(CC photo by Bruno .C. courtesy of Flickr)

First domesticated nearly 8,000 years ago, the vegetable remains just as important a food source today as it was then. Aztecs revered corn as an important food source and spiritual component for life as well. Often eaten raw off the cob, boiled and grilled, the most common method for cooking was mashing up the cooked kernels into a masa that was dried, mixed with water and lye and rolled into a flat bread, the tortilla.

Corn arches

(CC photo by Docman courtesy of Flickr)

What is so intriguing about this starchy vegetable is it’s health characteristics and how well it plays with other Mexican staples. For example, corn and beans make up the daily requirement of amino acid. This is the protein make up that allows our bodies to function properly. So, the simple, yet tasty, bean tostada offers a very healthy way to sustain life while satisfying the need for flavor as well.

(CC photo by Panetulipani courtesy of Flickr)

A serving of corn offers 25% of your daily vitamin B intake and 20% of dietary fiber. Niacin can also contribute to health, but only when lime is added to corn. The by-product of ash releases the mineral into the human body for absorption. Food made from corn is a wonderful way to get even the pickiest child to not only eat, but eat healthy. It’s nutritional make up affords a perfect energy pick-up and the taste accompanies any Mexican fare perfectly.

(CC photo by Prometeo Lucero {aka Prom} courtesy of Flickr)

Corn comes in a myriad of colors with varying benefits based on the hues. Blue corn, for example, offers a sweet tortilla and even affords a lower glycemic index rating. The colored varieties also offer higher levels of antioxidants.

What’s the best way to taste Mexico’s best corn? Visit any market place in Mexico during shopping adventures and you are bound to find stalls with corn tortillas being freshly made. Either with toppings or by themselves, corn tortillas are the perfect way to indulge in the historically valuable and ever popular staple of Mexican culture. A healthy and affordable alternative to some other street food, tortillas are the perfect snack during your Mexican travels.