Many people suffer from an intolerance to corn. Often, the corn is excreted undigested. A corn intolerance may not be immediately noticeable and should be diagnosed through a targeted intolerance test.

Corn belongs to the plant family of grasses. Besides being used as food for humans, it is also used as feed and energy crop.

What is corn?

In many parts of the world, corn is considered one of the staple foods. It is rich in carbohydrates, minerals, proteins, and fats. Corn provides complex carbohydrates, fiber, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, selenium, and B6.

The corn we know from the supermarket comes from the wild grass teosinte. Did you know that the first corn varieties were already cultivated more than 9,000 years ago? The true golden corn was discovered by Columbus in 1492 in the New World and was a plant that the Caribbean Indians called "Mahiz."

Only many thousands of years later was the so-called cultivated corn brought to Europe. It was Christopher Columbus who brought the corn plant from the Caribbean to Spain. Within a generation, it covered large parts of southern Europe and parts of Africa. Since 1525, corn has been actively cultivated in fields in Spain. In Germany, corn was only cultivated from the 16th century onwards. At first, corn was only used to feed livestock. Only later was it also used to supply the population.

Intolerance test

Different foods and substances that you are sensitive to can affect your overall well-being.

 

buy now

only 39.90 € per test

It was mainly used for soup, puddings, to make porridge, but also for various cakes.

The fruit is harvested in summer. Sowing takes place between April and May. However, only about 15% of the global corn harvest is used as food for humans. Mainly, corn is fed to livestock. Nevertheless, corn is considered the most important staple food for large parts of the world's population.

But is corn really that healthy? What symptoms do you have if you suffer from a corn intolerance?

You can learn more below.

Is corn healthy?

It is no coincidence that corn is considered a staple food in many parts of the world. It contains everything important for the human body. It consists of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals.

Corn contains a lot of vitamin B and is therefore extremely healthy for humans. Due to its high starch content, it is also considered particularly nutritious.

The plant is also used as a remedy. Oil is extracted from the plant. Corn germ oil and corn starch together are considered a miracle cure for many ailments. The oil from the corn fruit mainly consists of linoleic acid and oleic acid.

Vitamin E and phytosterols are also abundant. Corn is very low in cholesterol. Therefore, it is also suitable if you need to follow a low-cholesterol diet.

Corn is also used in the pharmaceutical industry. Corn starch is used in the production of medications.

The main component of corn is water. In addition to water, it also contains carbohydrates, protein, and various fats. The carbohydrates include fructose, sucrose, and glucose. Fructose is partly responsible for the sweet taste.

The sweetness is most intense immediately after harvest. It loses sweetness through long storage. Did you know that corn also contains numerous vitamins?

In addition to vitamin A, corn contains a high amount of vitamin C, as well as vitamin E and various B vitamins. Furthermore, corn contains many essential amino acids.

What is a corn intolerance?

An intolerance to corn is quite rare. A corn allergy is also rare. However, it is important to strongly distinguish between an intolerance and an allergy.

An allergy is a reaction of the immune system. Symptoms usually appear immediately after consumption and can sometimes even become life-threatening.

People who suffer from a corn allergy usually react allergically to corn starch. Allergy symptoms can range from skin rashes and itching to shortness of breath. In the case of an allergy, mere skin contact is often enough to trigger an allergic reaction.

[medicross id=’880844′]

In contrast, a corn intolerance usually focuses symptoms on the digestive tract. Symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are not uncommon. Skin reactions like redness, itching, hives (urticaria), as well as complaints in the mouth and throat area or atopic dermatitis can also occur.

A corn intolerance can develop from frequent corn consumption. Especially people who suffer from gluten intolerance often turn to cornmeal as a gluten-free alternative. It is not uncommon for the body to develop a corn intolerance due to too frequent consumption. However, a corn intolerance is generally quite rare.

What is a corn allergy?

Both children and adults can develop a corn allergy. Classic signs of a corn allergy include itching in the mouth or swelling of the lips after consuming corn.

Some people also feel a tingling sensation on their lips as the first symptom. A corn allergy is not as severe symptom-wise as, for example, a nut allergy, but a corn allergy should not be taken lightly.

Corn is found in a variety of products. Many processed foods contain cornmeal. The flour is also further processed into oil and is therefore included in many foods.

If you suffer from a corn allergy, you must always read carefully when buying a ready-made product. Corn is found, for example, in many salad dressings, popcorn, but also in peanut flips.

Did you know that even beer and spirits are brewed from corn? Therefore, always check carefully what you consume before eating or drinking.

Not only the mature fruit can trigger allergies, but also the pollen itself. In Europe, there is increased pollen dispersion especially during the summer months. Corn blooms from June to August. Allergic individuals therefore often experience strong symptoms, especially during this time.

Basically, an allergy to corn pollen is very rare. Most people affected by an allergy react allergically after consuming corn.

A corn allergy can also cause symptoms such as headaches or general discomfort. Gastrointestinal complaints are also common. Those affected often suffer from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or other issues in the digestive tract.

Like any other allergy, a corn allergy can also lead to an allergic shock. Therefore, take the allergy seriously. Otherwise, it could lead to a life-threatening condition.

How do you test for intolerances?

You can find out if you have a corn intolerance at your general practitioner. They can easily detect the intolerance with a blood sample.

Many online providers now offer self-tests that allow you to find out if and which intolerances you have – for example, an intolerance test with a hair sample from Medicross. This clearly shows which ingredients and foods your body reacts sensitively to.

Whether you do the test with your general practitioner or on your own, your blood undergoes a specific analysis. A special innovative procedure has been developed for this.

In the laboratory, the IgG4 level in your blood is primarily examined. Based on this value, your doctor can determine whether you suffer from a corn intolerance. Usually, the test does not check just one food, but your blood is tested for a whole range of foods. This way, after the test, you have certainty about which foods you are intolerant or even allergic to.

Identifying an intolerance is especially difficult because the symptoms usually appear with a delay. In most cases, they can no longer be clearly linked to a specific food.

In many tests, usually not just one intolerance is detected, but often several at once. This can be very shocking for you on one hand, but on the other hand also relieving. Only when you know what you react intolerantly to can you adjust your diet accordingly.

The test also provides clarification on how strongly you react to a particular food. The concentration of the IgG level is determined. Based on this value, it can be established whether you react to a food, for example, with a skin rash or mild digestive complaints.

In some cases, the test may be positive even though you basically have no symptoms. The test shows a snapshot in time. To be completely sure, it must therefore be repeated after some time. Only then can you be sure whether your symptoms were only temporary.

How can corn be prepared?

Did you know that some types of corn can even be eaten raw? Generally, however, corn is eaten cooked. You can prepare corn either plain or on the cob.

The preparation is very simple. Place the cob in hot water for a few minutes. After that, it is sufficiently cooked and ready to eat. Another option is to grill the cob. If you don’t want to eat the corn directly from the cob, you can also scrape off the kernels with a knife.

Corn tastes best fresh. The fresher the corn, the sweeter it is. It tastes best when eaten with some butter, salt, and pepper. Herbs also make an excellent accompaniment to corn. 

When shopping, pay attention to which type of corn you buy. Some varieties cannot be eaten directly because their starch content is too high. These varieties are used exclusively for further processing. Cornmeal can be ground from them. This cornmeal is a good alternative to conventional wheat flour and can be especially well consumed by people with gluten intolerance. 

Polenta can also be made from cornmeal. Polenta is a dish traditionally cooked and prepared from corn grits.

Which foods contain corn?

Corn is found in more products than many people realize. Besides cornflakes, popcorn, canned sweet corn, and corn on the cob, the following foods are also often affected:

• Vegetable oils and salad dressings

• Seasonings and sauces like ketchup, mayonnaise, and distilled vinegar

• Soft drinks and lemonades with corn syrup

• Peanut butter and chocolates

Corn syrup is especially commonly used in the USA. In Germany, its use is subject to stricter regulations but is still present in processed products.

Corn alternatives for a balanced diet

If you want or need to avoid corn, you should focus on a varied diet. Suitable alternatives include cassava, quinoa, sweet potatoes, rice, potatoes, or dried beans. A good supply of vitamins and minerals should also be ensured with a corn-free diet. A micronutrient analysis can help you identify possible nutritional gaps and close them specifically.