Corn is a common coarse grain, and the most common way to eat it is to grind it into flour and cook it into porridge. In the Northeast, there's also the hearty Da Zha porridge. Compared to cornmeal porridge, Da Zha porridge has a coarser texture and is often cooked with kidney beans. When making the porridge, to ensure it cooks until soft, the corn kernels and kidney beans are usually soaked for half a day. After they swell and soften, they are placed in a pot and brought to a boil. That's not the end of the process; some baking soda is added, and the heat is reduced to simmer for a while. Once the corn kernels bloom, a pot of fragrant porridge is ready. However, compared to cornmeal porridge, it is less digestible, so people with poor digestion should opt for cornmeal porridge.
Compared to white flour, corn is quite coarse, so it can be mixed with rice, red beans, wheat flour, or soybean flour to make steamed cakes, steamed buns, or other snacks. Additionally, corn can be used in dishes. Fresh corn kernels can be shucked and stir-fried with shrimp and diced cucumber for a unique flavor. Chestnut steamed buns and jujube steamed buns from Beijing are very popular. Alternatively, corn can simply be boiled, and it tastes delicious as well.
For those with high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or persistent edema, corn is a good companion.
1. Patients with high blood pressure and high blood sugar
As we've mentioned, corn is highly effective in lowering blood sugar and blood pressure. Therefore, in today's world where "rich man's diseases" are prevalent, eating more corn can help prevent cardiovascular diseases.
2. Patients with edema, chronic nephritis, or nephrotic syndrome
Corn silk has excellent diuretic properties, so patients with edema can use it to make a decoction or steep it as tea. Furthermore, patients with kidney ailments can also drink corn silk water as a tea substitute.
3. People with poor appetite or reduced digestive ability
Corn has the effect of stimulating the appetite, so the elderly and children with poor digestion can drink more cornmeal porridge. Da Zha porridge is relatively difficult to digest, so it should be avoided. Also, fresh corn, because it has not undergone deep processing like grinding, should not be consumed in large quantities.