Fresh, sweet corn is one of summer's great pleasures, but in recent years, corn has gained a bad reputation. The most recent issue of Eating Well debunks five myths about corn, setting the record straight when it comes to concerns about everything from genetic modification to corn's sugar content. Bottom line: don't feel guilty about eating this summer staple.
One of the most prevalent myths about corn is that most of it is genetically modified, but in actuality, only 3-4% of the sweet corn planted in the U.S. last year was GMO. ("Field corn," the crop that is processed into everything from ethanol to high-fructose corn syrup, is a different matter.) This may change, however, as this is the first summer farmers are growing Monsanto's new genetically modified sweet corn seeds, so buying certified organic corn is still the safest bet.
If calorie and sugar concerns are keeping you away from corn, Eating Well points out that "an ear of corn has about the same number of calories as an apple and less than one-fourth the sugar." And while you may have heard that corn has no nutritional benefits whatsoever, it does contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals associated with healthy vision, as well as a dose of dietary fiber.
Check out the article for the full list of myths and their debunking explanations.
Read More: Is Corn Healthy or Not? 5 Myths About Sweet Corn Busted at Eating Well
Related: Why You Must Try Sweet Corn Risotto (Maybe Truffled)
(Image: Joanna Miller)
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I'm sure they're lovely people at that magazine. However, "debunking" is an awfully strong word. The only study they provided is a study about high fructose corn syrup, is 2 clicks away from that page which even Eating Well says "suggests" and "it's too early to come to a conclusion". So zero pubished studies on GMO or the nutrients in corn. This is NOT to say it's wrong, but please don't say that a recipe magazine has "debunked" something in science. When a published study is provided, the methods and statistics tell us if it's good research. This provides zero methods for the claims.
I'm not sure what is debunked when they agree the only sure way to avoid GMO corn is to buy organic. Isn't that case-in-point? When you buy it at Jewel, nobody is going to tell you the source of the seeds that were used to grow it. And I'd be curious to hear what the percentage is of GMO sweet corn THIS YEAR vs last year. It's likely not going to be anywhere close to only 3-4%.
The USDA has done research to the nutrient, calorie and sugar content of corn so reference to that in the "debunking" article have been scientifically evaluated. That's probably where they pulled the data- the USDA Food and Nutrient Database. So I suppose they might argue they debunked the myth that corn has no nutritional value.
I'm curious to know if we'll ever find out if genetically modified foods are bad for you because they are modified or if they are really bad for you because they are drenched in round-up and other pesticides that in the past would have poisoned the plant.