So that’s us:
processed corn, walking.

―Michael Pollan,
The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

 

Here’s what I think about corn, in general.

• At just the right time of year, it’s delicious.
• Just like anything else, it’s fine in moderation; ideally should be organically grown and as unprocessed as possible.

The problem is when you get into the fact that corn is in EVERYTHING, and in a form that I don’t think our body processes in an ideal manner.

I’m not a doctor, nutritionist or biologist; this is just my own theory, but:

We evolved over time to eat food, and that food works together in a synergy that allows us to maximize energy and nutrients. We also evolved over time to accomodate the change of seasons: feast and famine, busy active times and cold-weather hunkering-down times.

When we start eating all this processed junk, fillers and simple sugars, our bodies hold on all those extra calories in anticipation of the famine times a’coming. In this refined form, it’s easier to take on the calories and the weight, and it tricks our system into believing it needs to hang onto those calories and the weight for the inevitable time of famine. So easier to gain weight + harder to burn calories.

Again, I’m no expert but it seems like common sense to me.

In any case, I was sent this infographic about Big Bad Corn, highlighting hazards that go beyond our waistlines. What do you think? Do we as a nation rely too heavily on corn? Have you tried to cut back on corn in your diet?