Why Do People Eat Corn Starch

  • By: Jay
  • Date: June 4, 2022
  • Time to read: 4 min.

​​Why do people eat corn starch? There are many reasons why you would want to do that. 

Before answering this question, let me go into more detail on what corn starch actually is. Corn starch is used by a lot of companies to make their products thicker. The best examples are using it to thicken soups and sauces.

Now that we know what corn starch is actually used for, let us answer the question of why it is so popular amongst many people!

The Beginnings of Food With Starch

Starch is a type of carbohydrate that is usually found in the wilderness. It has always been something that people used as a food source. 

However, it was not until the 1800s that more people began using starch. The reason was that flour was hard to transport and produce at the time. Therefore, starches became a good option to help thicken and stabilize dough during transport.

It is one of the main primary sources of food for people. A 2019 study actually showed that found that starchy food makes up about 42% of the average American’s diet.

It is usually eaten in the form of wheat, potatoes, rice, and other staple foods that are cultivated all around the globe.

When we use starch to thicken food products, it gives a more luxurious texture that is loved by many. The thickener is called cornstarch. 

Also, cornstarch is not expensive at all. It is easily accessible and can be used to cook any dish in a fast manner. This is especially true when you cook more common dishes with meat and veggies. Your dish flavour will all go together so well with cornstarch.

Why do people eat Corn Starch Straight Out Of The Box?

Everyone has a different kind of craving. Some people have the unique craving to eat corn starch. It is not up to us to question why someone may like doing this.

There is actually a term used to called PICA which describes this pretty well.

We have all heard of the “cravings women have when expecting and also many partners of pregnant women go through similar desires for these unusual food types”, often at unusual times.

There are also many people online who have shown a great interest in eating cornstarch straight out of the container.

Take a look at @_ayyyjayyy_ from Tiktok for example. She just loves eating her cornstarch!

girl eating cornstarch

Can You Eat Raw Cornstarch?

Yes, it is perfectly safe to eat raw cornstarch. Do we advise you to do so? No.

Everything has to be done in moderation. There is no nutritional value when eating cornstarch. So, it does not make sense for your health to eat large quantities of cornstarch.

The purpose of cornstarch is to help enhance the flavour of your cooking. Let it be that way.

What Does Cornstarch Taste Like?

Cornstarch is made from corn and does not have much of a taste at all. When the kernel is extracted from the corn, most of the flavours have been removed during this process.

It is not sweet or bitter. Mostly resembles the taste of flour.

Eating Cornstarch & Medical Facts

Did you know? People also eat cornstarch for medical conditions. In hospitals, patients also eat cornstarch to help with hypoglycemia. This will happen when the level of glucose in your bloodstream drops below the level that is healthy.

In December 2015, a study was published in the ​American Journal of Clinical Nutrition​ where they established that consumption of starches will increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes while eating fibre decreases the risk. So, always speak to a health care professional if you are unsure about eating cornstarch.

What Are the Risks of Eating Cornstarch?

Since there are no nutrition benefits in cornstarch at all, you should not be consuming large quantities of it. Here are some risks associated when eating cornstarch.

  1. High in Calories
  2. High in carbs
  3. It May affect blood sugar levels

Is It Bad To Eat Cornstarch

So, is eating cornstarch actually bad for you? Well, if you eat them in small amounts, it is not bad at all. 

If you plan on eating large quantities of cornstarch without cooking, that is not very wise. Why would you do that when it does not give you any benefits at all?

Final Thoughts on Why Do People Eat Corn Starch

In conclusion, we now know that cornstarch is used as an enhancement to make food tastier. It thickens foods such as soups and sauces.

The main ingredient in the cornstarch is in the name itself – corn. It is also used to replace flour when people are baking.

While eating cornstarch raw will not kill you, it can certainly make you feel constipated if you are not careful. Let cornstarch do its own to enhance food. Do not eat it just for fun.

Corn also has good vitamin B6. So, using it to cook has some benefits as well.

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