Gruel, I can't help but associate this word with Oliver Twist, "please sir can I have some more?" A porridge like substance which was originally boiled with milk and water. Defined in many dictionaries as (n.) A light, liquid food, made by boiling meal of maize, oatmeal, or flour in water or milk; thin porridge.

Often seen as non nutritious, yet the facts are that this old style meal, was actually quite good for you if it was made from either corn maize or barley.Health authorities deem corn maize as one of the most nutritious, vitamin packed meals we can have.Corn contains not only fiber but foliate.This actually prevents birth defects.

Also know as a vitamin B source.Corn also contains beta-cryptoxanthin which significantly helps to lower the risk of lung cancer, stroke or vascular disease.Thiamine (vitamin B 1, is also within corn and this assists in helping us to retain our memory .Thus we may be able to keep Alzheimer's and dementia at bay.

Unfortunately over the years gruel has been seen as simply an awful porridge style meal, thus it gained an appalling reputation as a meal with absolutely no taste and indeed not good for us. Yet the facts tell a different tale. Many seafaring immigrants were consistently fed gruel, and this was in the hope of alleviating scurvy outbreaks.

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