Corn is a common food in many diets today, but it is not considered Paleo for humans. The Paleo diet focuses on eating foods that our ancient ancestors hunted and gathered before farming and agriculture began. Corn is a modern grain that was developed thousands of years after the Paleolithic era, so it does not fit into the natural eating patterns of early humans.
Corn contains a high amount of starch and carbohydrates that can cause blood sugar spikes and inflammation in some people. It also has compounds like lectins and phytates that may make digestion harder and block nutrient absorption. Because of these reasons, corn and many corn-derived ingredients are avoided in the Paleo diet. These include corn starch, corn syrup (including high-fructose corn syrup), corn oil, corn flour, dextrose, maltodextrin, sorbitol, citric acid, fructose, glucose, corn gluten, corn sugar, zein, cornmeal, modified corn starch, corn fiber, and corn dextrin. These ingredients are often found in processed foods and even some medications as fillers, sweeteners, or binders.
While corn is not Paleo for humans, it plays an important role as animal feed on farms. Animals like cows, pigs, and chickens are often fed corn because it provides a rich source of energy and helps them grow healthy. Even though corn is good for animals, it does not mean it is a natural or healthy choice for human consumption based on our evolutionary diet.
In summary, corn and its many derived ingredients do not belong in the Paleo diet because they were not eaten by early humans and can cause digestive or inflammatory issues. Although corn is great for feeding farm animals, those following Paleo avoid it to stay closer to the natural, whole foods of our ancestors.
what so amazes me about corn is the many ways it can be used and how it is prepared. As we know, corn has been around since biblical times and was a staple food of the ancients. To this day this popular crop is used worldwide in so many dishes and so may food recipes. Thanks so much on sharing a brief history of this grain and how is not a part of the Paleo diet. Thanks for sharing this helpful information.
Hi Norman,
I know there are many uses for corn, but for humans it’s not Paleo. It’s fine for some people if it works for them, but it just doesn’t fit the Paleo way of eating. I think of corn as kind of a “natural chemical” for our bodies, something that can affect people differently. I’m glad you enjoyed the history part and thank you for sharing your thoughts.