Popcorn Snack: Why It Can Be Part of A Healthy Diet

The Health Benefits of Eating Popcorn

It maybe hard to believe that the most popular snack choice for moviegoers can be considered as a super food but it is true – popcorn is a healthy snack for people of all ages!

Research shows that popcorn may not only prevent cancer but it can also help those trying to lose weight. It has been long regarded as junk food but with correct preparation and in moderation, pop corn can give more advantages than risks health-wise.

How? Here are some health benefits of eating popcorn:

popcornWhole Grain
Popcorn is a wholegrain food. Wholegrain goods have been proven to reduce the risk of cancer and heart diseases. It helps to lower ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol as well.

Full of Fiber
Popcorn contains three times more fiber than sunflower seeds. It also balances blood sugar levels; keeps us fuller for longer periods of time, hence stops us reaching for sweet snacks.

Fiber is an important substance for the body that encourages healthy digestion and regularity of bowel movement. Foods rich in fiber take longer to eat; make you feel full sooner and help you resist eating other diet-busting snacks.

A Healthy Alternative

When it’s not coated in butter, salt or fattening oils, popcorn can be a very healthy replacement for potato chips, salted nuts and other high-calorie snacks that are often full of saturated fat.

Did you know? A 30g serving of popcorn is equivalent to one portion of whole-wheat pasta or a daily 30g portion of brown rice.

Full of Minerals
Popcorn also contains Vitamin B, which is known to boost energy levels.

Has Antioxidants

Popcorn has antioxidant properties known as polyphenols, similar to those found in fruits. These antioxidants remove free radicals in our body. Its iron content, especially the yellow popcorn variety, is particularly interesting because iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the entire world. A serving of yellow popcorn has 5% of the RDA for iron, 10% each for magnesium and phosphorus, and only a trace amount of sodium.
Low-Calorie

Unbuttered popcorn only has about 40 calories per cup.

Popcorn is healthiest in its butter-free, air-popped variety.

 

37 thoughts on “Popcorn Snack: Why It Can Be Part of A Healthy Diet

  1. This goes to show that popcorn can really be healthy – it only needs to be air popped, unsalted and as much as possible don’t have any flavoring.

  2. I am on what you can call a perpetual diet. I am very happy to know that popcorn is considered a healthy snack! It will serve as a great fiber source for me!

  3. I have very high bad cholesterol. So I am basically restricted to eat anything that can elevate my blood levels even more. Maybe pop corn would be ok – I hope so. Your article says it!

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  6. My kids are pop corn addicts. I have been thinking of investing in a popcorn machine at home since it is healthier than microwavable popcorn!

  7. I need to recommend pop corn for my aunt who is diabetic. Based on your article, it will help keep her blood levels normal and keep her full longer so this might be a good alternative to her saltine crackers.

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  9. I always knew that pop corn is a good source of fiber. I never knew that it can be a good source of vitamins and minerals too! Thanks for this informative post!

  10. I am breastfeeding and am quite picky on what I eat because I can pass it on to my boy, at least now I can add pop corn to the list of foods I can eat!

  11. My husband is a health freak – I am sure that he wont believe that popcorn is a healthy snack with very nice benefits so I will him read your article. Thanks for this!

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  15. I know that pop corn is healthy if I can control the salt and oil – so I will be sticking with airpopped popcorn. I think investing on a home popcorn machine will be worth it.

  16. I have always been strict on the foods my son eats. We have a genetic predisposition to not-so-good illnesses so it is always better to be safe than sorry. Thank you for informing me that pop corn is a healthy alternative.

  17. I am not much into pop corn since it can cause me to have an asthma attack but I think that the air popped unsalted variety will be good for me.

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