The question “Is sweet corn good for diabetes patients” comes to the minds of many people. Both diabetic patients themselves and their loved ones keep learning information on foods and beverages suitable for diabetes. This phenomenon seems completely understandable since approximately 10.5 percent of the world population today is suffering from diabetes.
Diabetes is considered to be one of the most dangerous diseases because of the way it affects the life of people. It harms not just the body but also the mind of patients. The restrictions placed on diet, eating patterns, meal timings, physical exercises, and other aspects of a patient’s life make him or her feel low and burdened.
Patients always remain stressed and alert to avoid further complications. They strive hard to live their lives as comfortably as possible while dealing with diabetes. Patients take the help of medical and fitness experts to decide on the several components of their regular life and day-to-day routine. The foods and beverages they can consume are one of the components. A lot of patients become frantic when it comes to choosing food items and beverages for different meals, viz. breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Even though sweet corn is a food item loved by a large number of people, diabetic patients become nervous when deciding whether to eat it or not. We are sure that if you are diabetic, you might also be facing the same dilemma every time you think about eating sweet corn or every time someone offers you this food item.
So, let’s find out the answer to the question that bothers millions of people across the world. We have explained all the relevant points related to sweet corn and diabetes. We have also shared some important details regarding diabetes disease. Before we discuss “Is sweet corn good for diabetes or not?”, let’s see these points and details.
What Does Sweet Corn Contain? What is its Nutritional Profile?
Table of Contents
We know that the words ‘Sweet Corn’ are enough to scare any diabetic person but before you tick off this food from your meal plans, you must know about the benefits of eating sweet corn. Let’s start with understanding the difference between corn and sweet corn. Many people remain confused between the two. Thus, we have tried to remove the confusion.
First, let’s be clear about the names of these different types of corn. Sweet corn gets its name because it is sweeter than regular or normal corn. The formal name of regular corn is ‘Field Corn’. Not many people know about this fact. The main difference between field corn and sweet corn lies in their kernels.
While the kernels of field corn are hard, the kernels of sweet corn are soft. Another prominent difference between the kernels that gives sweet corn its name is the sweetness. Needless to say, the kernels of sweet corn are sweeter than the kernels of field corn. Sweet corn is harvested, i.e., picked when it is still immature. In simple words, it is harvested before the sugar present inside it turns into starch. Field corn is primarily used to feed livestock, as it is rich in starch.
Before you find an answer to the question, “Is sweet corn good for diabetes?”, you must know that there are more than a hundred types of sweet corn available today. You should also know that according to reports, sweet corn is an outcome of a mutation that occurs at the sugary locus. This naturally occurring recessive mutation controls the conversion of sugar to starch.
Once the sweet corn is harvested, its sugar content starts getting converted into starch. Hence, it has to be used as soon as possible. Sweet corn can be consumed boiled or on the cob. It can also be used as an ingredient in several food preparations. It is a staple food item in different types of cuisines in the USA, the UK, Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.
Sweet corn is a healthy food item since it contains a variety of nutrients in sufficient amounts. These nutrients include but are not limited to carbohydrates, sugar, fat, protein, fiber, dietary fiber, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B9, vitamin B5, and vitamin B12. It also contains antioxidants like ferulic acid, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that sweet corn is indeed a healthy or nutritious food item. The dietary fiber present in sweet corn helps in the digestion process of the body. As fiber makes you feel fuller for a long time, you can avoid overeating and control your weight. The vitamin C present in sweet corn improves your immune system.
Is Sweet Corn Good for Diabetes Patients? Know the Answer
A one-word answer for whether diabetic people should consume sweet corn or not is ‘Yes’. Patients suffering from diabetes can eat sweet corn or dishes prepared with it. But there are also some other facts associated with this answer.
Just like there are pros and cons to everything, there are pros and cons to consuming sweet corn in the case of diabetic patients. Sweet corn is packed with nutrients that offer various health benefits such as decreasing the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, keeping the nervous system healthy, and stimulating collagen production.
But at the same time, it contains a high amount of natural sugar, just like we have been discussing since the beginning of this blog post. As you must be aware, when you consume foods that have sugar, the blood glucose or the blood sugar levels in your body rise. Having high blood sugar levels is a risky scenario for diabetic patients.
Therefore, diabetic people must take sweet corn in moderation. Well, as we have mentioned earlier in this blog post, sweet corn has fiber, which helps in controlling the blood sugar level. So, in one way, people] suffering from diabetes can experience health benefits by consuming corn.
But in another way, they also have to remain careful about the quantity of corn they take because of the sugar content. They also have to pay attention to the type of corn they consume and the method of cooking corn. The carbohydrates present inside sweet corn also get broken down into sugar. Thus, if you are diabetic, you should remember that not just sugar but also carbohydrates in sweet corn can harm your health. Our answer to the question “Is sweet corn good for diabetes?” is not complete yet.
GI and GL Values of Sweet Corn and Dishes Prepared with Sweet Corn
Whenever any patient has to consider whether they consume any particular food it=[em or not, they take various factors into account. Two of these factors are the Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL). The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how quickly sugar from a food item gets absorbed into the bloodstream.
Image Credit: South African
The Glycemic Load (GL) indicates how much sugar from a food item measures how much sugar from a food item gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Now, the good news is that the GI and GL values of sweet corn are low to moderate. While the GI value of sweet corn is 52, its GL value is 15. Hence, sweet corn can be consumed by diabetic people.
But it should not be consumed in an excessive amount. If you are eating sweet corn when you are extremely hungry, you should make sure to include other foods in your meal as well. You should choose foods that are low in sugar and carbohydrates but high in fat and protein. Boiled corn with little to no amount of salt, oil, and butter is a healthy option. You can combine it with a salad, boiled vegetables, soup, juice, or any other healthy food option.
You can also eat dishes in which sweet corn has been used as an ingredient. You can prepare sweet corn soup, sweet corn fried rice, air-fried sweet corn, sweet corn nachos, sweet corn cakes, sweet corn salsa, sweet corn oatmeal, sweet corn quesadillas, sweet corn frittatas, and many other dishes.
Thus, a variety of dishes can be prepared by using sweet corn as a primary or additional ingredient. From soups and appetizers to main course dishes and desserts, every type of meal can be prepared with sweet corn. You can also enjoy grilled corn on the cob, which is loved by many people. You can switch your regular bread with cornbread to make bread and other items. We hope that by now, you must have gotten sufficient information on “Is sweet corn good for diabetes?”.
Conclusion
It is important to remember to consume only fresh sweet corn. However, if you have no other option than to consume frozen or canned corn, you can consume it. Before eating canned sweet corn or before using it in your food preparations, read the label to learn about different nutrients and their amounts. The verdict in the case of diabetic people eating sweet corn is that they should eat it in moderation.
