It's become a dirty word....

~ By: Lisa Horne

Today I’m going to talk about something that has become a very sensitive subject.  It’s become one of the dirtiest four letter words that you can say, even worse for you to eat, and it starts with a “C”.  Here it comes:

Corn.

So many people these days are up in arms about corn being in their pet’s food.  “It’s just filler!” they say.  “It’s a very common cause of allergies!” they say.  “Corn is not appropriate for carnivores!” they say. 

Well, luckily, I’m here to speak out in defense of the much maligned maize and it’s commendable kernels.

Common Misconceptions about Corn:

1)    Corn is not digestible.

Everyone knows about “corn poops” so most people assume carnivores and omnivores cannot break down the grain during the digestive process, and therefore, cannot benefit from its nutrients; however, in dog and cat food, the kernel is already broken down by grinding during the manufacturing process.  This means that the parts of the kernel (the germ, starch, gluten, etc.) are accessible and readily digestible.  In fact, when broken down, the corn is over 90% digestible!

2)    The incidence of food allergy to corn is high.

This is false.  Studies on food allergies (and not just the ones performed by the veterinary pet food companies) show that corn is equivalent to, or less allergenic, than other proteins such as beef; chicken allergies are actually more common than corn allergies.  Food allergies are responsible for less than 1% of all dermatological conditions in pets, so don’t be so quick to blame the grains and corn; environmental allergies are a much more common cause.

3)    Corn is just a cheap filler.

False again! Fillers have absolutely no nutritional value, but corn has many!  The germ of the corn is a source of essential fatty acids, like Omega 6, which promotes a healthy coat and skin.  It’s a good source for Vitamin A and B which are involved in healthy vision, skin regeneration, and the enhancement of immune and nervous system function.  Amino acids, which are the building blocks for protein, are also found in corn; these are used to support muscle mass, growth, and immune system function.  Methionine, an amino acid found in corn, is also a natural urinary acidifier which can reduce the likelihood of struvite crystal and stone formation.  Antioxidants are big in the nutritional news these days because of their ability to reduce damage caused by free radicals and to support ocular health; these are also found in corn!  Corn is also an excellent source of fibre which, among other things, promotes gastrointestinal health and motility.  Last but not least, corn is rich in essential minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, and selenium, which are required for maintaining skin integrity, bone and cartilage quality, and cellular function.  Clearly, corn has a lot more to offer a diet than any filler.

4)    Carnivores don’t do well on a high grain diet.

Believe it or not, this is also false.  The definition of a carnivore is not “eats only meat”; it’s an animal that requires certain nutrients in their diet that are more commonly found in animal sources.  This means that if the nutrients can be found in less common sources (ie, corn and grains), then the animal can be maintained very nicely.  Many all meat diets are unbalanced and can lead to vitamin and mineral excesses and deficiencies, which can result in both organ dysfunction and orthopedic problems, and an all grain diet can result in the same thing.  I can still hear the outcry: "But dogs are descended from wolves and that means they're meant to eat only meat!".  If we go by that logic, then that  means that humans should eat only meat as well, because we are descended from Neanderthals who subsisted on a mostly meat diet.  If we go by this logic, then vegetarians and vegans shouldn't be able to exist, yet many of them not only continue to exist, but they thrive!  The key here is balance and moderation.  Almost any food can be detrimental if eaten to excess or if cut out of a diet completely.

Clearly, corn is not the devil hiding in the diets that people make it out to be.  Instead, it is a highly nutritious, valuable ingredient that is a great building block for your pet’s nutritional health.

Please, can’t we give corn a chance?