Did you know that Maiz Morado can help you control weight? Apart from looking exotic and being one of the most revered things of the Incas, Maiz Morado, or the Purple Corn, can help you fight cancer and prevent obesity.

Also, this ingredient has a number of other amazing benefits. Would you like to know what they are? Read on!

What Is Maiz Morado?

Maiz Morado or purple corn is a variety of flint maize that was popular among the Incas. The plant originated from South America and has a rich purple or deep blue color, giving it its name. Peruvians use Maiz Morado to cook many desserts and foods.

The deep blue or purple color is due to a special polyphenol group called anthocyanins. The name anthocyanin is from the Greek – anthos (flower) and kyanos (cyan or blue). The high level of anthocyanins not only contributes to the rich color, but fights cancer as well.

Following are the amazing health benefits of Maiz Morado:

1. Antioxidant:

Maiz Morado is a powerful antioxidant that not only helps reduce oxidative stress from the body, but also purges dangerous free radicals from your body. Maiz Morado owes its antioxidant characteristics to the formidable array of polyphenols it contains. Polyphenols are strong antioxidants, and the presence of anthocyanins (blue colored polyphenols) makes Maiz Morado a good antioxidant. Polyphenols help prevent many health conditions like heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and also thwart skin infections like acne and fungal infections (1).

2. Anti-Carcinogenic:

Maiz Morado is not merely a good antioxidant. It’s also a good anti-cancer agent, and helps prevent the onset of cancer. As already mentioned, the anthocyanins play a big part in shaping the anti-carcinogenic characteristic of purple corn. The polyphenols present not only kill the cancerous cells, but also inhibit tumor growth (2).

3. Anti-Inflammatory:

Maiz Morado is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Clinical trials on a group of rats conclude that anthocyanin-rich purple corn does exhibit strong anti-inflammatory activity and helps reduce the effects of inflammation in rats. Anthocyanin pigments, which are accumulated by boiling the purple corn cobs in water and keeping the water, are used to manufacture food colorants that are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in nature (3).

4. Controls Obesity:

Purple corn is not just a pretty food; it is also a powerful food that can help you keep your weight in check. What’s more, it will keep your high blood sugar levels under control as well. Maiz Morado is rich in dietary cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside, which is the active agent that keeps your weight in check. It regulates fat cell function and controls obesity (4).

5. Regulates Insulin:

Maiz Morado has many health benefits, and one of them is regulating your insulin levels. We mentioned above that Maiz Morado can help lower blood sugar. Again, the anthocyanins (bless them) are the ones responsible for preventing insulin resistance and regulating insulin levels. So, if you are a diabetic, a heart patient, or are obese or have cancer, purple corn is the solution (5).

6. Promotes Collagen Production:

Collagen is the most important protein in our body. It is what forms the base for the human skeleton. It connects tissues; it helps keep your bones in place. Collagen is as essential to you as water is to fish. Purple corn contains many phytonutrients and those lovely anthocyanins that help promote collagen production. Collagen production ensures quicker regeneration and repair of tissues (6).

7. Reduces Cholesterol Levels:

Purple corn is the ultimate heart health-boosting food. It is anti-diabetic; it helps regulate insulin levels and controls your weight. The only thing missing from that list is – yes, you guessed it right – reducing cholesterol. But wait, Maiz Morado does that as well. The pigment of purple corn, our new favorite anthocyanin, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels (7).

8. Detoxifies:

Anthocyanins are the main chemical compound group in Maiz Morado. The high levels of anthocyanin ensure that purple corn acts as a great detoxifying agent. Anthocyanins help detoxify and purge toxins and other harmful chemicals from your body. You can either order purple corn extract or even order dried purple corn extract powder online (8).

9. Slows Aging:

Maiz Morado consumption not only has the above health benefits; it can also help you slow down aging and reduce wrinkles and fine lines. The characteristic is again due to the anthocyanins. The polyphenols, which are in fact strong antioxidants, help promote skin regeneration and slow down the aging process. So, if you think you need to look younger, consider including purple corn in your diet.

10. Reduces Hypertension:

Maiz Morado also helps reduce high blood pressure. Studies show that a person with hypertension can experience a drop in blood pressure, and be able to keep hypertension under control without using medications with the inclusion of purple corn in his diet. The Dietary cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside not only helps control weight, but also reduces blood sugar levels and minimizes the chances of a rise in blood pressure levels.

Maiz Morado Recipe:

Now that you know the many health benefits of having something as pretty and nutritious as purple corn, you might want to try some recipes using the wonderful purple food. Let’s look at a traditional Peruvian dessert, the Mazamorra Morada – Peruvian Purple Corn Pudding.

Mazamorra Morada – Peruvian Purple Corn Pudding:

You Will Need:

• 1 pound dried purple corn
• ½ pineapple and the rind
• 1 quince (if available or one green apple)
• 1 apple
• 1 cup dried fruit (prunes or apricots)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon of cloves
• 3 tablespoons corn starch
• Juice of 1 lime

How To:

1. Begin by placing the dried fruit in a heat-proof bowl and submerge the fruit in the boiling water.
2. Set aside to cool.
3. Begin adding the purple corn to a pot and cover it with 10 cups of water.
4. Chop the pineapple into bite-size pieces and preserve.
5. Now add the rind to the pot.
6. Cut the quince into four equal parts and add them to the pot along with the cinnamon and cloves.
7. Bring the water to a boil and boil it for 30 minutes.
8. Make sure the liquid is purple and the quince is soft.
9. Strain the liquid and put it back into the pot.
10. Now, add the corn starch to half of the liquid and set it aside.
11. Add the sugar, preserved pineapple pieces, and apple to the liquid and boil it.
12. Add the cornstarch and simmer until the liquid thickens.
13. Take off the heat and add the lime juice.
14. Refrigerate it for 2 hours.
15. Serve along with some cinnamon sticks.

So, include Maiz Morado in your diet today! Also, if you know of any other benefits of Maiz Morado, do tell us by commenting in the box below.

The post 10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Maiz Morado appeared first on STYLECRAZE.

by Ameya C via STYLECRAZE