Why is corn not digested?

Answer 1

Most of us have probably realized that after eating corn, it shows up in our stool. The corn in our stool can appear only hours after we eat it. Rest assured, corn in the stool is normal, and the reason we see the corn relates largely to our digestive tract, and also to evolution.

Millions of years ago, our digestive systems were different. Primitive man was not a big meat eater. Primitive man had a digestive system with a longer digestive tract that was far better equipped to digest plant and vegetable matter. Back then, the appendix likely played a role in digestion -- a role it does not play today.

Our teeth were different then, too. We had larger molars and smaller incisors. Larger molars meant that the difficult-to-digest plant material could be well chewed and mashed. Today, our teeth are smaller and many of us even have problems with our wisdom teeth (our largest molars), which are being phased out by evolution because our diets today really do not require them. (Our jaws are becoming smaller, and as a result the wisdom teeth have less room to grow in.)

So how does this all relate to corn, and why it is seen in the stool? Since we have smaller teeth, we chew our food less effectively, and more of what we eat is swallowed only partially chewed, or not chewed at all. With corn, some of the kernels will be chewed fully, some partially, and the others will be unchewed and swallowed whole. Our digestive system today is not that good at digesting plant material anymore, much less whole kernels. They pass through our stomach and intestines, and appear in our stool to confound and entertain us.

If you would rather not see any corn in your stool, I recommend that you just chew each mouthful into a mushy mixture free of any whole kernels.

One last point I want to make is that it is not difficult for our digestive systems to pass corn kernels. It is really amazing what the digestive system can tolerate and pass. Drugs are frequently smuggled into the country by individuals who swallow balloons or condoms filled with the drugs. (These people are called "body packers.") In addition, I have read on several occasions about people who unintentionally swallowed their dentures, only to pass the dentures in their stool a few days later. I have also read of children swallowing thermometers passing them just the same.

The human digestive system really is fascinating. But remember that we are slowly evolving over time -- our digestive systems are constantly adapting to our diets and our environments. Our digestive systems of today will not be the same as the digestive systems of humans thousands of years from now. Remember this the next time you enjoy your corn, or broccoli, or any other difficult-to-digest food product -- what kind of food might future generations be spotting in their poop?

Answer 2

You CAN digest corn, just not the little cellulose bag each kernel comes in. The reason is, that for whatever reason, there are no digestive enzymes in the human body that CAN digest the cellulose.

Answer 3

The outer covering of corn contains cellulose which breaks down slowly. when you eat corn some of the kernels do not get ground up and enter the digestive system whole. Whole kernels of corn soften but do not get completely digested because the human digestive system works faster than most other animals These un-ground pieces appear in the feces.

Answer 4

For the starch and taste

Sweet corn can, indeed, be digested. It is only the fibrous covering of the kernels that is not digested. The starchy interior of corn kernels is very nutritious.

Answer 5

Blame a strong protein matrix, a very high starch and low protein nutritional content, and the fact that kernels are quite lignified--or rather, the skin surrounding the endosperm of the corn kernel is high in lignin, cellulose and hemi-cellulose such that it is impossible to digest by most animals. The fact that corn is high in starch (in the form of carbohydrate-type sugars) means that it is going to be more of an energy source than any significant source of other essential nutrient. Too much starch can be hard on the digestive system and on your body.

Answer 6

The outer portion of the corn is a form of fiber we do not have the enzymes to break down. The inside of the corn is carbohydrates and we do digest this portion.

Answer 7

You can digest corn if you chew it thoroughly. If you swallow it whole, like most people do, then you won't digest it.

Answer 8

Because there isnt any vitamins or minerals to be separated from the food

Answer 9

The nutritive elements of corn are rather easily digestible - the hulls not so much so, but they are good roughage.