Traditional corn has become boring for everyone. Recently, there has been a trend of "fruit corn" among internet celebrities. Traditional Chinese medicine claims that fruit corn has certain health benefits and can treat diabetes. However, fruit corn also contains sugar. So, can people with diabetes eat fruit corn?
What is Fruit Corn?
Fruit corn, also known as sweet corn, refers to young corn with a special flavor and quality that is suitable for raw consumption. Compared to regular corn, its main characteristics are thin skin, juicy, crispy, and sweet, like a fruit.
Fruit corn can be divided into three types based on the color of the kernels: yellow-white bicolor, pure yellow, and pure white. The first two types are more common. For commercial promotion, businesses often refer to the yellow-white bicolor as "Golden Silver Corn," the pure yellow as "Golden Corn," and the pure white as "Milk Corn."
Regardless of the name, they can all be called fruit corn and are a type of sweet corn. It should be noted that sweet corn is not a separate species of corn or a subspecies isolated from Zea mays. It is a type that differs from other corn types due to the presence of one or more genes.
Can People with Diabetes Eat Fruit Corn?
People with diabetes can eat fruit corn, but in moderation. First of all, people with diabetes should pay attention to eating smaller meals more frequently and follow a low-salt, low-fat, and low-sugar diet. They should also be cautious about consuming high-energy and high-starch foods, and consider reducing or avoiding their intake.
They should try to eat less of foods such as yam, lotus root, taro, carrot, onion, garlic sprouts, fatty meat, animal fats, as well as animal organs like egg yolk, kidney, liver, and stomach. Additionally, foods with high calorie content, such as walnuts, sunflower seeds, peanuts, should be consumed in moderation by those who are overweight.
It is recommended to eat low glycemic index vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, celery, and fruits like grapefruit, kiwi. For protein, choose high-quality sources like lean meat and fish. When it comes to staple foods, it is best to choose cornmeal, buckwheat flour, and oatmeal.
Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that due to the high content of resistant starch in fruit corn, it is easily digested and absorbed, causing blood sugar to rise faster compared to other grains. Therefore, for people with diabetes, it is not advisable to consume fruit corn alone. It is better to consume it with bean flour or foods rich in dietary fiber to slow down the rise in blood sugar.
Dietary Principles for People with Diabetes
1. People with diabetes should control the amount of staple food. Generally, for those who are at home and resting, the amount of staple food should be between 250g and 300g. For light physical laborers, it should be between 350g and 400g, and for heavy physical laborers, it should be between 450g and 550g.
2. After blood sugar decreases, the amount of staple food can be slightly increased, following specific instructions from a doctor.
3. People with diabetes should not eat until they are full. Eating smaller meals more frequently can effectively avoid post-meal blood sugar spikes.
4. People with diabetes should control their diet, but it does not mean they need to be hungry all the time. Eating meals in a reasonable manner is sufficient.
5. People with diabetes should give up various unhealthy habits, such as snacking, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
