Corn Flakes Benefits, Nutrition & Side Effects

Today’s modern world is super busy, as our lifestyles run on deadlines. Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals have become a popular option these days. They are quick, customisable and lip-smacking, available in different delightful flavours. People eat cornflakes to fuel themselves in the morning as they are wholesome, tasty and aid in weight loss. Many of us regard it as a healthy breakfast, but the real question is to know how healthy it is as an everyday breakfast. Let’s jump into some science stuff to unveil the truth behind the benefits of cornflakes.

Table of Contents

Benefits of Corn Flakes

Corn flakes are available in different varieties, fortified with nutrients and added ingredients like nuts and dried fruits. Let’s take a look at what are the benefits of eating cornflakes.

1. Increases Haemoglobin

Among the many advantages of cornflakes is that it comes under the category of fortified cereals. They are enriched with iron, a trace mineral in producing haemoglobin, a crucial protein for synthesising red blood cells. These red blood cells deliver oxygen to every part of the body.

50gms of cornflakes contain approximately 12mg of Iron, which is ~70% of the Recommended Dietary Intake of men and ~57% of a normal mensurating or Lactating woman. During pregnancy, the Iron requirement increases, and the same amount of cornflakes can fill up the body with ~34% of the RDA (ICMR,2010).

2. Rich in antioxidants:-

The carotenoid pigment responsible for the bright yellow colour of cornflakes is Zeaxanthin, a potent antioxidant. It protects the body from harmful free radicals and is linked to reducing inflammation as well as age-related macular degeneration. You will be surprised to know that cornflakes cereal has the second highest amount of zeaxanthin (9.08 to 12.77 mg/g) compared to other processed corn products. You can shop cornflakes online from wellcurve.

3. Promotes Heart Health

Along with Iron, cornflakes are fortified with vitamins like B6 and B12. These vitamins play a crucial role in breaking down homocysteine, a protein that, in high amounts in the body, can severely damage blood vessels.

Also Read:- Best Heart Healthy Foods List

4. May Prevent Cancer

The presence of Carotenoids and polyphenols are advantages of cornflakes and may reduce cancer risk in the long run. The free radical scavenging activity protects cells from degeneration and helps keep cancer at bay.

5. May Aid in Weight Loss

Cornflakes are good for weight loss, are low-fat meal options, and provide very few calories. It can help cut down on calories and promote weight loss.

Corn Flakes Nutrition Value

Corn flakes are a popular breakfast cereal with a salty taste and crispy texture. Many prefer it as the morning quick healthy bowl of their busy schedules. But often, anybody knows the nutrition of cornflakes. Time to dig into its nutritional composition.

What’s in the 50gm bowl of cornflakes? Let’s take a look.

Carbohydrates	36g
Dietary Fibre	1g
Proteins	3g
Total Fat	0
Sodium	300mg
Iron	12mg
Potassium	60mg
Folic Acid	115mcg

Corn Flakes Side Effects

Coming back to the question, how healthy are cornflakes? So, the answer is while they offer some health benefits, you must also know cornflakes’ disadvantages. Read and understand the advantages and disadvantages and decide carefully why and how you should consume it.

Cornflakes contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which has a glycemic index making it unsuitable for daily consumption.
Cornflakes may be low in fat, but they have a high sugar content which promotes insulin spikes and impair glucose tolerance.
It is linked with an increased incidence of type-2 diabetes.
Regular consumption of cornflakes for weight loss may help you take fewer calories, but in turn, it adversely affects your body’s ability to cope with sugar. It also interferes with the pancreas’s normal functioning; therefore, those fewer calories will do more harm than good, and your body will experience more side effects of cornflakes than its benefits.