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So I understand the negatives of gluten for most people, and some people's issues with potato (I get really achy if I eat too much potato), but what's the deal with corn?

I get that it's not Paleo, but what's are the main issues with it? I know most people can't digest it, but is that pretty much it?

I'm trying to look more at bodily health alot more than whether paleo man ate corn or not.

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corn = strong avoid. – maddy Nov 17 2010 at 18:00

7 Answers

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Low nutrition, high phytic acid. They are a grain that doesn't want to be eaten. Peoples who eat too much corn that is not properly soaked and prepared come down with a nutritional deficiency called pellagra. Basically, I think of corn as empty calories.

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 Okay, then let's ask a more interesting question. What happens when you eat corn that is properly prepared (nixtamalized)? What's wrong with it, besides the fact that most any time you buy corn in the US, you are supporting Monsanto? I'm asking a serious question here. – JJ Nov 17 2010 at 18:44
High starch content, low nutrition. Definitely not a health food - not really much better than refined sugar. If you need starch carbs (as an athlete) then maybe okay, but wouldn't sweet potatoes or even bananas be better? – Dave S. Nov 17 2010 at 19:35
My suspicion is that if a food has to be heavily prepared, e.g. nixtamalised, to be tolerable then it is probably far from optimal even once it is tolerated. – David Moss Nov 17 2010 at 20:30
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 thenourishinggourmet.com/2009/03/… speaks very highly of nixtamalized corn, but it's a WAPF-leaning site. – JJ Nov 17 2010 at 21:11
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 See also this post. thenourishinggourmet.com/2009/03/… Personally, I'm not a big fan of eating grains, even after fermenting, soaking, sprouting, etc... but I wanna know if it's simply bias on my part or actually backed up by the biochemistry. – JJ Nov 17 2010 at 21:16
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In addition to the reasons already given, I can't support the corn industry for political reasons. I don't support industries on welfare if I can help it.

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Modern corn is mostly starch with very little nutritional value. I prefer to value nutritional density over empty calories. So, other than Insulin/Glucose problems and lack of nutrients, corn should be okay, I guess. OTOH, why bother? (Unless you're just jonesing for Fritos or popcorn)

Maybe its because corn has become the poster child for what's wrong with American agriculture that people are so down on it (King Corn, Food Inc.). Corn oil, HFCS are definitely not healthy and corn by products are in everything (dextrose, corn starch, MSG, etc.). I think some people don't digest it very well either.

Me? I'm a T2 diabetic - so just way too many carbs! lol.

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 Mostly jonesing. I've cut most/all sugars and gluten, but I'm really struggling with having something crunchy. I'm feeling if there's nothing very negative with corn I can get some organics from TJ's on the weekends or when I'm really in a mood. Thanks! – Morgan Nov 17 2010 at 17:02
I loves my crunchies! Nuts (careful not to oversnack), pork rinds with dip or salsa, celery with cream cheese or almond butter can satisfy the need to crunch. Or, just go with Sisson's 80/20 rule and have a little corn once in a while. Eat it without guilt for the pleasure of it - just know that its not really healthy in any way (other than it could be less damaging than donuts, oreos or a deep fried Snickers). Slather on some good quality butter to improve its overall nutritional value!! – Dave S. Nov 17 2010 at 19:31
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Corn and corn products...like all carbohydrates...are nothing more than sugar molecules bonded together to look like a carb. When ingested, the bonds are broken down and it is similiar to eating table sugar. And then, of course, your blood sugar goes way up and your pancreas secret insulin to control the blood sugar and if you don't use that energy immediately, your body will store the unused energy in your cells as fat. Repeat this process daily and your pancreas will eventually poop out and will not be able to produce enough insulin. You have just arrived at type II diabetes and if your pancreas totally stop producing insulin, then you are a type I diabetic. You then need to inject insulin to control the blood sugar for the rest of your life.

This progression doesn't happen to everyone on the planet. But look at the obesity epidemic, the cardio vascular disease epidemic, the diabetic epidemic, the increasing rate of Alzheimer's...what do you think? Do you want to go down that road on the chance your body will take the wrong fork in the road?

For something crunchy, buy fresh jicama. Refrigerate and then slice and dice, squeeze lemon on the chunks and sprinkle iodized salt. A good snack that is loaded with inulin that will help heal the gut.

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 This is totally wrong. Starch = chains of glucose and table sugar = glucose + fructose disaccharide. – Jay Nov 17 2010 at 21:39
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 Well I think there's really nothing wrong with saying that starches (or even all carbohydrates) are chains of sugar, in that glucose (and really all mono- and disaccharides) can be referred to as "sugar". In fact that's why we can refer to blood glucose as "blood sugar" (and not "blood table sugar"). And then I think Dexter is also right to say that eating starch is similar to eating table sugar--but we know that there are significant differences, too. Like: fructose. Which is I think what you were trying to point out. – Paul Nov 17 2010 at 22:51
Thanks Paul, You are correct. All I wanted to say was that carbs are broken down to sugars...regardless of which form. It may matter to some as to which sugars are present and how the body processes each kind but to the average person just knowing that carbs convert to some kind of sugars is probably enough. We can talk about how differently fructose is handled by the liver as compared to glucose...but to what end? All forms are a serious assault on our bodies...whether they come from carbs or from table sugar. – Dexter Nov 18 2010 at 0:19
True, though I have to say I prefer getting what small amount of carbohydrate I do get from potatoes/sweet potatoes instead of fruit. Or occasional dairy. – Paul Nov 18 2010 at 0:39
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I like my starches to have lots of minerals and no omega 6 fats. Corn fails both tests. Eat potatoes or sweet potatoes.

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This has been asked before: the main issues

No nutritional value

Lectins

Prolamin: Zein (wheats prolamin is gluten)

GMO issues

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I'd add that some people don't digest it. – Eva Nov 18 2010 at 4:44
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