The Sunday Mail
Sekuru Friday Chisanyu
Maize is cultivated in Zimbabwe and other countries across the world.
Maize is consumed in different forms, some people boil the fresh cobs, some dry and grind it to make mealie-meal to cook sadza or porridge.
However, besides this, maize has other functions. Apart from penicillin, it is scientifically proven that corn has a lot of active elements that treat different types of diseases.
It is traditional medicine. In the traditional aspect, the maize cobs are used to prevent measles when there is expected outbreak. A maize cob is also used as part of immunisation. Maize is also used to treat urinary system problems. Mental patients can also be treated with dry maize leaves. In addition, maize corns can be used to treat skin diseases and wounds.
People, mostly young children, enjoy eating the corn meal porridge in the morning. It is usually mixed with peanut butter and is regarded as highly nutritious.
Young people prefer corn flakes and corn bread to sadza, obviously they do not realise they are eating maize in either cases. In other instances, the fine maize powder is used to make pizza dough.
While people eat maize for starch, they also benefit from corn syrup and carbohydrates that help their enzymes function well.
The crop is used in making liquor.
Ethanol fuel can also be produced from corn.
Maize is cultivated in Zimbabwe and other countries across the world.
Sekuru Chisanyu is the President of Zimbabwe National Practioners Association. Email feedback on [email protected]
