The truth about CORN
There’s nothing like a good piece of corn on the cob at your summer barbeque or your buttered popcorn to go along with your favorite movie, right? Or wrong?
This question seems to be coming up more and more often…
Isabel, are corn and foods made from corn allowable on The DSP?
Well, the answer is yes, BUT there are a few details you need to know first (you didn’t think I was just going to leave it at that, did you?)
It’s been approximated that about 60% of the corn, now in the U.S., is genetically modified (although, I do think this number is higher now). The practice of genetically modifying corn began in an attempt to make corn crops resistant to certain pesticides. This helps the farmer because they are then able to grow a larger crop because it is easier to fight off pests (they can spray the crops with pesticides and get rid of insects without damaging their crop).
Sweet corn has also been genetically modified (now called Bt-corn) so that it produces a poison which kills harmful insects. This means the farmer no longer needs to fight insects with insecticides.
Now although some of these may sound like a good thing (especially if you’re a farmer!), we need to consider how GMO foods respond in our bodies and what kind of long term effects they can have on our health.
Well, because the introduction of GMO foods is still relatively new, we’re in a way being used as “guinea pigs” in a massive experiment (Yikes!). In April 2007, Arpad Pusztai, form the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, UK, announced that experiments had shown intestinal changes in rats caused by eating genetically engineered potatoes (and I don’t know about you, but I’m not happy about anybody trying to mess with my intestines).
This actually doesn’t surprise me. It’s amazing to me how many more people now complain of things like irritable bowel syndrome and other nagging digestive problems. I’m not saying that eating GMO foods is the only cause for these conditions but I’m sure it’s a significant contributor (along with processed foods, but that’s a story for a different day).
Ok, so what if you’re able to get non-GMO corn? (Which it is difficult to know which brands and items are GMO and which are not) where does corn fit into your DSP meal plan?
First, your body reads corn as a grain, NOT a vegetable so if you are to include it into your meals, this will be the grain (carbohydrate) for your meal. So having corn and brown rice would be having 2 grains in one meal. This is not necessarily off limits and not “bad” in any way, just consider if you are someone who is sensitive to grains, you will lose weight faster by greatly reducing the number of grains you eat each day. You may want to take 2 – 3 weeks and follow the “no grain” meal plans in the Diet Solution manual and see if that helps break through any weight loss plateaus and/or helps your digestion.
What about microwave popcorn?
Well even the organic varieties contain preservatives (of course to keep them in the bag) and have been shown to contain the same chemical coating in the bag that is used on non-stick cookware (double YIKES!). I would stay away from this stuff.
How about air popped popcorn?
This is your best bet and can definitely be used as an occasional snack. But notice I said “occasional”. Remember most people lose weight faster by decreasing (not necessarily eliminating) many grains. Snacking on popcorn every day could and most likely will, impede your weight loss efforts.
I hope this information helps you to make a more informed decision at your next barbeque and at your next movie night. Remember, corn is not off limits by any means, just remember you’re looking for the non-GMO varieties and including it as a grain and not a vegetable into your meal plans.
Have you seen “The Informant”? The movie talks about all of the ways corn has been genetically modified you mentioned. It also discusses how corn is in pretty much EVERYT processed food and how its causing an increase in child hood obesity. The only time I really eat corn myself is via corn tortillas or air popped pop corn occasionaly. The movie is a satire, but it kinda freaked me out!
Thanks for this information! I was not aware of the corn-additive.
As far as corn equaling a grain, how does green peas(yuk!)
lima beans(more yuk!) measure up? Are they like a starch
rather than a vegatable?
Isabel you did not mention anything about corn tortillas. Here in Mexico we get them freshly made from the tortilla shop. We normally eat some in the morning with breakfast, some in the afternoon with lunch and sometimes even at night with dinner. I know it sounds too much, but I would really appreciate if you explain further about eating corn tortillas.
Dalia, I definitely wouldn’t recommend eating corn tortillas that often. I would say maybe 3-4 times a week, maximum. It’s not so much that it’s bad – it’s more will you be able to eat those and still lose weight. See how your body responds to it. I still would say to limit your intake to 3-4 times a week though.
Linda, you’re right – those peas and lima beans count as carbs.
You might read “The American Diet, A Recipe For Disaster” by Dr. Edmund Devroes. Even non-GMO organic corn is a fairly useless item in the diet as humans haven’t yet had time to adapt to corn as a food source. And yes, I eat popcorn once in a while.
Hello Isabel,
I’ll try and keep away from popcorn for a while. It is very interesting.
I have recently started this program. So far I like it very much.
About corn, I have been air popping organic corn. I love it and was eating a lot of it–everyday!! I am so glad to get this info. I have stopped since I started this plan. On a popular weight watching program you may have air-popped corn a lot. I thought it was good for watching your weight.
Lillian
i am not one for much corn, never really have been. honestly, it’s just because i hate it getting stuck in my teeth!
my family does enjoy it, and we are currenlty growing our own. about 8 stalks for my family of 5.
however.. once i saw Food Inc and saw how the farmers are growing corn, and how a certain company controls most of the corn supply in the US, and have it actually patented and modified… i grew quite disgusted with the idea of corn products.
all of your information has been so amazingly helpful and eye opening for me.
i have switched about 60% of my food in the house to all organic brands, varefully reading the ingredients though. even some of those have hydrogenated oils! oculdn’t believe the canola oil in the granola and cereals!
anyway… thanks again for all your information. i LOVE reading about it all! have read most of your manuals now in 2 days. thanks!
Hi! I just bought your program last week and finally got my hard copy in the mail today. I’m so excited! BUT, I am breastfeeding and wondered how I adjust the program for that? Please let me know…
Thanks!
Lizzie, I actually just released my new pre and post natal program, What to Eat While Pregnant – it contains a great deal of information about how to eat post-pregnancy.
Isabel, The organic way of eating is not in everyones budget. Mine included. Such as grass fed beef. Will the DSP work for us that may have to use 93-97% lean beef?
Thanks,
Shirl
Shirl, not everyone can follow EVERY aspect of the DSP. Just make sure you’re paying attention to what your body can handle. Keep in mind that your results may not be quite as large or come quite as quickly as if you incorporated grass-fed beef.
I heard about the truth about corn/high fructose corn syrup years ago for Dr. Russ Bianchi,(he has a wonderful blog, you and he think alike) thanks for posting this blog , we need to get the info out there , loved the article thks sandy the zijafreak,
Hi Isobel,
I just got my books and then I was hit with an illness. I am well again and have begun reading. It is very interesting and I have already lost weight.
I have not received any letters since the twenty forth. I look forward to them every day.
I take encouragement from those letters. I think the corn news is interesting. I don’t eat a lot corn. we do have some in cans. We eat more green vegetables than anything.
Corn… and don’t forget corn syrup, and all the corn indirectly ingested via animal protein (most of it GMO varieties like Liberty Link)… an outrageous percentage of the American diet is from corn, and that is not good. I have stopped eating any corn, corn syrup containing (or other processed foods), and am sticking to organically fed chickens and eggs (I raise chickens, and yes, they do eat corn in their organic feed, but it’s non-GMO at least.)
EVERYONE ought to see the documentary King Corn, available through NetFlix and other outlets. It will open your eyes.
Isobel, this is my first reading of your blog and I hope to make it an everyday thing. I notice several people mentioning hard copies of your books… can I get those? At this point I’m still inundated with info, and I think hard copies will help this old (78) brain assimilate it better. I’ve had a lot of health issues, everything from arthritis to all kinds of stomach problems, and I really need help. I recently gained some weight because I had to take steriods this summer (celulitis on both legs) and I’m having a very hard time losing it. I read about dropping Sweet ‘N Low a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been using a bit of regular sugar in my coffee now, and yes, I did lose a bit of fat… yay!! Coffee is the only thing in which I use sweetner. Thanks for your help. I’m really hoping this will help me with the weight, but even more with the way I feel.