1. It is one of your five-a-day vegetable to start with, and it has plenty of nutritional value.
2. It is nutrient rich
Hobson says corn, along with yellow and orange veggies, is rich in nutrients, including the antioxidants beta-carotene and lutein, the carotenoids which give the vegetables their distinctive colour.
These are essential for preventing eye diseases, which is why we say carrots help you see in the dark. Corn also contains certain B vitamins and vitamin C, as well as magnesium and potassium.
3. It has less sugar than an apple
The clue’s sort of in the name – sweet corn tastes sweet, so you’d think it was full of sugar. But apparently, an ear of corn has about the same number of calories as an apple .
4. It is fibre boosting.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recently reported that we're not eating enough fibre, with around 20g being consumed each day, compared to the recommended daily intake of 30g.
Hobson says: “Most of us don’t get anywhere near enough fibre in our diet. Like all vegetables, sweetcorn is a source of fibre, which is good for digestive health.”
5. It is good gut bacteria
Sweetcorn does have high amounts of insoluble fibre – which is why the husks of the corn kernels don’t get broken down – but apparently that’s good for your gut, as it feeds the good bacteria in your tummy.
6. It is gluten-free
Many people are gluten-intolerant and sweetcorn is naturally gluten free. In its flour form, maize is used to make gluten-free pasta, which is a healthy alternative to the wheat version.