Monday Post

With Covid 19 cases on record breaking path in India, it is a situation which is giving worries to all the concerns and citizens of the country. It is so happening that the states where Covid cases are touching all time high have started feeling the pinch of shortage of hospital beds, ventilators, Oxygen supply, Remedesivir medicine and other essential things, the major states which are affected are Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, Delhi and UP. During the first wave of Covid it was central govt which had taken full control over the situation and directed the states. When after the first wave was subsided and lockdown started lifting up in all the states as per prevailing conditions in the particular city/district/state, then the control passed on to the state govts. Now when the 2^nd wave happened, state govts were in dilemma whether to lock down again or keeping  it on partial basis so that some essential economic activities continue to run. Now this move by most of the state govt started backfiring. Take the case of Maharashtra govt, they were not in position to plan if the Covid cases go on increasing, what is their action plan. It so happened that in the month of April 21, the number of cases  figure crosseed the earlier peak of Sept 20 in first 10 days of April 21. Now the state govt is fighting. on all fronts for controlling total number of cases, increasing the availibilty of hospital beds, ventilators, Oxygen supply, medicines and many other things. And on top all this, the state govt has started doing politics and have starting blaming central govt for all these problems. Sometimes I feel sick when I hear govt spokepersons and other state leaders and how they start blaming central govt and PM for all their failures. The actual fact is state govt is working on shaky ground as there is no coordination between three alliance partners, and everybody has started playing blame game. Where and when it will end is the question of the day, so that sufferings of common men are controlled.

Now coming to my other topic of the day:

Sometimes we ignore some healthy foods and do not give due attention and importance  to it, CORN is one such food which is eaten commonly in almost all parts if India. It is rich in fiber content, and also contains antioxidants, Vitamins and mineral. Corn is available in different colours in other parts of the world, in India it is yellow corn which we eat. Popcorn is favourite snack among people of all ages. Corn can be eaten in many different ways and it is a healthy snack.Makki ki roti (made from corn flour) and Sarson Ka Saag  is a world famous punjabi dish.

Nutritional Value—It is said that corn has the highest antioxidant, anti cancer and anti inflammatory components  among cereals. It contains Vitamin A, E, K, B6, Thiamin, Riboflavin Niacin & folate and minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Manganese and Selenium. Being rich in Phytochemicals, corn is true health food that can help you in staying healthy.

Energy Booster—Cornflake is considered to be popular and healthy breakfat cereal, because it is rich in carbohydrates. These are complex carbohydrates that get digested rather slowly, and thus provide energy for longer period.

Powerhouse of Iron—Corn is a superfood for those having anemia, as it is rich in iron and can help to reduce iron deficiency. Vitamin B12, Folic acid and the iron present in corn help the body produce red cells and maintain good hemoglobin levels.

Regulate Blood sugar levels—As it is rich in antioxidants and the anthocyanins and flavonoids contained in it, prevent and eliminate the free radicals that cause inflammation leading to cancer. These components help in improving the blood flow and help improve insulin production in the body. they also protect the pancreas, lower the absorption of cholestrol and so is good chice for diabetics, and it also improves heart health.

But corn can raise your blood sugar levels if you over eat it as it does contain sugar and carbs, which are two things that usually diabetics are told to avoid. The key is to balance your portion of diet or check with your doctor in case of doubt.

Anti-inflammatory properties—The proteins and various phyto chemicals present in corn are anti inflammatory agents, which help the growth of healthy new cells, while inhibiting the damaged ones. Also because of high fiber in it. corn is good for preventing or reducing constipation, and irritable bowel disease or even colorectal cancer.

Good for skin—As corn helps in the production of healthy new cells, it is good for skin. It is  vitamin C and lycopene contained in corn that increases collagen production. This prevents the free radicals generatyed due tu uv exposure, from damaging the skin. Corn is ised in certain skin cosmetics due to this quality.

Improves vision—Corn contain lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are cartenoids that help improve our vision. The defficiency of these two cause a lot of vision issues such as cataract and macular degeneration, among others.

Apart from above, corn is blessing for underweight as it helps them to gain weight becaise it is rich in calories. This good amount of pantothenic acid present in corn helps prevent stress and improves the function of ardenal glands. The Manganese in corn helps strengthen the connective tissues in the body, while magnesium, iron, Copper and Phosphorus contribute to stronger bones as we age. More importantly Thymine in corn is an integral component aiding cognitive function, and also prevent Alzhetmer’s disease.

So you how good is corn for our health.

Waiting for your views and comments.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

19^th April 2021