Tag: Corn diet

Historically, populations that subsisted primarily on untreated corn, like in parts of Africa, suffered widespread nutritional deficiencies. This is because relying exclusively on a corn diet, as staple as it may be for many cultures, would ultimately lead to severe, and potentially fatal, health complications.

From 1735 to 1940, maize-based diets led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people from a complex disease called pellagra. The disease, which is a key symptom of a diet lacking in this essential nutrient, answers the question of what vitamin deficiency is caused by a corn-based diet.

Native American populations who relied heavily on corn used a process called nixtamalization to prevent a severe nutrient deficiency. So, what if I only ate corn for a week without any special preparation? The outcome is more complex than simple boredom and could involve several adverse health effects, even in the short term.

Historically, pellagra, a severe nutritional deficiency, was a widespread public health crisis, particularly in areas where corn was a dietary staple. This condition, which can arise from consuming too much untreated corn without sufficient diversity in one’s diet, directly answers the question: **What is the disease from eating too much corn?**