Is Corn Healthy or Not?

So, I was creating my Friday Fun Food Fact post for my Facebook group – Angie’s Natural Solutions and came across some interesting facts on corn and thought I would share it with you all here! 

Hop on over and join my Natural Solutions Group – there is tons of discussions on health and wellness tips, clean natural living, healthy eating as well as DIY recipes. You will LOVE this group!!

So here goes the topic….

Just how healthy is it? Here is the sweet truth.

First let’s start with a fact: 92% of the corn in the US is Genetically Modified (GMO). Yikes!

Important! – Choose to buy USDA-certified organic corn, or buy from a local farmers’ market.

Now let’s debunk the myths:

Myth #1: Eating corn will make you gain weight.

Fact: Sure, if you load up that juicy corn on the cob with butter and other high-calorie toppings. But one plain ear of corn has about 100 calories, similar to an apple. And with nearly 3 grams of fiber per serving, corn can help you feel full longer, so you’re less likely to overeat and pack on the pounds.

Myth #2: Sweet corn is high in sugar.

Fact: Yes, corn is sweet for a vegetable-but there are only 6 grams of natural sugar in a medium-size ear of corn. An ear of sweet corn has less than half the sugar of a banana and only about one-third the sugar of an apple. Even beets have more grams of sugar per serving than corn.

High-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, glucose and other sweeteners are derived from field corn. Those highly processed sweeteners are nothing like the natural sugars found in sweet corn, the vegetable you eat. Ditch the stuff with the chemical-sounding names, and stick to the real thing instead.

Myth #3: Corn has no health benefits.

Fact: For starters, sweet corn is loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals that promote healthy vision. Besides helping with weight loss, the insoluble fiber in corn feeds good bacteria in your gut, which aids in digestion and helps keep you regular.

Throw in a healthy amount of B vitamins, plus iron, protein and potassium, and you’ve got one sweet package.

Myth #4: The cooking process robs corn of its nutrients.

Fact: Cooking sweet corn actually boosts its benefits. In a Cornell study, researchers found that while sweet corn loses vitamin C during cooking, its antioxidant activity increases.

Studies show eating foods high in antioxidants can help lower your risk of heart disease as well as Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts and other health problems linked to aging.

Cooked sweet corn also has a surprising amount of ferulic acid, a type of compound that helps fight cancer. Crank up the cooking temp and you’ll increase the benefit even more.

Fun Fact: The average ear has 800 kernels in 16 rows. And a cob will always have an even number of rows. 😁 Crazy isn’t it???

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