Does sweetcorn (I think it's maize to Americans) get digested?

Question

This is a bit disgusting but I'm very curious; sweetcorn seems to come out much the same as it went in...does the body actually absorb or digest any of it, or are the calories it contains simply 'potential calories', ie. calories the body 'could' absorb...if it could be arsed?

If I ate only sweetcorn from now on would I starve or would my body start digesting some of the little beggars?

Thanxs!
xxxxx

Answer 1

To most Americans, it's just called corn, as opposed to what I believe is the European term of maize. Some folks in the US may refer to it as sweet corn as opposed to feed corn for livestock. See "The Omnivore's Dilemma" for a VERY thorough treatment of corn as a food source.

Yes, it gets digested. However, if you're not used to eating a high-fiber diet, your system may not handle it well.

It's possible most of what you're seeing is the shell/bran of each corn kernel.

Indigenous eaters of corn often treated it with lime/ash/alkaline substances both to help break it down for better digestion and to make it a more balanced source of nutrition.

Eating just sweetcorn would likely leave you with a nutritional deficiency, though proper treatment would help. Eating it with beans makes a more balanced food source.

See "On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee for a thorough treatment of this subject plus many, many others related to food and cooking.

Answer 2

BTW, maize is the English way to say it, and either sweetcorn or corn is the American way.

The reason sweetcorn comes out looking "the same way" is because of the parts you body can digest. The inside of each kernel, the pulpy (or if uncooked the white) part, includes "alpha-linkage" glucose bonded together, which the body easily breaks down. But the outside casing is made of "beta-linkage" glucose, cellulose, which can't be digested. The only difference is that the bond between 2 glucose molecules is upside down in beta-linkage.

Answer 3

I want to remind you that sweetcorn is a GRAIN not a Vegetable. It is what we fatten cows, pigs, and chickens with. The cows have multiple stomachs that can digest it.

Joann

Answer 4

You are corect. We can digest the sugars and carbs but not the kernels. They do go out as they came in minus sugar and carbs. They can act as a fiber food but are not considered one of the better sources of fiber.

Answer 5

Nope not really. It's basically a rotter rooter for your colon. That's a good thing though Fiber is a necessary part of every diet.