We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

What Are the Health Benefits of Corn?

By Meshell Powell
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGeek is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGeek, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The health benefits of corn are numerous, yet largely overlooked. Corn is considered to be a complex carbohydrate which is high in fiber, making it an important part of a healthy diet. There are high concentrations of several nutrients in this grain, adding even more to the health benefits of corn. Some of the nutrients found in this grain include thiamine, Vitamin C, manganese, and phosphorous. Adding corn to the diet may help to improve energy levels and memory while promoting cardiovascular and respiratory health.

Increased energy production is one of the most desirable health benefits of corn. This energy production is due to the combination of thiamine and pantothenic acid which is naturally present in corn. The pantothenic acid helps the body to produce energy even during times of stress, making this grain a popular choice for those who lead a fast-paced or stressful lifestyle.

Corn is an excellent source of thiamine, a nutrient which is essential for proper brain function. In fact, just one cup of corn contains almost a quarter of the recommended daily allowance of this important nutrient. For this reason, the benefits of corn include the preservation and support of memory. Studies have indicated that a healthy diet which includes foods high in thiamine may help to delay symptoms of senility and Alzheimer's disease in some people.

Cardiovascular support is among the various health benefits of corn. This grain is high in folate, a type of B-vitamin which helps to prevent birth defects and supports cardiovascular health. A diet high in folate may significantly reduce a person's risk of developing heart disease and other related cardiovascular disorders.

Support for respiratory health is one of the benefits of corn. A nutrient known as beta-cryptoxanthin is found in this grain and is beneficial is supporting and promoting overall lung health. According to some scientific studies, adding foods containing this nutrient to the diet may help to lower the risks of developing lung cancer, even in those who smoke.

Preventing or controlling certain gastrointestinal disorders is among the most well-known health benefits of corn. The type of fiber found in this grain is known as insoluble fiber, meaning that it helps the body to absorb water, thereby promoting healthy bowel habits. Conditions such as constipation or the development of hemorrhoids may be prevented in many cases by adding fiber-rich foods such as corn to the diet.

WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

By Drentel — On Dec 08, 2014

I was surprised to read that corn contains vitamin C. I always drink juice to get the Vitamin C that I need in my diet. However, I do know that eating corn can help lower the bad cholesterol in a person's body. With so many people taking medication for high cholesterol, you would think more people would be eating corn for this reason alone.

By Feryll — On Dec 07, 2014

For me, gaining weight and keeping it on is a chronic problem. When I played youth football as a kid I was one of the smallest players on the field. My mother was afraid I was going to get broken in half playing against the larger players.

By the time I was a senior in high school I was lifting weights regularly and eating as much food as possible trying to put on weight, but I still was not as large as most of my teammates on the football team.

A couple years ago, I learned that corn is actually a good food for people who have trouble keeping their weight up. Corn is a high calorie food and unlike many of the other high calorie foods we eat, corn is actually good for us.

By mobilian33 — On Dec 06, 2014

Before reading this article I hadn't thought about this, but it is true that you don't hear much about the health benefits of corn compared to other vegetables and grains. My sister started getting upset stomachs a few months back. And now she is having problems with her digestion.

One of her friends told her to eat more corn because it is supposed to be good for the digestive system. Her friend has Irritable Bowel Syndrome and she says since she has been eating more corn she feels better and has fewer problems with diarrhea.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.