Whether you love cornbread, corn chowder, or just enjoy adding some fresh kernels to your favorite salad, corn is a staple food in countless homes around the world. However, it’s not just the versatility of this tasty vegetable that makes it such a great addition to meals—it also confers plenty of health benefits even the biggest connoisseurs may not recognize. Read on to discover the side effects of eating corn, according to science. And if you want to revamp your eating habits, check out Eating Habits to Lose Abdominal Fat As You Age, Say Dietitians.

1

Corn may lower your cholesterol.

If you want to get your cholesterol into healthier territory, adding some corn oil to your diet may be an effective means of doing so. A 2018 study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that, among a group of 25 adults with high cholesterol, consuming four tablespoons of corn oil per day lowered cholesterol levels by greater proportions than those who consumed an equivalent amount of coconut oil.

For more ways to make your meals healthier, check out The #1 Best Vegetable To Eat, According to a Dietitian.