Cornstarch is a carbohydrate with little nutritional value, but has unique cooking options and is used as a natural thickening agent. It can be a weight-conscious choice as it is gluten-free, but regular consumption may contribute to weight gain. Cornstarch is also used as an alternative to talc in body powders due to its moisture-absorbing properties.
Cornstarch is a starch derived from corn, and is also known as cornmeal. It is made when the endosperm, the white piece of the corn kernel, is crushed into a fine white powder. Other than being a carbohydrate, cornstarch alone provides little to no nutritional value to the body, which has led to debate about its health benefits.
As with anything, there are advantages and disadvantages to its use. There are many unique cooking options and home remedies that use cornstarch as an alternative to traditional products. Even so, there are different opinions about its use, with some considering it an unhealthy and unnecessary additive to food and beauty products.
There are some recommendations for using cornstarch to balance a diet, either as a food additive or as a specific part of a meal plan. Some dietary supplements actually contain cornstarch instead of simpler sugars. The reasons behind this are due to the fact that starch takes much longer to break down, thus providing sugars to the body for a longer period. The slow release of sugars can lead to more stable blood sugar levels compared to the spikes seen when eating simpler sugars. This is particularly important for people with diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Cornstarch also offers an alternative to common ingredients and is used as a natural thickening agent in many forms of cooking. It is gluten-free, so it is commonly used as a substitute in recipes that call for flour as an ingredient. The question regarding its use is whether or not it is a weight conscious choice for a food additive. Corn in any form contains substances known as phospholipids, which are fatty derivatives, and starch is made of a large number of glucose or sugar molecules. According to research, starch and fat are known to contribute to weight gain.
The issue of weight gain has been a major concern with regular cornstarch consumption. Cornstarch is rumored to be used to fatten up animals, such as pigs or cattle, before slaughter. Since it is used as a thickening agent, weight gain can be a side effect. Adding weight is a desired goal for some, while for those who struggle with weight, the gain is both unnecessary and unwanted, regardless of the potential health benefits.
There are other areas where cornstarch is believed to provide some health benefits. As it naturally absorbs moisture, it can be used as an alternative to talc in a variety of body powders. Talc has long been linked to some forms of cancer and conditions of the circulatory system. Since cornstarch is not linked to these health concerns, it is often interchanged with talc and is considered a preferred choice, especially in baby powders.
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