Corn flakes for breakfast: benefits and harms. Corn flakes: benefits and harms, recipes

We have known about the benefits of breakfast cereals for many years: advertising is created by very talented people, and usually, when it comes to food products, they use the theme of family and small children - this works flawlessly. Breakfasts made from cereals are actively advertised: wheat, rice, oats, corn, with various additives - they do not require cooking, and last years have become simply universal all over the world - they are eaten with milk, juice, etc. Corn flakes are more popular than others - perhaps because they are talked about in advertising more often than others.

Today we will talk about such a popular fast breakfast all over the world as corn flakes. Are they as healthy as they say on TV commercials? Let's figure it out: are corn flakes harmful or beneficial to our body? Go...


A little history

Corn flakes have their own history, dating back to the 19th century in the USA.

Brothers D.H. and V.K. The Kellogs, who owned a sanatorium in Michigan, decided to introduce cornmeal dishes to the patients' menu. One of these dishes was prepared in the kitchen on the day when they had to urgently leave for a couple of hours on business, and they did not control the cooking process.


When they returned, they discovered that the dish was spoiled: the dough did not come out of the flour, everything curled up into lumps and flakes. There was little corn flour, and it was a pity to throw it away, so the brothers used simple devices for rolling, and then crushed the resulting thin layers and fried them in oil. Unexpectedly, everyone really liked the dish: the cereal was crunchy, and with milk, marshmallows and sugar, the patients found it very tasty. One of the brothers was a doctor, and patented this recipe - the original corn flakes; then the brothers founded new company and began their mass production.

Today, Kellogg's company is more than 100 years old, and it is the world's largest manufacturer of breakfast cereals, including corn flakes.


So is it good or bad?

Of course, we want to know what is more beneficial or harmful in the corn flakes that our children love so much? The quality of most products, as is known, depends not on their usefulness or harmfulness, as such, but on the technology of their preparation. We'll talk about the right technology- this is how the manufacturers talk about it.

Features of corn flakes production

First, the shells and germs are removed from the corn grains, and then the resulting raw material is ground into grits. A safe product should contain only corn itself, salt, sugar and malt syrup and water.

First, all the ingredients are mixed with a mixer, and then the mixture is loaded into a cooker, where the grains are treated with steam - all grains should turn golden brown.

After heat treatment, the mass is unloaded onto a conveyor and passed through a device that destroys lumps: it separates the adhered particles of grain so that drying is uniform. Then, in small portions, the product is sent to the dryer; then it is cooled to a temperature environment and undergoes a conditioning process to evenly distribute any remaining moisture.


As you can see, the process is not that complicated, and is quite consistent: on a special machine, the raw materials are flattened, obtaining thin flakes, and then they are fried for one and a half minutes in a special oven under the influence of steam, at a temperature of 275 to 330 ° C.

There is another way to produce corn flakes - the extrusion method, in which steps 2 to 6 are not required: the mixture is immediately pressed through the holes of a special apparatus - an extruder; at the same time it is cooled, and the resulting dough is cut into flakes, which are then dried, flattened and fried.

Previously, corn flakes were produced without additives, but now they are enriched with vitamins and minerals; cover with icing, caramel, chocolate, sugar syrup; add dried fruits, fat, milk and other ingredients to them. In this case, of course, E is also added: taste enhancers, flavors, stabilizers, etc.

Promotes weight gain and obesity

British nutrition experts, examining corn flakes from some manufacturers, found that they are not as healthy as they try to make us believe.

Of course, manufacturers love to talk about the benefits of their corn flakes - they always need large sales volumes, but you should not take their assurances literally. A study has shown that a serving of cornflakes can contain as much sugar as a chocolate cake - that is, ¼ of all the sugar that an adult can eat in a day. But children eat corn flakes, and parents think that they are feeding them a healthy product, not suspecting that some manufacturers even use trans fats - enough is already known about their harm.


Italian nutritionists have also paid attention to breakfast cereals, and today claim that corn flakes, especially if consumed frequently, can contribute to weight gain.


Scientists from a Florence university observed a group of children from 5 to 10 years old and found that those children who eat corn flakes almost daily suffer from obesity. Moreover, obesity in children begins after only a year of such nutrition, although corn itself has never contributed to the accumulation of fat in the body. Flakes provoke the deposition of fats, the accumulation of sugar, worsen the functioning of the stomach and intestines, cause nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and other problems.

Our nutritionists also studied the effect of corn flakes on health, and came to the conclusion that it is often impossible to feed them to children - it is very harmful. Dry breakfasts are usually included in the diet of younger schoolchildren, and many women also consider them healthy and eat them almost every day, wanting to get their figure in order - after all, this is what the advertisement says. But it is enough to carefully consider the composition to understand that corn flakes are very high in calories and harmful to health - they are flour, refined sugar, oil and nutritional supplements.

What about vitamins?

But what about the vitamins and minerals that we are promised if we regularly eat corn flakes for breakfast? After all, the daily norm of B vitamins, vitamin D, calcium, iron and other essential substances is promised. Of course, there are vitamins there - synthetic, like in a pharmacy: they are added along with E supplements, sugar and fats.

Much more vitamins are contained in regular porridge, oatmeal or buckwheat, and also in milk, which is recommended for pouring into cereal. So maybe it’s better to drink a glass of milk without any additives?

Studies have also shown that even the safest and healthiest breakfast cereals - unroasted muesli with a low amount of fat and additives from dried fruits, contain less vitamins and minerals than Hercules oatmeal, which costs 5-6 times cheaper than popular products in beautiful packaging.

By the way, in many developed countries oh, sweet corn, and not only, flakes, rings, pillows have been on the list of harmful for several years now - for example, in England they are considered as “healthy” as soda, confectionery, packaged nuts, chips and other snacks.

Minimum nutrients

Most nutritionists and doctors consider the benefits of corn flakes to be exaggerated, and explain this in quite understandable language. The whole grains from which the flakes are prepared are stripped of their shell and germ, ground into flour, and subjected to repeated heat treatment at high temperatures ah, so there are almost no natural vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and healthy fiber left in the finished product.



Carbohydrates from grains crushed into flour are absorbed quickly and in large quantities - hence the accumulation of fat reserves in the body.

Corn flour easily turns into fat once it enters our body, and it is hardly possible to eat enough cereal: the feeling of fullness quickly goes away due to an increase in the level of insulin in the blood - after all, there is a lot of sugar in the cereal, and we are hungry again. There are cereals that contain almost 50% sugar, and also fats, salt and all sorts of additives and dyes, which often cause allergies. The health risks of corn flakes are obvious!

Can I eat corn flakes?

And in conclusion, I would like to ask the most common question: is it possible to eat corn flakes and give them to children? Of course, you can, very rarely, and not for breakfast, but as an addition between meals, and best with low-fat milk, yogurt, kefir and other fermented milk products.


This way you can make them “more harmless”, and even benefit from them - you can be satiated and gain at least some energy reserves. Choose unsweetened cereal, without glaze or chocolate, and add to it, in addition to milk or kefir, fresh berries or pieces of fresh fruit.

Sooner or later, every person thinks about how healthy the food he eats daily is. And this is not at all surprising, because everywhere we hear that none of the products today are natural.

Corn flakes have become very popular among consumers today. The harm and benefits of this product are the subject of debate among nutritionists around the world. Of course, this is very convenient - fill it with milk and after 1-2 minutes you can start eating. However, not everything is as easy and simple as it seems at first glance.

Natural corn flakes: harm and benefit

In order to understand this difficult issue, you need to remember how this dish was born. Interestingly, the harm and benefits of which are very ambiguous, were produced at one of the factories as a result of a technological error. Unlucky bakers inadvertently forgot to knead the dough and it turned into lumps. It was decided to fry them and sell them as a new product. It worked: the cereal gained more and more consumer love every day.

However, at the first stage of this corn story, there could be no talk of any harm. There were no additives to improve taste or extend shelf life in this product. But over time, everything changed.

Modern corn flakes: harm and benefit

Gradually, they began to add glaze, honey, and then a variety of not-so-different ones to ready-made breakfasts. useful components, most of which begin with the unfortunate “E”.

If you have breakfast this way 1-2 times a week, nothing terrible will happen, of course. Just remember that it is best to pour corn flakes with milk or kefir. It will be very good if the products are low-fat. The fact is that honey and glaze, as well as a certain amount of oil retained in the product after frying, can negatively affect the figure, depositing on the sides in the form of excess fat if you eat corn flakes too often. Their calorie content averages 350 (+/-10) kcal per 100 g.

In addition, like other fried foods, flakes can cause the development of cancer. However, they do not contain much fat - about 7 g. Carbohydrates are another matter. There are about 60 g of them. For this reason, corn flakes are best consumed by children and young people - they have a fast metabolism, and this is unlikely to affect their figure.

A variety of unnatural additives - flavors, sweeteners, colorings - are what make corn flakes (the benefits and harms of which, after reading the composition, become not such an obvious thing) are not the most the best option for daily use. In addition to the general negative impact They can cause allergies in the body.

Corn flakes are a source of fiber. However, compared to corn itself, they contain much less natural dietary fiber. And the reason is that the grains are subjected to a variety of influences: grinding, roasting, pressing. As a result, a significant part useful substances it just simply collapses.

As you can see, there are more negative aspects to eating corn flakes. This means that they are not suitable for daily use.

Corn flakes have long been a popular product among many lovers of healthy and dietary nutrition. They are often used in their diet by people who play sports, as well as those who want to lose weight quickly.

Corn flakes successfully replace breakfast, snack and even dinner. But how beneficial are they for the body? Here the opinions of nutritionists differ slightly. Some believe that corn flakes or balls are not a healthy breakfast, while others argue that when consumed correctly they are very healthy.

What are corn flakes made from?

Real healthy cornflakes should consist of cornmeal, a little salt, sugar and butter. In some types of product, sugar or its substitute may be completely absent.

In order to correctly judge the benefits of cereals, you need to understand what they consist of and how they are prepared.

The technology for preparing flakes involves the process of peeling corn kernels from the shell, removing the germ and subsequently obtaining pure cereal, which is boiled in a syrup of sugar and salt, and then flattened into thin small cakes. Subsequently, they are fried in an oven at 140°C until they have a pleasant crunch.

Some manufacturers cover them with glaze, sometimes it can be filled with candied fruits, nuts, chocolate, powdered sugar, crumbs and many other food additives.

Composition of corn flakes

Corn flakes contain vitamins B, A, E, PP, H, as well as macro- and microelements such as magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, cobalt, sodium, iron and potassium. They contain folic, glutamic and other acids, starch and fiber, which is very beneficial for the digestive system.

10 beneficial properties of corn flakes for the body

  1. Improve digestion

    One of the most important advantages of corn flakes is their positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. With their help, or rather with the content contained in them fiber, digestion improves and, accordingly, food moves smoothly through the gastrointestinal tract.

  2. Speed ​​up metabolism

    Corn flakes are good for human health, they speed up metabolism and improve blood circulation. Thanks to glutamic acid and lutein in flakes, metabolic processes are accelerated, including in the brain, memory and even vision improve.

  3. Improves mood

  4. Strengthens muscle tissue and nerve cells

    The high content of nutrients, vitamins and minerals makes the product useful for many people. Pectin and folic acid necessary for the body to create new cells. They prevent the occurrence of birth defects and the development of cancer, including intestinal cancer. Starch helps strengthen muscle tissue, and magnesium helps strengthen nerve cells.

  5. Reduce cholesterol levels

    Everyone knows that high level cholesterol has a bad effect on the functioning of the human body: it increases arterial pressure and the possibility of accumulating extra pounds. Cereals are one of the foods that can lower cholesterol within five minutes, which means they significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and many other dangerous diseases.

  6. Increase hemoglobin

    Iron is the main component of hemoglobin, and it is essential for maintaining the body in healthy shape. The vitamins and minerals found in corn flakes help maintain hemoglobin at the right level, especially if the cereal is consumed with fruits such as apples, kiwis, bananas or milk. Cereals and vegetables are also a good and very healthy combination.

  7. Normalizes heart function

    The cereal is made from corn flour with low sugar and sodium content. They maintain normal blood pressure, improving heart function, and have a positive effect on the body, just like eating melon or watermelon.

  8. Improve metabolism

    Contained in cereals thiamine improves metabolic processes in the body, cognitive functions and serves as an energy producer. It is clear that metabolic disorders lead to a deterioration in well-being and, in most cases, to an increase in body weight. Increased energy with the help of cereal burns excess fat, improves brain function and increases a person’s work activity.

  9. Useful for weight loss

    Corn flakes are often recommended by many nutritionists to be included in the diet of those wishing to lose weight. They are recommended to be consumed as a dry breakfast, dinner or a simple snack. Corn product quickly saturates the body, which prevents overeating and, accordingly, weight gain excess weight. The product charges you with energy, and this is important for morning and evening jogging and sports.

    Corn flakes with milk are often used by people who are involved in fitness. The body is saturated with protein, due to which muscle tissue is restored or built up, immunity is strengthened, enzymes and hormones are regulated, and the structure of blood cells is improved. Low level of saturated fat makes the product light and does not interfere with long exercise sessions.

  10. Supports Lung Health

    Corn contains carotenoids, and corn flakes contain beta-cryptoxanthin. This element improves lung health and even prevents possible lung cancer. So corn has great health benefits.

Health benefits and harms of corn flakes for breakfast

Not all nutritionists are convinced that corn flakes may be the best breakfast, because healthier than porridge, eaten in the morning, there is nothing. Many people argue that you should eat cereal only occasionally, since it contains a minimal amount of vitamins and minerals, and most of them are carbohydrates, which are quickly digestible and increase blood sugar. This opinion is not entirely correct.

Properly selected and properly prepared flakes do not pose any danger to the body, but on the contrary, they are a useful product for both children and adults. Infrequent and limited consumption of unsweetened cereal with the addition of natural berries and honey is considered an absolutely healthy solution on the morning table.

Healthy breakfast recipes with corn flakes

Corn flakes without sugar, just filled with milk - this is healthy, but ordinary and boring. Using corn flakes, you can prepare not just a healthy, but also a tasty, aesthetically designed breakfast.

Cereals with berries and cottage cheese

For this dish you will need:

  • a glass of corn flakes;
  • 100 g granular cottage cheese;
  • 1st. spoon of raspberries;
  • 1st. spoon of blueberries;
  • 1 tbsp. spoon of honey.

The berries must be washed and dried. You can use frozen ones, but you need to defrost them first.

Place cottage cheese (preferably whipped with sour cream) on a plate, sprinkle with cereal and berries, and pour honey on top.

Cereals with yogurt and fruit

Required ingredients:

Banana and kiwi need to be peeled and cut into small slices. Pour the cereal into a plate, add chopped fruit and sprinkle with berries. Pour yogurt over everything.

Yogurt with cereal and berries

This recipe is universal.

The volume of yogurt you need is whipped with your favorites seasonal fruits or berries. The mixture is placed in a bowl, sprinkled with corn flakes and decorated with berries or fruit slices.

Corn flake porridge

The required volume of corn flakes is crushed in a blender and poured with hot milk. The thickness is adjusted with milk, taking into account that the flakes will swell a little. Porridge is served with berries, fruits, jam or raisins.

In fact, there are many healthy recipes. The flakes are combined with dried apricots, prunes, citrus fruits, fresh berries and fruits, dried and dried. They are soaked in milk, yogurt, curdled milk, fermented baked milk, whey, compote, juice and even broth. All recipes are customized to suit your body, your taste and your habits. If you are on a diet, you need to count calories correctly and not add high-calorie foods to your dish, honey The article provides scientific facts about the benefits and harms of honey for the human body. Which honey is the healthiest, how to choose and store it, as well as its contraindications. and sugar.

How to choose the right corn flakes and which ones are healthier

When buying cereal, you should definitely pay attention to the packaging: if it indicates that the product is enriched with vitamins and minerals, then you can take it.

To make your breakfast as healthy as possible, cereal can be consumed with milk, kefir, yogurt or freshly squeezed juice. Weak people can eat them with honey.

At breakfast healthy person should contain 20% of calories from the total daily value. The body should receive 5 g of fiber, 5 g of fat and 15-20 g of protein. Therefore, you need to choose cereals taking into account the content of nutrients and consume them according to correct calculation calories.

Cereals with sugar are not the best the best choice, they contain a lot of calories, and they can also cause the development of caries. It is better to choose cereals or chips with minimal sugar content.

We must not forget about the expiration date of the product; it must also be indicated on the packaging and comply with the standards for sale and use.

The packaging must be intact, otherwise the flakes will lose their specific crunch and, accordingly, taste.

Can you lose weight by eating corn flakes?

Many girls ask the question whether it is possible to lose weight if they eat only cereal. Unfortunately, no! Eating cereal alone is not only not healthy, but even harmful.

  • Firstly, the body will not receive the required amount of nutrients.
  • Secondly, sugary cereals are high in calories and their constant consumption will only worsen the weight loss process.

You need to eat different but healthy foods. And on the issue of losing weight, it is better to contact a nutritionist, he will accurately determine the diet and daily norm calories specifically for your body, taking into account its individual characteristics.

Corn flakes during pregnancy

Proper nutrition during pregnancy is the key to success in bearing and giving birth to a healthy child.

Of course, corn, especially in its natural form (boiled young cobs), is one of those products that can be consumed by an expectant mother during pregnancy. Even if there is severe toxicosis, lack of weight, anemia and metabolic disorders.

But when consuming modern modifications of corn and products made from corn flour (flakes, sticks, balls, etc.), pregnant women need to exercise caution and a sense of proportion. This food may contain dyes, preservatives, stabilizers and other harmful additives. It is better to avoid such food altogether. A woman should eat only natural products, then the baby does not risk becoming allergic to fast food products.

As for children, Italian scientists are against the constant consumption of corn flakes for children under 10 years of age. 10-12 months after eating breakfast cereals, children begin to develop weight pathology, i.e. obesity. It is not the corn itself, but the sugar that disrupts metabolic processes in the body and promotes the storage of fat.

Contraindications for use

Overeating corn flakes is contraindicated for all age groups of people consuming this product.

Flakes are also contraindicated:

By choosing the right product (without chemical additives and excess sugar) and not abusing it, but enriching it with fermented milk products, berries and fruits, you will turn corn flakes into a healthy treat that will give you mood and vigor.

Corn flakes are one of the most popular breakfast cereals among children and adults. They were invented in 1898 by the Kellogg brothers. For several years in a row, funds mass media talk about the benefits of this product and the ease of its preparation.

Benefit

Corn flakes are not classified as dietary products. By themselves they are low in calories, but various additives make them high in calories.
The flakes contain vitamins A, B, E, PP, H, and a number of micro- and macroelements. Among them are copper, magnesium, zinc, potassium, iron, etc. Tryptophan, contained in flakes and converted into serotonin in the human body, improves mood and helps in the fight against depression.
This type of breakfast cereal contains a significant amount of fiber. And it helps stimulate the activity of the gastrointestinal tract and proper digestion. Natural corn flakes help relieve constipation and intestinal sluggishness. Thereby useful property The flakes are recommended for people with colitis and gastroenteritis.
In addition, corn flakes contain glutamic acid, which improves memory and normalizes metabolic processes in the brain.
Pectins, also contained in breakfast cereals, have the ability to prevent the development of tumors.
Corn starch is involved in the construction muscle fibers and nerve cells.
If you eat corn flakes regularly, toxins and waste will be eliminated from the body faster.

Harm

If earlier corn flakes were considered without a doubt a healthy product, now the opinions of nutritionists differ. IN Lately they are artificially enriched with minerals, vitamins, glaze, honey, flavor enhancers, stabilizers and other, far from the most useful, substances.
Research has shown that one serving of cornflakes can contain as much sugar as chocolate cake. And this is ¼ of the amount of sugar that an adult can consume during the day.
Italian nutritionists have concluded that frequent consumption of such cereals contributes to weight gain. Children with such a daily “diet” may soon develop obesity. Corn itself has nothing to do with fat deposition. But corn flakes, and even with various artificial additives, are not in the best possible way affect the body:

  • increase blood sugar;
  • impair the functioning of the stomach;
  • may cause nausea;
  • stomach ache;
  • can provoke the development of oncology (a substance formed during the manufacture of flakes, called acrylamide, promotes the development and proliferation of cancer cells).

In addition, genetically modified cereals are often used to make corn flakes. And according to the results of scientific experiments and studies, which they are trying in every possible way to “hush up” and not make public, GMO products are extremely dangerous for humans. They cause serious harm immune system, accelerate the aging process of the body and lead to infertility.
In a number of developed countries, corn flakes are included in the list of harmful products along with soda, chips and other snacks.
Russian nutritionists have come to the conclusion that often feeding children such a product is not only unsafe, but harmful.
Many girls and women, blindly believing advertising and trying to get their figure in shape, eat corn flakes every day for breakfast. The composition of the product indicated on the packaging will help dispel the myth. Most often it lists: flour, sugar, butter and various food additives.
As for the vitamins and minerals with which the flakes are enriched, these are synthetic substances (the same as those in the pharmacy).
Sweet corn flakes contribute to the development of tooth decay. And all kinds of food additives can cause allergies. Before buying a ready-made breakfast cereal in the store, it is recommended that you carefully read the ingredients listed on the package.

Calorie content

100 grams of corn flakes contain 325.3 kcal. Of these: proteins – 8.3 g (~33 kcal), fats – 1.2 g (~11 kcal), carbohydrates – 75 g (~300 kcal).

Contraindications

Corn flakes are contraindicated for people with diabetes.

This product should be excluded from the diet for people with increased blood clotting, a tendency to form blood clots, and those who have thrombophlebitis.

People who have caries should exclude sweet corn flakes from their diet.
For young children, cereal should be given infrequently and as a snack between meals, rather than as a main part of the diet.
Pregnant women should not indulge in breakfast cereals. They contain minimal amounts of natural vitamins and nutrients, and they do not give you a feeling of fullness for long.
Breastfeeding mothers can also eat cereal in small quantities, and they should not contain sugar or artificial chemical additives.

The nutritional value

Corn flakes are a high-calorie product containing a large number of carbohydrates.

Vitamins and minerals

Component name Quantity per 100 g. product
Vitamins
Vitamin A (A) 0.2 mg
Vitamin PP 1.1 mg
Vitamin A (VE) 200 mcg
Vitamin B1 (thiamine) 0.1 mg
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 0.07 mg
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) 0.3 mg
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 0.3 mg
Vitamin B9 (folic acid) 19 mcg
Vitamin E (TE) 2.7 mg
Vitamin H (biotin) 6.6 mcg
Vitamin PP (Niacin Equivalent) 2.4778 mg
Minerals
Titanium (Ti) 27 mcg
Tin (Sn) 19.6 mcg
Nickel (Ni) 23.4 mcg
Aluminum (Al) 29 mcg
Cobalt (Co) 4.5 mcg
Boron (B) 215 mcg
Molybdenum (Mo) 11.6 mcg
Chromium (Cr) 22.7 mcg
Manganese (Mn) 0.4 mg
Copper (Cu) 210 mcg
Zinc (Zn) 0.5 mg
Iron (Fe) 2.7 mg
Sulfur (S) 63 mg
Phosphorus (P) 109 mg
Potassium (K) 147 mg
Sodium (Na) 55 mg
Magnesium (Mg) 36 mg
Calcium (Ca) 20 mg

Corn flakes are a familiar food product that can be found in every store. They were invented completely by accident back in 1894. Over time, they became widespread due to their ease of preparation and excellent taste characteristics.

Most people consume them as a delicious and nutritious breakfast.

The benefits of corn flakes are controversial. Until recently, it was believed that this is a unique dietary product that provides invaluable assistance to the body. But modern research refutes this information. However, if you choose and use them wisely, this product can have some beneficial effects.

On packages of corn flakes you can see a very long list of valuable elements:

  • vitamins A, E, PP, H, group B;
  • macroelements – magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium;
  • trace elements – iron, boron, aluminum, copper, manganese, cobalt, tin, nickel, molybdenum, zinc, chromium, titanium;
  • cellulose;
  • starch.

The product contains a large amount of substances necessary for the body. However, these are not natural vitamins. They are added on purpose, and flashy inscriptions attract the attention of consumers.

The benefits of synthetic elements are very small. But if additional enrichment is not carried out, then the flakes will have practically no positive qualities. And a large number of chemical additives - dyes, flavors and taste enhancers - will cause even more harm.

The ideal composition is corn flour, salt, and oil. It is better to use honey or dried fruits as a natural sweetener when consuming.

100 g contains about 325 kcal. 8.3 g are proteins, 1.2 g are fats, and 75 g are carbohydrates.

For a long time it was believed that this perfect option ready-made breakfasts. But modern nutritionists have come to the conclusion that eating such a breakfast brings only a short-term feeling of fullness. Large amounts of carbohydrates are quickly absorbed. The famine is soon returning.

Breakfast should give you energy for the whole day. Flakes do not cope with this task. Therefore, it is better to eat them as a snack rather than as a main meal.

What is the benefit


Since the product is based on corn, people judge the health benefits of cereal based on the properties of the cereal. However, this is not quite true.

During the cooking process, the grains are ground and exposed to high temperatures. Such processing leads to the destruction of most valuable components, so consuming the finished product does not have as beneficial an effect as the cereal itself.

And if it contains a large number of artificial additives, then the benefits are completely reduced to zero. Therefore, to maintain a balanced diet, you need to choose carefully.

Sugar-free cornflakes are more beneficial and less harmful to your health than sweetened ones. When choosing a suitable package, you should carefully study the composition. The fewer chemical additives and sweeteners it contains, the better. A product close to natural can have the following beneficial effects:

  1. Improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary fiber promotes comfortable digestion, stimulates gastric secretion and intestinal function. Some experts advise eating it for constipation and colitis.
  2. Increased appetite. Due to the fact that the feeling of fullness is quickly replaced by hunger, the product is used by people with insufficient body weight. It stimulates appetite, as a result of which a person does not forget to eat on time.
  3. When used wisely, the body is cleansed of toxic substances.
  4. Glutamine amino acid improves brain function, which helps increase concentration and improve memory.
  5. Corn starch is needed in small quantities by the body for the growth of muscle tissue and nerve cells.
  6. The amino acid tryptophan stimulates the production of serotonin, the hormone of happiness. As a result, a person’s mood improves and more positive emotions appear.

Contrary to popular belief, corn flakes are not beneficial or harmful for weight loss. They can act as a quick snack when eaten with skim milk or yogurt. A mixture of this product and bran in equal proportions has a beneficial effect on digestion.

Athletes prefer to eat this combination before strength training– it provides them with the necessary energy. But indulging in delicacies with a lot of chemicals will, on the contrary, lead to gaining extra pounds.

How to make at home


Every housewife can try to prepare corn flakes, which will have more benefit than harm. Such a product will not contain chemical additives, which increases its positive effect on the body.

To do this, you need to prepare corn grits. Flour is not suitable for making cereal. The sequence of actions is as follows:

  1. Mix sugar with water, melt over low heat, add cereal.
  2. Cook for several hours.
  3. The candied mixture is cooled and dried.
  4. Using any convenient object, such as a rolling pin, the resulting pulp is flattened and crumbled into small pieces.
  5. They are sent to the oven, then fried at 300°C until golden brown and bubbly.

When eating, homemade cereal can be topped with caramel or other sweets.

Possible harm and contraindications

Corn flakes are not only beneficial, but also harmful. British scientists conducted detailed studies, as a result of which the following negative properties were identified:

  1. Artificial vitamins are not as well absorbed by the body as natural ones. Some experiments have shown that they can trigger the development cancerous tumors. Therefore, the use of the product should be limited to people with a predisposition to cancer. And it’s better to give babies fresh vegetables and fruits rather than feed them synthetic substances.
  2. Due to their high calorie content and abundance of sugars, cereals provoke excess weight gain. Of course, if you eat them in large quantities.
  3. The product should absolutely not be used when diabetes mellitus. Due to its rapid absorption, it provokes a sharp jump in blood sugar.
  4. A large number of chemical additives can cause an allergic reaction. When the first negative symptoms appear, they must be completely excluded from the diet.

If you plan to give the product to children, then you need to choose the most natural composition. But it’s better for kids not to eat cereal at all. They are believed to form poor eating habits. As a result, the child will crave sweets all the time. In addition, cereals with a lot of sugar provoke the appearance of caries.

If you eat corn flakes wisely, they can have some beneficial effects. To do this, you need to choose a product that does not contain sugar or chemical additives.

Information about their exceptional benefits - more marketing ploy than the truth. The basis of the diet should be natural products. And the cereal will add a nice variety to it.