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What is pellagra?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

February 24, 2004

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The domestication of maize or corn (Zea mays Linnaeus) began sometime around 7,000 years ago. The history of corn is unknown, but the plant spread by trade throughout the American continents. The New World peoples depended upon this grain as a staple. But a diet built around corn can cause a severe medical problem, pellagra.

Pellagra was a common disorder among impoverished people
whose main source of energy was the consumption of corn,
particularly dried mature corn used for flour or meal.
A Cora Woman Grinds Corn for Tortillas
Framed Photographic Print by Maria Stenzel
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

Pellagra is a vitamin deficiency disease caused by a lack of nicotinic acid (niacin, Vitamin B3) in the diet. Pellagra affects the skin, the mucous membranes, the gastro-intestinal tract, and the central nervous system. Lesions and crusting form on the skin, secondary infections set in easily, and the skin over pressure areas like the knees and elbows becomes thick, darkened, inelastic, and fissured.

The mucous membranes become bright scarlet, the mouth and throat are sore, and the tongue and inside the lower lip become ulcerated. A gray material sloughs off these ulcers. The lower GI tract is distended; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common. The person suffers from memory loss, disorientation, confusion, and paranoia or delirium with excitement and depression. ("Niacin Deficiency", Vitamin Deficiency, Dependency, and Toxicity, The Merck Manual, 2004)

Corn has niacin, but it is bound to other molecules and cannot be assimilated in the human digestive tract. Corn is also low in tryptophan from which the body can manufacture niacin. Pellagra was a common disorder among impoverished people whose main source of energy was the consumption of corn, particularly dried mature corn used for flour or meal. In the beginning of the 20^th century, pellagra was thought proof that certain peoples were inferior when they were simply suffering from a vitamin deficiency.

Indians Preparing Tortillas, from "An Album of the Mexican Republic"

Native peoples with diets high in corn and corn meal (tortillas and hominy)
did not have a high rate of pellagra.
Indians Preparing Tortillas, from "An Album of the Mexican Republic"
Giclee Print by Julio Michaud
Buy Giclee Print at AllPosters.com

But native peoples with diets high in corn and corn meal (tortillas and hominy) did not have a high rate of pellagra. The answer was simply a matter of preparation. Corn for cornmeal and hominy was treated with lye, limestone, or wood ashes. The addition of "cal" to the making of cornmeal for masa (corn dough for tortillas) or lye for making hominy broke the chemical bond and freed the niacin for absorption by the body. And the natives combined beans (Phaseolus vulgaris Linnaeus) with their corn diet. Beans contain the tryptophan needed to make additional niacin and build complete proteins.

The National Lime Association has a very informative page on the uses of lime (calcium oxides) in numerous food preparation and manufacturing processes. To learn more about lime, click on the link:

http://www.lime.org/ENV02/Other802.htm#Food

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Corn Cutter

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Makes cutting and canning sweet corn a snap! - Strips every kernel off an ear of sweet corn in 5 quick strokes but leaves the hulls on the cob. Saves time, effort and energy. Rugged polystyrene casing. Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [More Harvest Helpers!]

Corn Desilking Brush

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Cleans 4 times better than any other design on the market! – Each brush is equipped with over 1,000 pyramid-shaped bristles. Easily wipes off sticky corn silks. Scrubs garden vegetables, too. Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [More Harvest Helpers!]

Garden Soil Inoculant

Henry Fields Seed and Nursery®

Improves the yields of peas and beans. – Encourages nitrogen fixation so plants develop stronger roots. Shake onto the soil as you plant. Treats 150 ft. of row. 8.7 oz. Click here - $20 off at Henry Fields Seed and Nursery! [More Gardening Aids!]

Sweet Corn, Gotta Have It Hybrid (sh2)

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

A New Sweet Corn WITHOUT EQUAL!

When we introduced Kandy Korn in the 1970's, we thought it was a breakthrough that would be hard to improve upon. The new sh2 varieties are sweeter, but still can't match the delicately rich, sweet corn flavor of Kandy Korn.

Gotta Have It is a breakthrough in breeding - a big leap forward-in the same way that Kandy Korn was 30 years ago.

Its bicolor kernels are incredibly sweet, yet one who tastes Gotta Have It for the first time reacts the same way: "Ummmmm- better than any sweet corn I've ever tasted!" or "Where can i buy some?" We are happy to reply, "Right here-only from Gurney's!"

In our opinion Gotta Have It is the best there is, the perfect sweet corn. maybe in another 30 years we will find something better, but until then you’ve just got to try Gotta Have It! 78 DAYS
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Tri-Color Sweet Corn Collection

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Lil' Indian Hybrid Decorator's Pick—Multicolored 3- to 6-inch ears, sized right for craft projects and door decorations. Lil' Indian Hybrid Ornamental Corn has big, broad kernels have amazing color. 100 DAYS.

Called 'Calico Miniature' in Field's. Pops white with colored hulls. Colorful favorite of children.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [All Corn!] [Beans!] [Squash!]

Pole Beans, Kentucky Wonder

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Grandma's Favorite Fresh Bean

Gurney's Choice Old-fashioned variety, long on flavor--vigorous, rust-resistant and successful in all parts of the country. Enormous yields of straight and smooth 8- to 9-inch pods. A good all-around pick for processing. 67 DAYS.

Beans are one of your best bets for yield and versatility. A 15- foot row of pole beans will produce about 12 pounds of beans over a 6 to 8 week period.

Grow green snap, wax and lima beans for fresh eating, freezing and canning.

Rust resistant. Climbs freely. Distinctive flavor, good firmness, straight, smooth. Oldest and most widely used. Extends the bean season. Bears until frost if picked regularly. Also refer to pole bean culture.

Zones: 3 - 9 (-30° F.) Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [View All Beans!]

Summer Squash, Medley Blend of Hybrids

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Diversity for Small Spaces

Savory blend of four summer squashes includes Goldbar, Goldrush, Embassy and President.

Compact plants. 45-50 DAYS.

No matter how small your garden, you can grow squash.

Compacts varieties are available for both winter and summer types, and often just two or three plants will yield enough fruits for a small family. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys!
[More Summer Squash!] [All Squash!]

Argonaut Hybrid Winter Squash

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Outstanding, Sweet Flavor!

You'll love Argonaut's honey-sweet flavor and meaty texture!

Bright gold, 15 to 27-inch fruits each weigh 30 pounds or more, hold up to 8 months in storage.

Vigorous vines are easy to grow. 140 DAYS.

Comments: Argonaut's plant is a vine like in its habit with a strong canopy and very vigorous. The fruit is cylindrical in shape and bright gold in color with a hard, tough rind which has a smooth texture with sutures. Argonaut's interior is a medium orange color with a very sweet flavor and excellent meaty texture. The fruit size averages 40-70 cm and weighing up to 15Kg. Suitable for the home garden this variety has a long shelf life and a smal seed cavity on the blossom end. Under proper condition this squash will store up to 8 months. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Winter Squash!] [All Squash!]

Winter Squash, Vegetable Spaghetti

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Less Starch Than Real Pasta

Vegetable Spaghetti Winter Squash is for lower carb pasta! Pasta-like flesh looks like the real thing, great topped with cheese or spaghetti sauce. Cylindrical 2- to 3-pound fruits. 90 DAYS.

No matter how small your garden, you can grow squash. Compacts varieties are available for both winter and summer types, and often just two or three plants will yield enough fruits for a small family.

5 -7 fruits/vine. Ready to harvest when skin color changes from cream to buff. Can be stored 1 - 2 months. Very easy to grow. Smooth, cylindrical fruits. Click here - $20 off your first order at Gurneys! [More Winter Squash!] [All Squash!]