Misconceptions About Corn

When planning crops and considering a seed product line, most farmers know that corn gets a bad rap these days. This produce is surrounded by many misconceptions, perhaps because it is hard to believe that something as sweet and flavorful as freshly grilled corn on the cob can also be healthy. Here are four misconceptions that should change your mind about this vegetable.
1: Corn is unhealthy.
Some people assume that corn is unhealthy because it is high in starch, which is a carbohydrate - but corn has a number of health benefits. An ear of sweet corn has the same amount of calories as an apple or banana (around 110), with less than a quarter of the sugar (around 6-8 grams). It is high in nutrients and counts towards your recommended daily servings of vegetables. However, don't go crazy with the toppings on your summer treat, because that's where the danger lies! Loading your corn on the cob with butter and salt will take away the healthy benefits of this vegetable.
2: Corn contains no beneficial nutrients.
Though corn cannot compete with superfoods like kale and spinach, it does contain its own useful nutrients. This vegetable has vitamins B and C, magnesium, potassium, and the antioxidants zeaxanthin and lutein. These antioxidants, which have been proven to protect you from cancer and heart disease and to be beneficial to eye health, are more active when corn is cooked.
3: Your body cannot digest corn.
This crop has high amounts of insoluble fiber, which goes through the body intact and helps begin a bowel movement. Most people probably believe that this crop is indigestible because the kernels show up in your stool. This may be disconcerting, but studies have shown that insoluble fiber feeds the "good" bacteria in our stomachs. If you are looking to add fiber to your diet, this refreshing vegetable is the way to go.
4: All corn is genetically modified.
The seed product line for this crop is varied, and people often think that the corn we eat is genetically modified. This is, for the most part, untrue. 90% of field corn, which is almost inedible by humans, is modified. These products are used to feed cattle, turned into ethanol, or converted to high-fructose corn syrup products. Sweet corn, which is what we eat, is mostly non-GMO (though some are modified on rare occasions). If you are wary of GMOs, avoid high-fructose corn syrup and buy organic, as the USDA has prohibited GMOs from organic products.
Corn probably has a bad reputation through word of mouth and assumptions that people make about what they see. However, if you need more fiber in your diet and still want a delicious vegetable, corn is the way to go. If you believe that corn is a bad seed product line because of the GMO stereotype, you can easily avoid GMOs by buying organic products. Of course, you should eat this food in moderation, as you would for all foods. As long as you are attentive to your diet, there is no reason you should be distrustful of this type of produce.