White Corn Grits as Food

Presentation at the 9th Philippine Corn Congress, Taal Vista Lodge, Tagaytay City, October 25, 2013 by Artemio M. Salazar, Research Professor, Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture University of the Philippines Los Baos July 26, 2013

White Corn Grits as Food

Outline A. Health concern B. Corn for food security reason C. Future of white corn in the Philippines

White Corn Grits as Food

Outline A. Health concern B. Corn for food security reasons C. Future of White Corn in the Philippines

Manuel Uribe (born June 11, 1965) is a man from Monterrey, Nuevo Len, Mexico, notable for suffering from morbid obesity to one of the greatest extents known in recorded history.[1] After reaching a peak weight of around 597 kg (1,320 lb) and having been unable to leave his bed since 2001,

Why do we grow fat?

Basically because we eat more than we need! And why do we eat more than we need? Because the food we eat, basically carbohydrates, digests quickly!

A short review: What is carbohydrate? It is hydrated carbon Photosynthesis - Plant Harnesses Light Energy to Make Chemical Energy CO2 + H20 + Energy [Light] CH2O +O2 Respiration -Turns Chemical Energy into Fuel for Growth, Development and Reproduction CH2O + O2 CO2 + H2O + Energy [ATP] The usual form of carbohydrate, also called sugar, is glucose (with 6 Cs). Blood sugar is glucose in the blood. Dextrose is glucose.

 The usual form of carbohydrate source is starch which is basically a polymer of glucose When we eat food staple (energy source) like rice, corn, camote, cassava we are after the starch. When that starch is quickly digested (2 hours, high GI), our body senses the loss of starch but actually we still have the sugar. If not used (always), that excess sugar is converted into fat and/or we develop diabetes

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2009 Nov;86(2):130-3. Epub 2009 Sep 19. The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Philippines: a 9-year cohort study. Soria ML, Sy RG, Vega BS, Ty-Willing T, Abenir-Gallardo A, Velandria F, Punzalan FE. Source Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Institute, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Manila Doctors Hospital, University of the Philippines, Philippines. malusoriamd2003@yahoo.com Abstract AIMS: Currently, there are no available data on the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Philippines. A cohort derived from a national study population (FNRI-NNS, 1998) was revisited after 9 years to yield valuable data on glucose homeostasis among Filipinos. METHODS: Six out of 13 national regions were included in the cohort. There were 1749 out of 2122 respondents (82.4%). 1386 (95.9%) consented to a fasting blood glucose (FBG) test, and 1275 (88.2%) completed the 2h post-glucose (2HPG) load determination using whole blood capillary samples.

RESULTS: We observed a significant increase of mean FBGs (91.5mg/dL to 103.3mg/dL) from 1998 to 2007. The 9year incidence of T2DM was 16.3%. The prevalence of T2DM was 28.0%. The prevalence of pre-diabetes, i.e., combined impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was 31.3%; IFG was 17.5% and IGT was 23.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows the alarming growth of diabetes, IFG, and IGT in our country that warrants early aggressive intervention for prevention and management. We encourage the use of 2h post-glucose load aside from FBG in screening for true diabetics, IFGs, and IGTs.

Why are some carbs high GI and others low GI? It is in the nature of starch (in those foods) which is composed of two components:
Amylose (hard to digest, hard to taste also) Amylopectin (easy to digest, makes food soft & delicious) The final taste depends on the mix of the two

Tasty well milled rice is high GI and flint corn (Tiniguib, Var 6) is low GI

In addition to starch, fiber also contributes to slow digestibility Why is fiber important?

If we need to clean the floors (by sweeping), the inside of our intestines has to be cleaned also! How is that done?

Fiber !

 Corn has high amylose content and fiber compared to white rice!

The slow release property of corn contributes to build up of stamina. Hence, most of our boxers are corn eaters especially during their formative years.

That slow digestibility of corn is the reason why it is the food for the: athletes diabetics and those who dont want to be diabetic figure conscious

White Corn Grits as Food

Outline A. Health concern B. Corn for food security reason C. Future of white corn in the Philippines

 Being a rainfed crop, its time of planting is 2-3 months ahead of irrigated rice. Its main cropping season (wet season) is planted AprilJune and harvested July September (3rd quarter). BAS data for 2010-2012 shows that the 3rd quarter has the lowest percentage of rice production of 18.6% while it is the peak for corn at 35.4%!

Therefore, by boosting the 2nd quarter planting we could cover the intense rice requirement during the 3rd quarter. But we must address the post harvest quality concern during the concerned months.

Another consideration is that the 2nd lowest quarter of rice production is during the 2nd quarter (20.9%) which is also the lowest for corn (16.1%). By enhancing planting during the 4th quarter (which is normal planting season for corn), we could have sizable harvest during the 1st quarter which could be stored for 2nd quarter use. Because the months in 1st and early 2nd quarter are dry, post harvest is less of a concern.

 It is probably due to the low supply of rice and corn in the 2nd quarter and still the low supply of rice in the third quarter (because rains still have to fill up the dams) which exacerbates the 3rd quarter rice supply. Again, by significantly increasing white corn planting in the 4th quarter which will be harvested in the following 1st quarter (no post harvest concern) then we could store up the corn to augment the 3rd quarter of low rice supply.

White Corn Grits as Food

Outline A. Health concern B. Corn for food security reason C. Future of White Corn in the Philippines

White Corn Grits as Food

The increasing trend of white corn consumption in the country is indeed encouraging. By increasing corn consumption, we could then:
1) Decrease diabetes incidence in the country (and how about the first Olympic gold in boxing?) 2) Do away with rice importation

Thing to watch out for:

Post harvest facilities to drastically cut down aflatoxin contamination in corn grits as per BAFPS standard. How about a white corn grits quality achievement award? To done in Visayas or Mindanao

Other interesting things to note

C4 rice: white corn is already C4 and already widely consumed! Vitamin A enriched rice: yellow corn is already vitamin A enriched! Take note of the Rico! Development of corn varieties with deep color as specially nutritious food

Additional Note with QPM; why its is important in reviving interest in white corn grits as food

We first got our corn from Mexico; QPM also

Feeding Program at BN Calara Elementary School

Objectives
To show that corn combined with rice (rice composite)can improve weight gains in children faster. To show that rice composites can be a means to alleviate malnutrition.

Methodology

Participants were children of all grade levels, composed of 140 students both male and female classified at the start of the school year as malnourished. Group 1 - 70 students were fed with rice and viand during lunchtime Group 2 - 70 students were fed with rice: IPB Var 6 corn, 50:50 and viand during lunchtime. Measured meals were served in terms of content and calorie value.

Methodology
Weighing was made at the start of the program and every two weeks thereafter. Program was conducted from November 26, 2012 to March 18, 2013. The program was supervised by a BS Nutrition graduate from UPLB.

BNCalara Elementary School, Anos, Los Banos, Laguna Jan-March 2013 N/meal Rice-corn Rice R&C:R Grade 0 7 1.68 1.09 1.54 Grade 1 32 1.75 1.30 1.35 Grade 2 10 1.63 1.65 0.99 Grade 3 6 1.87 1.68 1.11 Grade 4 5 2.21 1.79 1.23 Grade 5 4 2.21 2.10 1.05 Grade 6 6 2.08 1.91 1.09 Overall 70 1.82 1.49 1.22

Cumulative feeding response:

Averages, Kindergarten-Grade 4
24.0
Average weight, Kg 23.0 22.0

21.0
20.0 19.0

Rice:Corn Rice

8 10 12 14

Result at Commonwealth Elementary School, Quezon City

At the start of the feeding program, a total of 50 malnourished students classified as wasted were given corn based merienda like corn congee, corn champorado and others. Students weights were taken monthly and the nutritional status of the children were evaluated monthly. The table below showed the changes in the nutritional status of the children had improved. In August 2012 however, 4 students decided to withdraw from the feeding program so that only 46 students continued to attend the feeding program. The improvement of the nutritional status of the children continued and eventually, by October all of the children have attained a normal nutritional status. This was sustained until the end of the feeding program in February 2013. The feeding program was carried out for a period of 135 days.

Month

June July August September October November December January February

Nutritional Status Wasted Normal No of students % No of students 50 100 0 3 6 47 4 9 42 3 3 43 0 0 46 0 0 46 0 0 46 0 0 46 0 0 46

% 0 94 91 93 100 100 100 100 100

Table 1. Changes in the nutritional status of the children under the feeding program at the duration of the program.

Figure 1. Improvement of the nutritional status of the children under the feeding program

Result at Commonwealth

Figure 2. Overall changes in the BMI and weight for all students under the feeding program (June 2012-Feb 2013) The combined monthly averages for the weight and BMI showed increasing pattern during the feeding program.

White Corn Grits as Food

To summarize: A. Health concern B. Corn for food security reason C. Future of white corn in the Philippines

For more information Artemio M. Salazar CP# 0918 905 4369 T/F 049 536 7181 art.salazar@gmail.com
Corn grits available at DA Multi Purpose Coop (DAMC) at DA ground floor