Corn is one of the healthiest foods: this cereal native to Central America is rich in vitamins and minerals and is a natural source of fiber. But it’s no secret that our body has a hard time digesting it correctly.
Have you ever seen the corn kernels almost intact in your faeces? In fact, it is an outer layer that serves to protect the content of seeds from inclement weather or pests. This layer is composed of a hard fiber called cellulose. However, our body lacks the enzymes or intestinal bacteria necessary to digest it.
Fortunately, cellulose only makes up about 10% of the grain, while 90% is useful nutrition. This food is also rich in dietary fiber, starch and antioxidants.
But is there a method to make it more digestible? Yes, it just needs to be processed in some way. “The more you process it, the easier it is to digest,” explained nutritionist Andrea Watson, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in an article published on the LiveScience portal. At the same time, she stressed that processed maize loses some fiber and nutrients and that grains in your stool do not pose any health hazard.
“In fact, it’s a sign you’re eating corn in one of its healthiest forms,” she said.
She advised those who don’t want to see the grains in the bathroom to just chew them better.