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Corn Silk That You Should Never Throw Away



Corn silk from fresh corn

Corn silk from fresh corn

The next time you buy fresh corn still in its husk, you should never throw away the corn silk. Most people throw away the husk and silk, thinking that they're useless but I can tell you, corn silk is great for your body.

Save the corn silk to make a healthy tea. Just place all the silk into a pot, cover with 500ml of water and simmer for 10 minutes on low heat. Turn off the heat and pour yourself a steaming cup of sweetish corn silk tea that tastes a little like corn. 

Corn silk or Yu Mi Xu is a natural corn fibre that is also used in Native American medicine. It contains flavonoids that give corn silks their colour and have antioxidant properties. It is considered an important medicinal plant, able to induce diuresis and excrete dampness according to TCM. 

Corn silk is helpful towards Kidney, Bladder, Liver and Gall Bladder. meridians Therefore it clears damp heat, bloating, rheumatism, skin eruptions, gout, wasting and thirsting disorder, hepatitis, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, hypertension. It also regulatates urination and reduces oedema, bedwetting and restores essence.

Urinary tract infections: Corn silk tea can act as a diuretic, which can help prevent UTIs and bladder infections. It can also soothe inflammation and ease pain if you already have a UTI.

Blood pressure: Corn silk may help lower blood pressure.

Inflammation: Corn silk may help reduce inflammation.

Blood sugar: Corn silk may help lower blood sugar levels.

Cholesterol: Corn silk may help improve cholesterol levels by lowering triglycerides and LDL.

Angina: Corn silk may help improve angina pectoris, a heart condition.

Metabolic syndrome: Corn silk may help treat or prevent metabolic syndrome.
 

You can also dry it for future use but why bother? Corn is plentiful and easily available in the market or supermarket so the next time you buy some fresh corn with husks, save its silk for a delectable cup of tea. 

Here's a fun fact: Koreans drink corn silk tea or Oksusu-suyeom-cha which is made with dried corn silk. I discovered this when I was browsing in a Korean goods store. Of course, you can buy the corn silk tea in bags from Korean supermarkets but my way is simpler and better, don't you think so?
 

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