Dr Oz: Am I Corn Sensitive? Gluten Molecular Mimicry + Grass-Fed Meats

Dr Oz: Is Corn the New Gluten?

Concern about gluten has become widespread in recent years. But there could be another ingredient that is hard to avoid: corn, which is found in many of our processed foods.

Gluten, a wheat protein, can be a dietary problem. Corn flour has been a useful wheat substitute for some, but experts are now questioning whether this is the answer for everyone. Allergic reactions and other symptoms have people questioning whether corn is the new gluten.

Dr Oz: Am I Corn Sensitive?

Could corn be making you sick? Catherine gave up gluten for nine months, and she said that it worked well at first. But later, she had fatigue and GI symptoms once again. Dr Oz said that you have to replace a food you are removing with something else.

But the concept of Molecular Mimicry means that the body interprets corn protein as so similar to gluten that it cannot tell the difference between the two. That means the same problems could be happening from corn that were happening to those with gluten sensitivity.

Dr Oz: Corn Molecular Mimicry & Gluten Cross-Reactivity

Dr Amy Myers from the Austin Ultra Health Clinic is an expert on Corn Sensitivity, and she said that this is a growing issue among patients. She said that corn is everywhere and can be hidden by aliases on ingredient lists.

“Nearly 90% of the corn in the United States is GMO corn, which we do believe is leading to leaky gut,” Dr Myers said. Dr Oz wondered about the cross-reactivity, and Dr Myers said that many gluten-sensitive patients seem to also have problems with corn.

Dr Oz: Corn Sensitivity Quiz

Could you be corn sensitive? Take this yes-or-no quiz to find out.

1. Do you have GI Issues (gas, bloating, constipation) almost every day?
2. Do you have brain fog or unexplained fatigue daily?
3. Do you have joint pain more than once a week?
4. Do you have skin issues like eczema or acne?

Corn can irritate the gut, causing symptoms that vary from day to day. Dr Myers said a corn sensitivity can create inflammation. Joint pain is not always associated with the gut, but it could be related to inflammation. The skin is also a way the body communicates to us.

If you answered yes to two out of four questions, you could have a Corn Sensitivity. Catherine scored a 2 on the quiz.

Dr Oz: Grass-Fed Meats + Squash Carb Swap

Corn could be hard to avoid, because it is used in so many products. Dr Myers told Dr Oz that she recommends patients swap the foods you eat most (two to three times per week) and finding corn-free alternatives to them.

Conventional (and even organic) beef and chicken are often animals that are fed corn. Instead, choose grass-fed and pasture-raised meats and eggs when you shop.

Replace corn-based carbs with sweet potatoes and squash, which will satisfy those cravings without the molecular mimicry or cross-reactivity that confuses the body.

Dr Oz: Canned Vegetables & Homemade Granola

Watch out for frozen fruits and vegetables, which could be preserved with corn. Even BPA-free cans could be lined with corn, which is why natural is best if you are corn-sensitive.

Swap out cereal and replace it with granola. You can make your own at home using coconut flakes, dried fruits, nuts, and seeds.