Sweet corn is known as a starchy vegetable, like peas, potatoes, squash and parsnips. What separates these vegetables from other varieties is that they have a high amount of carbohydrates and fiber. This is beneficial for the general population and athletes, but not for low-carb dieters. If you have diabetes, corn can still fit well into your diet plan because it has numerous vitamins and minerals. By placing it alongside some particular foods, you can boost the nutrient content of your meal even more

Cardiovascular Health

Sweet corn is an excellent source of folate. Folate is commonly known as vitamin B9. Consumption of 100 percent of the daily value of folate can reduce the risk of heart attack by as much as 10 percent.

Cancer Prevention

Sweet corn contains a chemical known as beta cryptoxanthin. Beta cryptoxanthin is chemically similar to the well known chemical beta carotene. The human body converts beta cryptoxanthin to vitamin A when consumed in foods. According to a study performed by Jian-Min Yuan published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, there is an inverse relationship between consumption of beta cryptoxanthin and lung cancer development. This means the greater amount of beta cryptoxanthin that is consumed, the lower the prevalence of lung cancer development.

Memory Enhancement

Sweet corn contains high levels of thiamine, or vitamin B1. According to WHFoods.org, thiamine is an essential nutrient required for brain cell and cognitive function. Consumption of thiamine is necessary for the body to produce acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is essential for the maintenance of memory capabilities. One of the primary factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease is low levels of acetylcholine.

Vision Protection

Sweet corn contains the antioxidant zeaxanthin. Zeaxanthin is the yellow pigment that naturally occurs in sweet corn. Consumption of zeaxanthin can have a protective effect against age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration. In addition, sweet corn also contains folate and beta carotene, which also may protect against macular degeneration.