Corn, whose scientific name is "Zea mays". It is a type of grass native to Mexico, which has been cultivated by indigenous peoples for many years, corn was introduced in Europe after the colonization of America, obtaining a great acceptance among the European community, who saw it as a food very accessible and nutritious.
Corn is a plant that belongs to the genus of grasses. It has two types of roots, some main that are fibrous and others that appear in the first nodes, on the surface of the soil. These roots have the function of keeping the plant upright. The stem is made up of three layers: an outer layer which is impermeable and transparent, a wall through which the nutritive substances move, and a pith with a spongy and white coating where food reserves are kept. The leaves are elongated and wrapped around the stem, from which the ears or ears sprout. The cob is a trunk covered with grains that represent the edible part of the plant.
There are different types of corn, some of them are:
Sweet corn: this type of corn is cultivated to be consumed when the ears are still green, they are commonly used in the preparation of roasts or boils. It is called sweet because its grains have sugar in high proportions, which gives it that sweet touch.
Popcorn: this kind of corn has the peculiarity of being excessively hard, this is due to the starch that composes it, which is found in small quantities. When these grains are exposed to high temperatures, they burst, releasing the endosperm.
Hard corn: it is one that is characterized by its round and hard grains, it is used mainly for the production of cornstarch, its production is mostly intended for human consumption and the rest is used to feed animals.
Serrated corn: it is the one that is used the most , despite being a corn prone to all kinds of insects and fungi, in addition to that it dries very quickly. This type of corn has a higher yield, the grains of yellow tones are assigned as food for animals, while those of white color are for human consumption.
Mealy corn: it is very popular in Mexico, it is a corn with a very soft starch, its grains have different colors and textures. It is used exclusively for human consumption.
Corn represents, along with wheat, one of the most consumed foods in the world. Among its benefits and properties is that it does not have gluten, which makes it an ideal food for people with celiac disease. It is a food that provides a lot of energy, so it is ideal to be consumed by athletes. It is the only cereal that contains beta-carotene, in addition to carbohydrate and a large amount of vitamins of group A, B and E. Corn helps regulate metabolism and improves intestinal transit. It is full of minerals like iron, copper, magnesium, and phosphorus.
