Not one of the top 8, but corn is a major allergen. I was surprised by who many readers had commented on the other allergen posts that they had a corn allergy. So of course, I wanted to help out and do some corn-free research! I can only begin by telling you that corn is everywhere and in tons of things. To make matters worse, most of the corn in the American diet is GMO…big time. But before we get in to that, let’s talk about the symptoms of a corn allergy.
Like any food allergy, symptoms and tolerance range in severity. You can get itching, hives, swelling of the mouth, tongue, face, etc., difficulty breathing, congestion or runny nose, dizziness, digestive upsets, nausea, or full on anaphylaxis which requires an Epi-Pen and trip to the ER. A corn allergy is one of the more difficult to get a definitive “blood test” diagnosis because it’s has similar characteristics of other allergens such as pollen, grasses, seeds, and grains. To combat the allergen you must stay away from all corn and corn products. Corn is in many processed foods and sweeteners which can make things tricky and difficult. Cross contamination is also a huge concern. Since you can’t substitute “corn” itself, you just have to avoid it and possible contamination through reading labels, asking questions, and monitoring preparation (don’t let someone dust a pan with corn meal or try that potato in corn oil!)
In some severe cases, animals that are corn-fed, be that cows for beef or even milk, pigs, etc., consuming these products can cause a reaction. Again, this is very rare, but it also brings me to the point about GMOs. Since GMOs are relatively new in terms of evolution, we really won’t know the true impact of them on human health for years. But isn’t it interesting how with the rise of GMOs, children are more commonly born with food allergies, asthma, intolerance, autoimmune disorders, etc. Children and adults are developing allergies left and right as well. Since corn is THE biggest GMO crop in the US, with its mass production, it is used in everything, from sweeteners (and high fructose corn syrup), in processed meats, feed to factory farm animals (Very unhealthy. That is not their natural diet and makes them extremely ill), starch which is found is almost every processed food, to even toothpaste. Corn, itself, natural and non-gmo, is a wonderful grain and crop. It’s one of those that I always buy organic and non-gmo. Again, these correlations are very interesting (and disturbing).
In case you missed it! What To Avoid: Soy – Dairy – Egg
So tell me:
+ Do you or do you know someone with a corn allergy?
+ How do you feel about the GMO and food allergy/intolerance correlation?
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Raia says
There are times when I’ve been sure being intolerant to corn is more difficult that having celiac. :p Thanks for sharing this at Savoring Saturdays, Rebecca.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Corn can be tricky!
Jan says
This is great! I’d love for you to post this (and a few others,like you blueberry flax granola) over at Country Fair Blog Party which is a month long link up! We’d be thrilled to have you!
http://www.thetipgarden.com/2015/05/country-fair-blog-hop-may-15.html
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Jan.
Erlene says
I’m thankful that none of my kids have food allergies, but I do believe that GMOs do play a role in some of the health issues that are popping up more often.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yea, me too. It’s just to much positive correlation!
Cheryl @Treasures from a Shoebox says
It took years to figure out that HFCS was causing my “crashes”, in which I literally fall into a deep sleep. It was so scary, because I would be out with my children and sometimes have to pull off the side of the road to “sleep it off”. While my children were in the van waiting for me to wake up (thankfully the oldest was 13 when these crashes began). Even non-GMO corn will cause my joints to hurt and my eyes to swell and ooze. I think if it had been caught earlier, I might have been able to eat organic corn. But not so now. Several of my children suffer from this same malady. Thanks for the list!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
That sounds more like just an allergy and histamine reaction.
Diane says
Great post with important information about corn allergies!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks!
Teresa says
We are not solidly tested against corn allergy, but convinced that our son probably has a corn allergy, so we’re avoiding corn entirely because it seems to help with him. It’s difficult to avoid, but we’re doing okay with it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
That’s great! These things are always much easier once we actually embrace them for our health and actually do it!
Sandra Laflamme says
I am thankful to not have a corn allergy. Corn is in everything. This would be tough to avoid. Your tips for what to avoid would be super helpful if you were dealing with this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Food allergies are all about being aware and knowing!
Stacey says
My oldest son was showing symptoms just a day after birth and was tested at 9 weeks. He managed to outgrow it by 2.5, but it was an incredibly difficult allergy.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I’m glad to hear he outgrew it! But yea, food allergies can be difficult to navigate in the beginning! Especially with such young children who can’t exactly help themselves!
Debbie says
I’m lucky that I have no problems with corn (or any food really). I love fresh corn on the cob, it’s one of my favorites.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Mine too!
Alissa says
woah. I didn’t even know some people have corn allergy. I’m glad I’m not cuz I love corn and the food that I have allergies to, I don’t like them either so I guess I’m lucky that my allergies coincides with my palate. lol
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, I guess so!
megan @ NoSmallLife says
I have a corn allergy and girl it IS everywhere! Thanks for raising awareness 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! Yes it is!
Farrah says
It’s amazing how many “everyday foods” that you wouldn’t normally expect to have corn in them actually do! 😡 Thanks for this post!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I know! (Happy Birthday! Go eat some Non-GMO caramel popcorn or something 😉 haha!)
Farrah says
Thanks! <3 I'll go on the hunt for those! ;P
Meghan says
Stopping by from the Meet & Greet Blog Hop! Love this post. We found out that my sister had a corn allergy when we were teenagers, and it was so surprising how many things she couldn’t eat after we found out about the allergy! Things that you don’t even think about, such as chips, anything cooked in vegetable oil, etc. I remember going out to eat and having to ask the waiter if the food was cooked in vegetable oil or not! Lucky her allergies have gotten much better since then, but it’s still crazy how many diet restrictions there are once you find out you have a corn allergy.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yea! Just like with my celiac and soy allergy, my list is HUGE! But it does get easier over time once you are aware and it becomes a part of life!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free says
Corn definitely seems to be a growing concern, not just for IgE, but for cell-mediated reactions, too. In fact, I would venture a guess that they’re seeing it more in the latter. Great list – but wow, so hard to avoid corn in our culture!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I just want to learn more about all this so much deeper. And yes….there is so much and so many potential things!
Marissa says
Great post! Thanks for the tips:)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks for checking them out!
Linda @ Veganosity says
Great post! I love corn and I only buy organic if I can find it. So far I haven’t had any reactions to GMO corn, but who knows what will happen over time? My biggest problem with Monsanto and the GMO debate is what they’re doing to farmers. They practically don’t have a choice anymore.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I forget which move it was, but one of the food documentaries. This farmer growing crops, was not using Monsanto seeds, but tucks carrying Monsanto seeds and crops would pass by his fields all the time. Then they came and tested his crops and found that his crops became strains of gmo Monsanto crops and he had to start paying and selling for them. I don’t know, but ti was horrible and sad :/
Linda @ Veganosity says
I think that was Food, Inc. So sad for the farmer and the man who washed seeds. They ruin people and have no guilt or shame about it.
Sheryl says
Great post. Corn is a tricky one. I love your comprehensive list. GREAT JOB!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Sheryl!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
Thanks for this!! I am seriously considering trying grain free, so this will be super helpful. Pinned 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
O boy!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma says
I actually tolerate corn pretty well and do usually have corn tortilla chips when I go out for Mexican! The GMO factor pushes me away from buying too many corn products for my kids, although I haven’t actually seen an impact, it’s something to be aware of/careful with I think.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
We see the impact overall and over recent years. But I am all for real corn!
Colorado Gal says
I”m not huge on processed corn but I do love corn on the cob! And tortilla chips? Count me in for days… I can eat an entire bag with salsa, no problem 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, yes! I love real popped corn and fresh corn cobs! So yummy!
Debbie Rodrigues says
I love corn. I like it so much that sometimes I wonder whether I am getting some addiction to it.
After I can get out on my own again, I will probably be back to an organic and hormone free diet. All this GMO talk scares the hell out of me, mainly after the tumor.
Thanks a lot for sharing it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I know….Corn is awesome, but the scary things they are doing to it…no good!
lindsay Cotter says
i hate how corn is in EVERYTHING now. But at least it’s gluten free… well, the natural kind. LOL! great tips. I avoid corn 85% of the time.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! I LOVE corn, but it’s got to be non-gmo…I mean wonderful fresh corn cobs are one of my favorites!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
I don’t have a true corn allergy but I avoid all corn and corn containing products. I have IBS and corn is one of my triggers. I don’t know if non-GMO corn is any different than GMO corn–I stay away from all of it. I believe that HFCS is one of the biggest culprits in many of our health issues. GREAT POST!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
For IBS, it wouldn’t matter if it’s GMO or not, haha, it’s still the grain of corn!
HFCS is nasty…it’s not natural and completely man-made! We so don’t need it!