them. In the same place, put the prepared cream and mix, trying to coat each stick with it. Prepared container to cover with cling film and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Put the mixed mass into the form and press it. After that, put the cake in the fridge for 40-50 minutes. Before serving, put berries on top for decoration.

How to Make Corn Sticks at Home

Many people wonder if it is possible to make delicious corn sticks with their own hands at home, or will have to make do with store goods? The technology of making sticks is quite complicated and labor-intensive. You need special equipment to make them, so it is almost impossible to make the product at home. If you have an extruder, which provides the softening and shaping of the finished product at the right pressure and temperature, then you can safely start your own production. To prepare the raw material for further processing, you will need another device - a screw conditioner.

Stages of preparation of corn sticks at home:

1. Pour the cornmeal into the screw conditioner and add water and some salt to it. Within 5 minutes the components are mixed, then begin the process of breaking the mixture, which lasts about three hours.
2. The resulting mass is then placed in an extruder, where it is heated to a temperature of 200 degrees and foamed.
3. After that, the product is pushed by an appliance into the drying compartment and cut into several equal parts. It is necessary to bring the moisture level to 5 percent, so the resulting product will become crispy.
4. At the final stage, the product is glazed with vegetable oil, seasonings and powdered sugar.

There is another recipe, which will turn out a dessert similar to corn sticks. The finished products will be very different from store-bought, but everyone will like their taste. To make it you will need:

• Butter - 50 grams.
• Corn flour - 100 grams.
• Milk - 70 ml.
• Egg - 2 pcs.

Mix the milk and butter in a bowl and put over a low heat. Once the mixture is boiling, add flour little by little to prevent lumps from forming. When the mixture thickens, remove it from heat, add eggs and mix well. Fill a pastry bag with the dough and squeeze out short sausages on the prepared tray. Then put the tray in a preheated oven and bake the products until they are completely cooked. Sprinkle the baked sticks with powdered sugar.

Can I Eat Corn Sticks During Lent

During Lent, people are forbidden to eat foods that contain animal fats. There are no forbidden ingredients in corn sticks. One should eat a limited amount of sweet delicacies during Lent. While buying you should pay attention to the composition of the product. Many glazed products may contain dairy additives, and milk is prohibited during Lent.

The main purpose of the Great Feast is the cleansing of the soul from sins, and overeating does not contribute to the spiritual and bodily purification. Therefore, during this period it is necessary to give preference to vegetarian food, vegetables and fruits. This will not only be the observance of Lent, but will also be beneficial for the whole body.

Can we give corn sticks to pets?

Sometimes pet owners wonder if they can give corn sticks to their pets. The answer, of course, is no. Corn sticks tend to stick to the teeth. While humans can remove the sticky mass with a toothpick or toothbrush on their own, a cat or dog cannot. Therefore, if your pet eats sweet treats all the time, he may start to have dental problems.

The same goes for the internal organs of animals. Corn sticks will constantly stick to the intestines and stomach, which slows down the digestion process. Various diseases can develop from this.

Interesting fact: the sweet product appeared in the 19th century thanks to an experiment of the American brothers-chefs, owners of the sanatorium. They had to be away from the sanatorium for a while on important business, and when they returned they found that the cornmeal had gone a little rusty. In order not to throw away the dried corn flour, the brothers made thick dough, rolled it out, and made flakes, which they fried in oil. The novelty was to the liking of the people in the sanatorium. Cornflakes were served with milk and marshmallows. Already in the 20th century, when the extrusion method began to be used in production, the flakes began to be passed through a mold, and that is how everyone's favorite corn sticks appeared.

Cornflakes are, in fact, just a tasty treat without much use. When choosing a product in the store, it is advisable to pay attention to the composition. It should contain as few dyes, preservatives and other food additives as possible. Preference should be given to the kind of sticks sprinkled with powdered sugar and colored yellow. Try to buy products that bring at least a little, but good for the body.

Photo of corn sticks