Why is corn so high in calories?

iuali81

I just logged 1 cup of frozen corn and it's 150 calories!! It's not that big of a deal, but I just expected, with it being a vegetable, that it woudl be much lower. I had no clue corn was so high in calories.

Lissakaye81

corn has lots of natural sugar, hence corn syrup, you only partially digest corn, less if its raw, more if its cooked. Thats why a lot of pet foods are so horrible for em, companies use it as fillers

Crochetluvr

It is a major starch, and high in carbs which is why I am avoiding it at the moment.

I should add that corn is more grain than vegetable.

Zichu

Corn is manly carbs and is a type of grain. That might be why it's quite high in calories.

kristen6022

Starch and sugar. But soo soo tasty!

Bentley2718

It's a grain.

amusgrave

I kinda count corn as a carb not a veggie even tho it is... the green stuffs better for you i.e. spinich,brocoli

erickirb

1 cup is a lot of corn in one sitting, and 150 cals from that much food seems quite low to me

secretlobster

Corn is not a vegetable. It's a grain.

Dave198lbs

nothing good about corn except for corn on the cob with real butter and salt once a year or so.

otherwise, corn is a "filler" food and pretty much garbage.

add in the facts that its full of sugar and high in calories, it just aint worth it.

Lleldiranne

Corn is really more of a grain, although we often use it as a vegetable (it still has nutrients). If you compare it to similar amounts of other grains, it's very close in calories. Like other posters said, it's the sugars and starches not found in many other vegetables.

callmeBAM

Corn is a grain.
Tomatoes are fruit.
Peanuts are not nuts.
Anything else we need to clear up?

Oh, grass fed cows are lean, corn fed are fat. Draw your own conclusions

artbkward

Sweet corn and field corn are not to be confused because they are not the same and are not harvested at the same time.

"A grain is defined as the harvested dry seeds or fruit of a cereal grass, or the term can refer to the cereal grasses collectively. Field corn that is harvested when the seeds are dry would thus be considered a grain. Sweet corn when harvested before maturity is usually considered a vegetable. It is grown to be eaten fresh as a tender vegetable rather than as a dried grain suitable for grinding into flour or meal"

placeboaddiction

cause its delicious. Anything delicious=not healthy j/k ...though there is a little truth to the comment

secretlobster

Sweet corn and field corn are not to be confused because they are not the same and are not harvested at the same time.

"A grain is defined as the harvested dry seeds or fruit of a cereal grass, or the term can refer to the cereal grasses collectively. Field corn that is harvested when the seeds are dry would thus be considered a grain. Sweet corn when harvested before maturity is usually considered a vegetable. It is grown to be eaten fresh as a tender vegetable rather than as a dried grain suitable for grinding into flour or meal"

Can I ask where you got your quote?

Also, "usually considered". And, "it is grown to be eaten fresh as a tender vegetable" doesn't make it a vegetable. Corn, even sweet corn, has the properties and nutritional value of a grain. Just because corn can be used as a grain (dried and ground) or eaten "like" a vegetable off the cob doesn't chemically change it into a vegetable. For all intents and purposes, when you eat corn kernels, you are eating grain.

karibuni

I love corn. I eat 4 cobs a day! But I am still loosing weight. The key is balance.

rainbowbow

Because its delicious.

Acg67

Others things I learned about corn from MFP, corn killed the Mayans and Native Americans did not eat corn, to suggest that they did would make you a racist lol

Dave198lbs

I love corn. I eat 4 cobs a day! But I am still loosing weight. The key is balance.

4 cobs of corn a day. intreresting take on "balance".

Dave198lbs

from Mark'sDailyApple (take it or leave it...I aint sure of all the dramatics by Mark, but I dont see the point of eating a lot of corn)


"Friends, corn is not a vegetable. It’s not. We are perplexed as to when corn entered the American dietary lexicon as a veggie, because it’s a grain – and a really unhealthy grain at that. Corn is the most sugary, starchy, empty grain there is. You’re better off with white rice – seriously. (Not that we recommend eating a lot of white rice, because brown rice is higher in fiber and protein.)

In fact, we hate corn. Now, we’re not talking about the occasional corn on the cob at the family BBQ. That’s probably not going to hurt anyone. But corn should not make up the veggie section of your meal plate, because it’s a high-glycemic sugarfest. In sum: corn is not a vegetable, and it’s a worthless grain."



Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/corn-is-not-a-vegetable/#ixzz1wZ5ePhQn

artbkward

Sweet corn and field corn are not to be confused because they are not the same and are not harvested at the same time.

"A grain is defined as the harvested dry seeds or fruit of a cereal grass, or the term can refer to the cereal grasses collectively. Field corn that is harvested when the seeds are dry would thus be considered a grain. Sweet corn when harvested before maturity is usually considered a vegetable. It is grown to be eaten fresh as a tender vegetable rather than as a dried grain suitable for grinding into flour or meal"

Can I ask where you got your quote?

Also, "usually considered". And, "it is grown to be eaten fresh as a tender vegetable" doesn't make it a vegetable. Corn, even sweet corn, has the properties and nutritional value of a grain. Just because corn can be used as a grain (dried and ground) or eaten "like" a vegetable off the cob doesn't chemically change it into a vegetable. For all intents and purposes, when you eat corn kernels, you are eating grain.

It came from an agricultural extentsion website.

Here is sweet corn classified under vegetable on The Ohio State University Extentsion site
http://ohioline.osu.edu/lines/vcrop.html#VEG.4a

Also, here is sweet corn classified under vegetable from the University of Illinois
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/vegproblems/vegetables.cfm

I'm no chemist, although I do work in agriculture, but I doubt the the chemical composition of sweet and field corn is the same. You have to buy specific seed to grow one or the other.

echandle12

I love sweet corn in the summer, it is full of calories, because yes it is a grain, ditch the bun for the burger and eat the corn-thats what I do in the summer time.

secretlobster

Now, we’re not talking about the occasional corn on the cob at the family BBQ. That’s probably not going to hurt anyone.

I'm a big fan of Mark's and this is an important thing for him to have said. Corn isn't an important part of anyone's diet, but there's a huge line between food that isn't doing you any favors, and food that will kill you. No... eating corn is not going to kill you. I occasionally eat corn on the cob without thinking about it, and because "occasional food" like this doesn't have a significant impact on your health. When I eat it, it's because I like the taste (mmm). Not because I need its nutritional elements. But from a nutritional point of view, it's important to understand that corn is not a particularly beneficial food and is mostly starchy filler.

JPod279

I don't eat corn anymore. Anything that can go through the body's digestive process and come out looking the same as it did going in can't be good for you.

secretlobster

Also, here is sweet corn classified under vegetable from the University of Illinois
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/vegproblems/vegetables.cfm

I'm sorry to seem argumentative, but these sites are not discussing the consumption and digestion of the product, the references are for pest control. Both of these references are essentially the same, and please notice they list "tomato" under "vegetable crops".

The websites you're referencing are talking about farming from an agricultural perspective, not a nutritional one.

Acg67

from Mark'sDailyApple (take it or leave it...I aint sure of all the dramatics by Mark, but I dont see the point of eating a lot of corn)


"Friends, corn is not a vegetable. It’s not. We are perplexed as to when corn entered the American dietary lexicon as a veggie, because it’s a grain – and a really unhealthy grain at that. Corn is the most sugary, starchy, empty grain there is. You’re better off with white rice – seriously. (Not that we recommend eating a lot of white rice, because brown rice is higher in fiber and protein.)

In fact, we hate corn. Now, we’re not talking about the occasional corn on the cob at the family BBQ. That’s probably not going to hurt anyone. But corn should not make up the veggie section of your meal plate, because it’s a high-glycemic sugarfest. In sum: corn is not a vegetable, and it’s a worthless grain."



Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/corn-is-not-a-vegetable/#ixzz1wZ5ePhQn

^ Illustrates why Sission is a dope and should not be listened to most of the time.

First what relevance does the GI of the food have to the avg person? and approx. 3 g of sugar per 100g is a lot?

He calls it high GI, yet it's classified as low to moderate GI, white rice and brown rice are higher. Also corn has more protein and fiber than brown rice, two things that supposedly make brown rice better than white rice.

MinnieInMaine

Not all veggies are made alike - corn, peas, winter squash, beets and potatoes are all fairly high in calories. They're still good for you (some more than others, just google to research), they just need to be eaten in moderation.

artbkward

Also, here is sweet corn classified under vegetable from the University of Illinois
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/vegproblems/vegetables.cfm

I'm sorry to seem argumentative, but these sites are not discussing the consumption and digestion of the product, the references are for pest control. Both of these references are essentially the same, and please notice they list "tomato" under "vegetable crops".

The websites you're referencing are talking about farming from an agricultural perspective, not a nutritional one.

Here is the USDA putting (human consumption) corn in with the veggies, this website is for nutrition and health info. My point is that you can't tell someone they're wrong for calling corn a vegetable or a grain. It falls under both.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables.html

secretlobster

Here is the USDA putting (human consumption) corn in with the veggies, this website is for nutrition and health info. My point is that you can't tell someone they're wrong for calling corn a vegetable or a grain. It falls under both.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables.html

Trust me... I am WELL aware that the USDA erroneously classifies corn as a vegetable. I'm also well aware of the bias toward the corn industry, and government subsidies favoring corn above any other food, because corn is extraordinarily profitable. The resources I could cite are innumerable. Read any book by Michael Pollan.

http://grist.org/article/food-2010-09-21-op-ed-corn-subsidies-make-unhealthy-food-choices/

Edited to say: I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I want to encourage people to gain insight on the US government's relationship to the food they eat. It's not always in the interest of your personal health. Do your own research on the food you put in your mouth; where it comes from and who is involved in its production. Just be aware, and make your own choices. I don't care what you choose to put in your body. But if you come here and say "well the USDA says so it must be true" then it indicates to me you don't have any awareness of the corn industry whatsoever.

SweetSammie

I count corn as a grain when I am cooking meals... and it is TASTY. Had some grilled on the cob last night.... with zuchini as the vegetable in that meal (grass fed steak as the protein). I see nothing wrong with eating corn, as long as it fits into your goals. I believe the recommended serving is 1/2 cup, though.

Dave198lbs

^ Illustrates why Sission is a dope and should not be listened to most of the time.

First what relevance does the GI of the food have to the avg person? and approx. 3 g of sugar per 100g is a lot?

He calls it high GI, yet it's classified as low to moderate GI, white rice and brown rice are higher. Also corn has more protein and fiber than brown rice, two things that supposedly make brown rice better than white rice.

if someone said the sky is blue, you would argue the point unless you said it first. I dont agree that he is "a dope" just because he gets dramatic. Corn is a poor food choice. It may not be as bad as he says, but it isnt great or even real good.