When it's air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack. That's because it is a whole grain, and high-fiber whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems.
Popcorn Is Low in Calories
Popcorn is filled with air (think about how small the kernels are compared to after they're popped). Because it's airy, you get a pretty large portion without a lot of calories. You can eat 3 whole cups of popcorn for only about 100 calories.
There are a few health benefits to eating popcorn. In addition to being high in fiber, popcorn also contains phenolic acids, a type of antioxidant. In addition, popcorn is a whole grain, an important food group that may reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension in humans.
It's low in fat, calories, sugar, and sodium.
As long as you stick the to the appropriate serving size, which is about one cup, plain popcorn is a much better choice than junk food, such as potato chips and cheese crackers. And even if you eat three times the serving size, you'll still clock in at only 96 calories.
Premade popcorn often contains a high level of salt, or sodium. Eating too much sodium can cause high blood pressure and lead to other health complications. Some brands also include a lot of sugar. Added butter, sugar, and salt can make popcorn an unhealthful snack.
What's the healthiest way to eat popcorn? Air-popped popcorn doesn't use oil and is the healthiest way to enjoy the snack, according to Cleveland Clinic. Popping it on the stovetop using oil can be a way to add healthy fats to your diet, just opt for walnut, avocado, canola, or extra virgin olive oil.
What is a healthy portion size of popcorn? A healthy portion size of popcorn is about 25-30g. While plain popcorn can be enjoyed as a low-calorie snack, portion size is key to keep calories in check. Flavoured varieties are best enjoyed as an occasional treat rather than as part of a regular balanced diet.
The Vitamins and Minerals
The shocking thing about popcorn as a superfood is how many vitamins and minerals you'll find in each puffed kernel. The big hitters for popcorn nutrients are Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin K. Popcorn also includes other vitamins and minerals in the mix.
While being incredibly delicious, butter isn't going to do your body any favors when it's poured over popcorn; in fact, it may even encourage fat gain. "Butter is high in saturated fat which, when combined with carbohydrates, creates a 'sweet fat.
Yes, popcorn is generally healthier than chips. Popcorn is a whole grain food that's high in fiber and low in fat and calories. Chips are generally fried in fat and heavily salted. There are unhealthy popcorn options like movie theater popcorn or caramel corn, and there are healthy chip options.
You can use it to replace just one meal or your snacks, but popcorn can't meet all of your nutritional needs by itself.
If you're eating microwave popcorn or movie theater popcorn every day, you might be taking in a lot of extra salt and calories, as well as potentially harmful chemicals and artificial ingredients. However, homemade popcorn that's made with olive or avocado oil can be a healthy addition to your daily diet.
Popcorn is made up of strong aroma chemicals that go into the air when heated. Other food industries actually add these chemicals to their food to make the aroma more appealing! So, remember when you're stuffing your face with popcorn even before the movie starts, it's not your fault, it's SCIENCE!
Ask your doctor to check your iron and zinc levels. If either of them is low, it could lead you to binge on popcorn even when you don't really want it. When people crave nonfood substances such as clay, cornstarch or ice, doctors call the condition pica.
Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks for a lot of reasons—it's easy to make, inexpensive, delicious, and it can be dressed up for special occasions like parties. Popcorn is equally delicious paired with savory or sweet flavors, and there are infinite ways to jazz it up with seasonings and other ingredients.
About 77% of popcorn calories come from carbs, 13% from protein, and 10% from fat.
However, Clarke and Jarosh say, popcorn is certainly not a BETTER overall choice than fruits and vegetables -- in fact, they shouldn't be compared to or replace one another. "Fruits and vegetables offer nutrients that popcorn doesn't, and popcorn contains some nutrients that fruits and veggies don't," they say.
Popcorn is a whole grain and a good source of fiber. It is high in carbohydrates and can raise your blood sugar, especially if you eat a lot in one sitting.
The researchers found that people who ate microwave popcorn every day over the course of a year had levels of PFAS that were up to 63% higher than average. Considering the questions that continue to surround the safety of consuming PFAS, we think it would be reasonable to curtail the daily use of microwave popcorn.
Popcorn is a whole grain packed with fiber and carbs. Carbohydrates make tryptophan, an amino acid important for sleep, more available to the brain. A study found that food such as popcorn and nuts provided a longer sleep duration than food such as burgers and pizza.
Many people think that white popcorn is healthier than yellow popcorn kernels. However, white popcorn has about the same nutritional value as yellow popcorn. Both popcorn varieties are great, healthy snack options for any day.
Air-popped popcorn has 30 calories. Popcorn popped in oil has 35 calories. Lightly buttered popcorn has 80 calories.
Cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of kernels. Then cover the layer of corn with water — but not enough to make the kernels float. Put the lid on and heat the pan on medium-high. Give it a shake now and then.