Health Benefits of Popcorn

Rose May Pimentel in Health

Sep 23, 2022 • 3 min Read

Popcorn is one of the world’s most popular snack foods. It’s loaded with important nutrients and offers a variety of benefits that many people are unaware of. Popcorn is filled with fiber and antioxidants while low on fat and calories.

Popped corn is a vegetable turned into a sometimes-indulgent snack. When it’s air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack because it’s a whole grain. High-fiber whole grains are linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, and other health problems. Popcorn is inexpensive, available everywhere, and an excellent alternative if you want to cut off chips.

Here are some of the amazing benefits of this tasty snack, from Organic Facts:

1. May Improve Digestion

Popcorn is a whole grain, like cereals, rice, and bread. It contains all of the fiber, not to mention the minerals, B complex vitamins, and vitamin E. The high fiber content in popcorn promotes normal bowel movements and prevents constipation. Fiber stimulates the peristaltic motion of the smooth intestinal muscles and induces the secretion of digestive juices, both of which help to keep your entire digestive system healthy.

2. Might Lower Cholesterol Levels

Soluble fiber, which is a form of fiber found in whole grains helps to reduce cholesterol levels by binding to cholesterol in the small intestine, preventing its absorption into the bloodstream. Reducing total cholesterol lowers the risk for cardiovascular events (heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis) later in life and prevents strain on the heart and arteries because blood can flow easily.

3. May Regulate Blood Sugar

Fiber also has a great impact on blood sugar in the body. Fiber helps to regulate the release and management of blood sugar and insulin levels better than people with low levels, lowering your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, consuming adequate sources of fiber helps to reduce these fluctuations in blood sugar.

4. Possible Antioxidant Capacity – Fight Chronic Diseases and Might Prevent Aging

Polyphenols act as a potential antioxidant in the body, which helps reduce oxidative stress and fight against the development of chronic diseases and reduce signs of aging. Researchers have discovered that popcorn has potentially high concentrations of polyphenolic compounds and fiber contained in the pericarp of the kernel. Also, popcorn consists of only 4 percent water whereas fruits and vegetables have 90 percent water, causing polyphenols to be diluted. Eating antioxidant-rich foods like popcorn may not only help you reduce the development of chronic disease, but also prevent the development of age-related symptoms such as wrinkles and age spots.

5. May Aid in Weight Loss

Popcorn is known to be a low-calorie snack with one cup of air-popped popcorn containing about 30 calories; this is five times fewer calories than one serving of plain potato chips. In addition, the fiber content helps to reduce hunger by slowing the rate of digestion and prolonging satiety. Plain popcorn is also low in saturated fat making it a heart-healthy snack that can fill you up and keep your waistline thin.

Remember to eat plain popcorn as benefits can be lessened if you add a lot of butter and salt.

Pop in a good movie with a big bowl of popcorn and enjoy its benefits!

Stay healthy and safe!