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with corn sensitivity, corn addiction,
and carbohydrate sensitivity or blood-
sugar- and insulin-related health
problems, the answer is strict avoidance
of corn and its derivatives, whether
organic or not.Basics to Know about Avoiding Corn
Staying away from any product that
contains corn isn’t always as easy as
it sounds. It goes far beyond steering
clear of the obvious—popcorn, corn-
on-the-cob, corn chips, corn tortillas,
and tamales—because corn is
ubiquitous in our food supply. Its
derivatives (cornstarch, corn meal,
corn bran, corn oil, corn syrup, citric
acid, dextrose, fructose, xylitol, and
xanthan gum) are used in so many
ways that corn is found in products
you would never suspect, including
deli meat, baked goods, crackers,
candy, chewing gum, condiments,
sauces, and salad dressing.
The 2004 Food Allergen Labeling
and Consumer Protection Act requires
food manufacturers to label products
that include the top food allergens:
milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree
nuts, fish, and shellfish. The law,
however, does not list corn as an
allergen that needs to be labeled. That
means avoiding corn is even more
difficult than staying away from other
problematic ingredients. It requires
a high degree of knowledge and often
some detective work.Tips for Steering Clear of Corn
It takes time to learn to become a
corn-savvy shopper, but following these
general guidelines is a good first step:* Avoid processed foods whenever
possible. This is by far the most
important guideline to follow.
Choose fresh fruits and vegetables
and unprocessed nuts, seeds,
beans, meats, and other products.* If you are highly sensitive, avoid
conventional eggs, chicken, beef,
and pork produced from animals
that are fed corn. Instead, seek out100% grass-fed and grass-finished
meat, pasture-raised eggs, and
wild-caught fish.* Learn the names of corn derivatives
to avoid. Get up to speed on the
long list of potential hidden sources
of corn on food ingredient lists by
visiting CornAllergens.com.* Look for products that are marketed
as corn-free—but be cautious. In the
United States, there is no regulatory
definition for “corn-free,” so food
manufacturers can establish their
own definitions, and sometimes
people who work at the companies
don’t know all the ingredients that
contain corn. Use your judgment,
or call companies when in doubt.* Look for products that are labeled
“Paleo.” Foods that are truly based
on the grain-free hunter-gatherer
diet should not contain any corn.
However, some products that are
marketed as Paleo contain ingredients
such as xanthan gum, which is
usually made from corn. Always
read the label, and be discriminating.
Call or write the company if you
aren’t sure.Corn-Free Alternatives to
Common ProductsIN PLACE OF: TRY:* Cornstarch^ Arrowroot, tapioca starch,
or potato starch* Baking powder^ Hain Featherweight Baking Powder
* Corn tortillas^ Coconut or lettuce wraps
* Corn chips^ Beanfields Bean Chips (Plain or Sea Salt only);
Eden Brown Rice Chips; Siete Sea Salt Grain-
Free Tortilla Chips; or Jilz Grain-Free Crackers* Distilled white vinegar^ Lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or red wine
vinegarIs the Vitamin C You Take
Made from Corn?
The most popular form of synthetic vitamin C found in supplements
is ascorbic acid, which is usually derived from corn. To avoid corn-based
vitamin C, seek out vitamin C supplements made from corn-free sources,
such as tapioca. Brands derived from tapioca include Source Naturals
Corn-Free Non-GMO C-1000 and Ecological Formulas (Non-Corn
Source) Vitamin C-1000.
You can also look for vitamin C made from organic
fruit. NutriGold Organic Whole-Food Vitamin C
Gold is made from an organic berry blend.
Pure Synergy Pure Radiance 100% Natural
Vitamin C Capsules are made from wild-
harvested camu camu and organic acerola
cherries with nine organic berries and fruits.