Not too long ago we’ve been experimenting with making corn bread, tortillas, and different meals utilizing the distinctive forms of corn that we’ve been rising in our backyard. Crimson corn bread and black tortillas make some attention-grabbing meals. Not solely does rising our personal corn higher guarantee its well being and nutrient content material, but it surely’s additionally been lots of enjoyable rising this lovely corn.
However we don’t develop the entire corn we eat, so how will you be sure you get wholesome corn when you can’t develop your personal?
Why You Ought to Solely Eat Natural, Non-GMO Corn
Most corn grown within the U.S. is grown from genetically-engineered seeds, and there’s important concern in regards to the security of those genetically-modified meals (GMO meals).
When corn is genetically modified, the DNA of the corn is manipulated. The altered DNA not solely will increase yields, however it could additionally make the corn capable of be grown in nutrient-depleted soils, make it proof against weed killers like glyphosate (the lively ingredient in Roundup), and/or make it proof against bugs and different pests.
The truth is, in some GMO corn varieties the corn plant itself turns into a pesticide that’s toxic to bugs (together with useful bees which are wanted to pollinate our crops). If an insect eats that corn, the insect dies.
After we take into consideration the truth that the identical corn that killed these bugs is then made into breakfast cereal, cornbread, corn chips, or different meals, we will perceive why many international locations world wide have banned genetically-modified meals or, on the very least, require GMO labeling.
There are a variety of well being issues related to GMO meals, together with harm to the intestine, irritation, alterations in hormone balances and performance, antibiotic resistance, and extra. One research confirmed that when mice have been fed GMO corn, they developed tumors and skilled harm to their liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands. [i]
How one can keep away from GMO corn
Apart from rising your personal non-GMO corn, one of the best ways to keep away from genetically-modified corn (GMO) is to purchase corn that’s labeled “Non-GMO Mission Verified”.
Is natural corn additionally non-GMO?
United States regulation doesn’t permit genetically-engineered meals to me labeled natural; nevertheless, the natural label doesn’t defend the meals towards cross-pollination or cross-contamination. Which means that meals labeled natural may doubtlessly include some GMOs.
To make certain your corn incorporates no GMOs, search for the label “Non-GMO Mission Verified”. Testing is required for any product earlier than it may be labeled “Non-GMO-Mission verified” to make sure that it’s free from GMOs.
Right here is my supply for good non-GMO corn, cornmeal, corn flour, and so forth.
Up till a number of years in the past, solely dried corn (additionally known as area corn) was genetically modified. Dried corn is the corn used to make cornmeal, grits, polenta, corn flour, corn starch, and related meals. Popcorn and candy corn often weren’t genetically modified, however GMO candy corn has turn out to be extra prevalent. Some consider that popcorn could also be subsequent; nevertheless, even when the popcorn isn’t genetically modified, substances which are usually added to popcorn (resembling lecithin, oil, lactic acid, and butter) could also be. You could wish to search for that label to be protected.
Make sure you learn ingredient labels since corn-derived merchandise are sometimes included as an ingredient in quite a lot of meals. Corn oil, cornstarch, citric acid, and corn syrup are a number of of the commonest corn-derived substances to observe for.
Totally different forms of corn
There’s a lot extra to corn than the yellow corn kernels that we usually see within the U.S. and different industrialized international locations. All through historical past and world wide, populations have been nourished by an incredible number of colours and flavors of corn. Many of those open-pollinated (non-GMO) varieties are way more nutrient-dense and flavorful than the yellow corn that’s ubiquitous in trendy grocery shops.
References
[i] de Vendômois, J. S., Roullier, F., Cellier, D., & Séralini, G. E., A comparability of the results of three GM corn varieties on mammalian well being, Worldwide Journal of Organic Sciences, 2009
