Is Corn Good for You?

Several varieties of corn were cultivated throughout a good part of Mexico by the ancient Aztecs and Mayans, and they used the process of nixtamalization (process of soaking and cooking corn in an alkaline base like lime water to remove the pericarp and soften the grain for easier grinding and enhanced aroma and flavor).

Although corn has been a part of human diet for such a long time and multiple corn recipes exist all over the world, there has been some concern over whether the health benefits of corn are real or not. Is corn healthy for consumption by humans? Let's find out!

There are two arguments when answering the question, 'Is corn healthy?'. The positive argument glorifying corn benefits states that corn is a great cereal as it is a mine of complex carbohydrates, vitamin C and fiber, and is way lower in fats as compared to white flour.

The negative argument nullifying the positive response to 'Is corn healthy?' points out that corn can be left out of our diets as it has a very large Omega 6:Omega 3 ratio which is bad for heart and joints and corn often houses several species, some of which (like the Aspergillus) produce carcinogenic compounds that can be fatal to humans and animals alike!

Let's look at each argument in detail to determine whether the verdict for corn is positive or negative on the whole.

Advocates in favor of corn point out that the corn facts that, although seemingly tipping the balance of the fat contents in living membranes due to its disproportionate Omega 6: Omega 3 ratio, the nutritional value of corn is pretty high as it is a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, phosphorus and manganese.

The phytochemical zeaxanthin, which is the reason behind corn's yellow color, is great for good eyesight and cooked corn actually protects the body from various types of cancer and heart diseases! The soluble as well as insoluble fiber in corn latch on to harmful cholesterol and flush them out of the body by easing bowel movement!

◉ Is canned corn good for you? It's okay if you eat canned corn once in a while accompanied by other food items. However, if you base your entire diet on canned corn and do not eat any other food at all, well, chances are that you are heading for obesity and weight problems. The key is to be moderate with everything!

◉ Is fresh corn good for you? Yes, it is. Corn on the cob is a wonderfully tasty and healthy snacks and if you clean and cook it the right way, you can get rid of all possibilities of infections and toxicity! How to cook corn on the cob? The most common cooking method it to roast the cob over the stove.

This is a great cooking method as exposure to direct flame kills any fungi or microorganism that remained after peeling the husk and cleaning the cob! This rules out chances of infection or poisoning!

Well, as discussed before, the major points against consumption of corn include a possibility of fungal and microbial infection and toxicity and skewed Omega 6 : Omega 3 ratio. Besides these, concerns over consumption of corn happen to stem from the sugar and starch content of corn which gives it high calorific value. Not a good news for weight watchers!

This concern also gives rise to a very serious question - is corn oil good for you? Considering the ubiquity of corn oil in just about every processed and fried food and given its high trans fat content, corn oil is not at all a good option for daily cooking purposes.

If you are a discretionary snacker and binge on those fries not more twice or thrice a month then it won't be very harmful for you! Regular consumption should be avoided. Is corn good for you? Not always!

Given both takes on the issue, can corn safely be labeled as good for you? It can be determined that consumed in moderation and in its fresh form, corn is a great option for a healthy and tasty snack! As far as the concerns over corn allergy are concerned - its instance is extremely rare!

Different people can be allergic to different things but that doesn't make that thing bad outright! Hey, we all know about people who are lactose intolerant but then the problem is not with milk, it is an issue with those people's biological systems due to which their bodies are unable to metabolize dairy!

Given its high vitamin, phosphate and other nutrient contents despite the high fat and carb levels, if consumed once in a while and in moderation, corn does more benefit than harm!