This Is Why You Can't Fully Digest Corn, According To A Doctor

Certain foods can have less than...desirable effects on digestion. That doesn't necessarily mean they're unhealthy, though. Beans and cruciferous vegetables, for example, may lead to gas and bloating—but they're still gut-friendly sources of fiber. Then, of course, there's corn, which almost always shows up whole and undigested in poop. So, what's the deal? And is it cause for concern?

No matter how vigorously you chew corn, it shows up virtually unchanged in poop, Rangarajan says in his TikTok video. "The inside of a corn kernel is almost purely starch and is easily digested," he says. While the outer layer (aka husk or hull) is made up of cellulose. 

"Cellulose is like a rubbery substance humans can't break down, because we don't have the enzymes for it," he explains. In other words, cellulose is an insoluble plant fiber that passes through the body and comes out unscathed.

Definitely not. "Insoluble fiber stays in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, increases stool bulk, and helps to push waste through your system," women's health dietitian Valerie Agyeman, R.D., previously told mbg. Not only does it support regularity, but it also supports a healthy gut microbiome.