Natural Health

Corn has been getting a lot of bad press lately – mainly because of products like high fructose corn syrup. But that commercial sweetener isn’t corn as in the corn on the cob that so many feel is a significant joy of summer.

Corn does not have the nutrient benefits that some other summer produce delivers, but it’s no slouch, either.

One medium ear delivers only 100 calories – far less than a candy bar – and some would argue, a far more desirable treat.

While it’s delivering those calories, it’s also giving about 10 of the recommended daily value of Vitamin C and folate, and about 12% of Vitamin B1. Bi helps you convert carbs into energy and keeps your heart, muscles, and nervous system working well. Next come the minerals.

Corn contains phosphorus for bone and tooth strength and manganese, which helps your body use other nutrients.

The yellow color in corn comes from the phytochemical zeaxanthin, which promotes healthy eyes, and cooked corn contains antioxidants which help protect against cancer and heart disease.

But the nutritive value isn’t all that corn has going for it. Corn really is a grain rather than a vegetable, and as such, is composed of both soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber becomes gel-like when wet and binds to undesirable matter such as cholesterol, then escorts it out of our bodies.

Our bodies can’t digest the insoluble fiber, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. In fact, it’s very important, because it scrubs the “sludge” out of our intestinal tracts. So all in all, when the corn leaves our bodies, it takes with it a whole lot of “gunk” that our bodies just don’t need.