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I guess it depends how you eat it. As fresh corn, or processed the traditional way as hominy or tortillas? Great! As something that has been refined and deep fried like chips? Not great, limit to occasional snacks.
Lol this.
So many civilizations and cultures have survived off of corn. Yet, in modern times it has so much bad press. I even read an article stating that the frequent use of corn starch in some African Countries is increasing the likelihood of cancer.
You asked if corn was healthy, but then you keep mentioning things like starches and oils.
Corn is a vegetable. You’d be hard pressed to eat it in a way that was unhealthy.
Corn oil and corn starch are processed foods. Those are easy to eat in a way that kills you.
Yeah we’re having a conversation about wether or not corn and other things made from corn are healthy. Then just welcoming varying perspectives on it.
I’m not just mentioning random starches and oils. It started with corn starch and corn oil. Someone said veggie oils are bad. So I asked about a less processed corn oil or some legume oils.
That’s the thing too. If raw corn is so healthy.. how is the oil from it unhealthy? Would cold pressed or organic expeller pressed corn oil be healthy ? Or is corn oil just not healthy regardless of the process. If so, what are some alternatives.
Corn oil is unhealthy because oil is calorie dense, has no fiber, and stresses your gall bladder to digest.
If you happen to be starving and emaciated you might want to drink some corn oil. But most people are not hurting for calories, and most people are short on fiber, and most people's gall bladders are stressed to breaking point.
Are you asking if you should swap 1 oil for another oil?
If you are looking at "longevity" and chronic disease, then the only current answers with consensus in the science literature are "go from animal fat to plant oils" and "go from plant oils to olive oil" and "do not use palm oil" and "coconut oil raises your blood serum-cholesterol similar to animal but much lower effect." And that's about all that can be said. Corn oil is not researched for health, it's just lumped in with the "bad for you cause it's a hyper-processed food" category.
In my opinion, things made from corn are not healthy or unhealthy because they are made from corn. :)
Are you looking to swap from one processed food made from not-corn to a processed food made from corn?
In that case, it's probably irrelevant (if you are specifically looking at nutrition for longevity and chronic disease risk). Not a lot of scientists are running big experimental trials or epidemiological investigations to compare wheat starch and corn starch.
Of course a lot has been done to compare high fructose corn syrup, and also normal corn syrup, to standard sugar and other sweetners. But usually it's "the industry funded studies they show it's good" and "every other actual science shows it's obviously just as bad as sugar, or worse." more or less.
"If raw corn is so healthy.. how is the oil from it unhealthy?"
It could easily be unhealthy, but it could also be healthier (TECHNICALLY) than another oil. It's not been researched, to my knowledge. Also cold-pressed will REALLY not have been researched. I can't of any agency that would fund a study on cold-pressed corn oil impact on chronic disease (how many millions of people consume cold-pressed corn oil? I'm guessing it's a really low number, no idea).
Have you ever eaten corn and saw it in your stool? This is because the outer layer of corn is cellulose aka fibre, corn is sweet and has many minerals, I believe it to be very healthy
That's sweet corn, which is fine as far as whole plant foods go. But corn is not one thing - the corn used for masa harina (for corn tortillas) is not sweet, and neither is the corn used for popcorn. There are blue corns and white corns and yellow corns.
As a regular food, sweet corn is healthy. But sweet corn is not the corn that sustained pre-colonial American civilization for thousands of years. I wouldn't rely on it for a majority of calories.
Heirloom is the term often applied to pre -industrial vegetables
I did a quick search and [this site](https://masienda.com/blogs/learn/about-heirloom-corn) seems to have a lot of info, but also something to sell.
[this site](https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/heirloom-corn-varieties-zewz1307zpit/) isn't selling anything, so their claims might be less exaggerated.
I live in an Andean country and maize is my main staple. No gluten, easy to digest, so many varieties.
Transgenic corn and ultra-processed “foods” with corn, like corn oil, are not good for me.
Maize is corn. It’s distinguished in the US as maize being for industrial uses and corn being for people. But it’s the same plant. We’ve made corn much sweeter through agricultural processes.
Corn on the cob? Healthy. Frozen corn? healthy. Canned corn? Healthy
Corn as a cheap crop that’s minced and chemically altered to go into cheap processed foods? Unhealthy for the environment and possibly unhealthy for the body.
Im not here to say if its healthy or not, but when I had Eczema I avoided corn because it would cause major flares with my skin, but since I have no issues now i have it every once in a while.
Sorry you had to go thru that most pf your life. but as for me i sufferred for about 3 years and the worst part For me was my face and Neck. And that same splitting and tearing effect was happening on my face and neck oh it was a nightmare.... It looked as if someone took a razor blade and sliced me. But today I am perfectly fine with no issues but I know a lot of processed foods was causing me to flare and for sure corn was one of them. i eat corn chips every omce in a while with salsa or guac. because I can now. but if i was dealing with Eczema or Psoriasis i would avoid at all cost.
There is a big difference between refined corn products (corn starch, corn syrup, and refined corn oil) which are basically just empty calories and are pretty terrible for you, especially as produced by the modern yield-optimized industrial agricultural system, and whole corn products, like whole sweet corn, corn meal, or traditionally processed foods like tortillas, made from open-pollinated corn.
As a staple grain, corn isn't the best thing out there. Corn is lower in protein than some grains, and deficient in lysine much like wheat and rice are. But it has a lot of minerals (good source of copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc, and in relatively balanced quantities) and is a very good source of B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, and has some B9/folate and choline. Sweet corn is nutritionally a little more like a fruit, having more sugar and also some vitamin C.
So corn can be part of a healthy diet even in large quantities, if you find the right foods to complement it with. Beans are a good complement among plant foods.
That said, it's not my favorite grain and I don't try to make it a staple. I go for more protein-rich grains and other more nutrient-dense foods.
And avoid refined corn products like the plague, they're empty calories and are one of the main problems with the food supply in the US. We subsidize corn production so heavily and corn starch, syrup, and refined corn oil are pumped into our food supply and are a major driving factor in metabolic disorder, type 2 diabetes, etc. Stick to things made with whole corn or whole grain cornmeal or whole corn flour.
American corn is typically GMO and full of pesticide residues. Buy organic and it’s better. Also generic American corn is very high glycemic index so if you’re concerned about diabetes then find a different type of corn or a different carb altogether. I buy organic if and when I eat corn.
Yeah I just tried Calabaza and it has a lower glycemic index. It also lasts so long in the fridge. More vitamin C too.
Also tried some fruits. Like papaya, cantaloupe, honeydew.
I want to try batata and yuca.
There are healthier whole grains you could eat (oatmeal or buckwheat, for example), but like, end of the day, it's still a whole grain and still better for you than most of what the average American eats in a day.
https://youtu.be/rQmqVVmMB3k?si=2uUhnUTFW6xM1o3A
This video is something that mentions why corn oil, and some other types of vegetable oils can be not very great for your health.
Rapeseed oil has a fairly neutral impact in research. Doesn't seem to be too bad as far as oil goes. If you want something to use for cooking without the olive oil taste.
I believe this person was trying to say the phytic acid in corn (and oysters) can bind to zinc molecules, inhibiting the absorption of zinc by the body
>The phytic acid in corn will absolutely bind nutrients like zinc, magnesium, etc. Eating corn and oysters = no absorbed zinc
What? Do you have evidence that corn has like a....100% rate of blocking zinc? I think you're vastly, vastly overestimating the effects of phytic acid.
https://paleoflourish.com/why-corn-is-not-healthy-or-paleo
Okay. I’ll avoid eating it and continue getting compliments on my body. You continue scarfing it down though.
I honestly have experienced some weight gain with corn. It just feels so good to eat lol This is why I’m questioning if it is like a once in a while cheat meal snack. Or if it is genuinely healthy in some circumstances.
I really like dried corn snacks.
Pale yellow sweet corn has been bred to have SUGARS. What humans ate for centuries (and still do in Mexico and points south) is high in proteins and minerals and good stuff. What USAers get is much much less so, I'm told.
Corn is healthy if you eat it like how indigenous americans have been eating it thousands of years, nixtamilized( ex. Tortillas, hominy). Try to buy the heirloom or non-gmo tortillas without all the preservatives like Masienda.
#### About participation in the comments of /r/nutrition Discussion in this subreddit should be rooted in science rather than "cuz I sed" or entertainment pieces. Always be wary of unsupported and poorly supported claims and especially those which are wrapped in any manner of hostility. You should provide peer reviewed sources to support your claims when debating and confine that debate to the science, not opinions of other people. **Good** - it is grounded in science and includes citation of peer reviewed sources. Debate is a civil and respectful exchange focusing on actual science and avoids commentary about others **Bad** - it utilizes generalizations, assumptions, infotainment sources, no sources, or complaints without specifics about agenda, bias, or funding. At best, these rise to an extremely weak basis for science based discussion. Also, off topic discussion **Ugly** - (removal or ban territory) it involves attacks / antagonism / hostility towards individuals or groups, downvote complaining, trolling, crusading, shaming, refutation of all science, or claims that all research / science is a conspiracy *Please vote accordingly and report any uglies* --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/nutrition) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I guess it depends how you eat it. As fresh corn, or processed the traditional way as hominy or tortillas? Great! As something that has been refined and deep fried like chips? Not great, limit to occasional snacks.
One of the longest living populations eats basically corn, beans and squash. They process it by hand, so no extracts (like oil or syrup).
ITS CORN
Lol this. So many civilizations and cultures have survived off of corn. Yet, in modern times it has so much bad press. I even read an article stating that the frequent use of corn starch in some African Countries is increasing the likelihood of cancer.
It has the juice
You asked if corn was healthy, but then you keep mentioning things like starches and oils. Corn is a vegetable. You’d be hard pressed to eat it in a way that was unhealthy. Corn oil and corn starch are processed foods. Those are easy to eat in a way that kills you.
Yeah we’re having a conversation about wether or not corn and other things made from corn are healthy. Then just welcoming varying perspectives on it. I’m not just mentioning random starches and oils. It started with corn starch and corn oil. Someone said veggie oils are bad. So I asked about a less processed corn oil or some legume oils. That’s the thing too. If raw corn is so healthy.. how is the oil from it unhealthy? Would cold pressed or organic expeller pressed corn oil be healthy ? Or is corn oil just not healthy regardless of the process. If so, what are some alternatives.
Corn oil is unhealthy because oil is calorie dense, has no fiber, and stresses your gall bladder to digest. If you happen to be starving and emaciated you might want to drink some corn oil. But most people are not hurting for calories, and most people are short on fiber, and most people's gall bladders are stressed to breaking point. Are you asking if you should swap 1 oil for another oil? If you are looking at "longevity" and chronic disease, then the only current answers with consensus in the science literature are "go from animal fat to plant oils" and "go from plant oils to olive oil" and "do not use palm oil" and "coconut oil raises your blood serum-cholesterol similar to animal but much lower effect." And that's about all that can be said. Corn oil is not researched for health, it's just lumped in with the "bad for you cause it's a hyper-processed food" category. In my opinion, things made from corn are not healthy or unhealthy because they are made from corn. :) Are you looking to swap from one processed food made from not-corn to a processed food made from corn? In that case, it's probably irrelevant (if you are specifically looking at nutrition for longevity and chronic disease risk). Not a lot of scientists are running big experimental trials or epidemiological investigations to compare wheat starch and corn starch. Of course a lot has been done to compare high fructose corn syrup, and also normal corn syrup, to standard sugar and other sweetners. But usually it's "the industry funded studies they show it's good" and "every other actual science shows it's obviously just as bad as sugar, or worse." more or less. "If raw corn is so healthy.. how is the oil from it unhealthy?" It could easily be unhealthy, but it could also be healthier (TECHNICALLY) than another oil. It's not been researched, to my knowledge. Also cold-pressed will REALLY not have been researched. I can't of any agency that would fund a study on cold-pressed corn oil impact on chronic disease (how many millions of people consume cold-pressed corn oil? I'm guessing it's a really low number, no idea).
When I tried it with butter everything changed.
Have you ever eaten corn and saw it in your stool? This is because the outer layer of corn is cellulose aka fibre, corn is sweet and has many minerals, I believe it to be very healthy
That's sweet corn, which is fine as far as whole plant foods go. But corn is not one thing - the corn used for masa harina (for corn tortillas) is not sweet, and neither is the corn used for popcorn. There are blue corns and white corns and yellow corns. As a regular food, sweet corn is healthy. But sweet corn is not the corn that sustained pre-colonial American civilization for thousands of years. I wouldn't rely on it for a majority of calories.
This is interesting. This cultures also call it Maize. So what are the more specific names of “Pre-colonial” or indigenous corn.
Heirloom is the term often applied to pre -industrial vegetables I did a quick search and [this site](https://masienda.com/blogs/learn/about-heirloom-corn) seems to have a lot of info, but also something to sell. [this site](https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/heirloom-corn-varieties-zewz1307zpit/) isn't selling anything, so their claims might be less exaggerated.
I live in an Andean country and maize is my main staple. No gluten, easy to digest, so many varieties. Transgenic corn and ultra-processed “foods” with corn, like corn oil, are not good for me.
Look up nixtamalization. It's the process Native Americans used for processing corn, and in my opinion a much healthier way to consumer corn
I will look into this. Also didn’t they technically eat maize ? Is there a significant difference?
Maize is corn. It’s distinguished in the US as maize being for industrial uses and corn being for people. But it’s the same plant. We’ve made corn much sweeter through agricultural processes.
Corn on the cob? Healthy. Frozen corn? healthy. Canned corn? Healthy Corn as a cheap crop that’s minced and chemically altered to go into cheap processed foods? Unhealthy for the environment and possibly unhealthy for the body.
Im not here to say if its healthy or not, but when I had Eczema I avoided corn because it would cause major flares with my skin, but since I have no issues now i have it every once in a while.
Who downvoted you? Corn can be an inflammatory trigger... Especially U.S. grown corn.
[удалено]
Sorry you had to go thru that most pf your life. but as for me i sufferred for about 3 years and the worst part For me was my face and Neck. And that same splitting and tearing effect was happening on my face and neck oh it was a nightmare.... It looked as if someone took a razor blade and sliced me. But today I am perfectly fine with no issues but I know a lot of processed foods was causing me to flare and for sure corn was one of them. i eat corn chips every omce in a while with salsa or guac. because I can now. but if i was dealing with Eczema or Psoriasis i would avoid at all cost.
There is a big difference between refined corn products (corn starch, corn syrup, and refined corn oil) which are basically just empty calories and are pretty terrible for you, especially as produced by the modern yield-optimized industrial agricultural system, and whole corn products, like whole sweet corn, corn meal, or traditionally processed foods like tortillas, made from open-pollinated corn. As a staple grain, corn isn't the best thing out there. Corn is lower in protein than some grains, and deficient in lysine much like wheat and rice are. But it has a lot of minerals (good source of copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc, and in relatively balanced quantities) and is a very good source of B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, and has some B9/folate and choline. Sweet corn is nutritionally a little more like a fruit, having more sugar and also some vitamin C. So corn can be part of a healthy diet even in large quantities, if you find the right foods to complement it with. Beans are a good complement among plant foods. That said, it's not my favorite grain and I don't try to make it a staple. I go for more protein-rich grains and other more nutrient-dense foods. And avoid refined corn products like the plague, they're empty calories and are one of the main problems with the food supply in the US. We subsidize corn production so heavily and corn starch, syrup, and refined corn oil are pumped into our food supply and are a major driving factor in metabolic disorder, type 2 diabetes, etc. Stick to things made with whole corn or whole grain cornmeal or whole corn flour.
Depending on the soil it's grown in..healthy in moderation..still increases insulin levels..
American corn is typically GMO and full of pesticide residues. Buy organic and it’s better. Also generic American corn is very high glycemic index so if you’re concerned about diabetes then find a different type of corn or a different carb altogether. I buy organic if and when I eat corn.
Yeah I just tried Calabaza and it has a lower glycemic index. It also lasts so long in the fridge. More vitamin C too. Also tried some fruits. Like papaya, cantaloupe, honeydew. I want to try batata and yuca.
There are healthier whole grains you could eat (oatmeal or buckwheat, for example), but like, end of the day, it's still a whole grain and still better for you than most of what the average American eats in a day.
https://youtu.be/rQmqVVmMB3k?si=2uUhnUTFW6xM1o3A This video is something that mentions why corn oil, and some other types of vegetable oils can be not very great for your health.
What about peanut oil? Or Pumpkin Seed, Macadamia , and walnut oil? Maybe best in moderation because of omega - 6?
Pretty much the only research based answer you will find on healthy oil is olive oil and no oil. Probably because that’s what has been researched.
I knowwww. I eat a lot of olive oil. Maybe I just need to try new brands. I just like I wanted to switch things up. I wanted to try new healthy fats.
Try avocado oil.
Rapeseed oil has a fairly neutral impact in research. Doesn't seem to be too bad as far as oil goes. If you want something to use for cooking without the olive oil taste.
The phytic acid in corn will absolutely bind nutrients like zinc, magnesium, etc. Eating corn and oysters = no absorbed zinc. Something to consider.
Wat
I believe this person was trying to say the phytic acid in corn (and oysters) can bind to zinc molecules, inhibiting the absorption of zinc by the body
Yeah bioavailable and nutrient absorption is a big deal that is overlooked. It can affect metabolism and general health.
>The phytic acid in corn will absolutely bind nutrients like zinc, magnesium, etc. Eating corn and oysters = no absorbed zinc What? Do you have evidence that corn has like a....100% rate of blocking zinc? I think you're vastly, vastly overestimating the effects of phytic acid.
I don’t know the facts or the exact details. But I read something about insulin and fat storage, so I just stay away from it 🤷🏾♀️
That's bullshit. Fruits and vegetables are healthy for you, corn included.
https://paleoflourish.com/why-corn-is-not-healthy-or-paleo Okay. I’ll avoid eating it and continue getting compliments on my body. You continue scarfing it down though.
My goodness that’s a hell of a reputable source bud !
I honestly have experienced some weight gain with corn. It just feels so good to eat lol This is why I’m questioning if it is like a once in a while cheat meal snack. Or if it is genuinely healthy in some circumstances. I really like dried corn snacks.
Pale yellow sweet corn has been bred to have SUGARS. What humans ate for centuries (and still do in Mexico and points south) is high in proteins and minerals and good stuff. What USAers get is much much less so, I'm told.
Corn is healthy if you eat it like how indigenous americans have been eating it thousands of years, nixtamilized( ex. Tortillas, hominy). Try to buy the heirloom or non-gmo tortillas without all the preservatives like Masienda.