Nutritional and Health benefits of Popcorn

With well over 17 billion quarts of popcorn is consumed every year in the U.S alone, it is safe to say that popcorn is a much-loved snack. And judging from the increase in popcorn popper sales over the last couple of years most people are also looking for a way to make better tasting popcorn than those bags you just pop in the microwave. The Popcorn benefits are just another to reason to indulge in the eating of this beloved snack

Facts about the popcorn

Both kids and adults are alike in their love for popcorn, and popcorn is the preferred snack for leisure occasions such as watching movies either at the theater or at home, popcorn contains lots of nutritional and health benefits. It contains nutrients such as iron, vitamin, minerals and lots of other healthy nutrients.  Popcorn is made of mostly grains and fiber which is healthier and it is best often as part of a diet where you can consume popcorn and it will help you maintain the feeling of fullness, thereby preventing overeating. Popcorn can be easily made at home, with a very simple process where you can make healthy popcorn with even more health benefits by avoiding salt and adding different flavors. Popcorn is a healthier snack when compared to other snacks.

Types of flavors in popcorn

Popcorn has two main types of flavor which are the yellow popcorn and sweet popcorn, the yellow popcorn is made of salt but you can also prepare the popcorn by using salt free flavor which can be prepared very easily by adding vinegar or olive oil instead of salt. The sweet popcorn which is made of sugar does have better health benefits and prevents lots of health issues, lots of parents want to know this,  is popcorn a healthy snack to serve to kids?. You can make different flavors of popcorn for your kids instead of making unhealthy snacks at home; if you prefer a healthy snack for your kids so that they will be happier and active without any health issues, then your preference should be sweet popcorn. Popcorn is made of corn, and corn which we all know is a healthy grain which has lot’s of nutrients.

Health Benefits of Popcorn

They are lots of Popcorn health benefits, Popcorn is a power packed food with multiple health benefits. Being a natural whole grain, popcorn contains endosperm, germ and bran. It is enriched with protein, fiber, iron, vitamins B & E. Let’s look at some of the key health benefits of popcorn.

Aids in Digestion: Being a fiber rich food, popcorn helps in smooth bowel movements thereby avoiding constipation. The rich fiber content helps to induce the secretion of digestive fluids thus helping in faster digestion.

Helps in Weight Loss: A regular cup of popcorn contains only around 30 calories. The fiber content gives you a feeling of fullness thus satiating your hunger pangs for a long time. It also helps in reducing belly fat. As popcorn is sugar free and low in saturated fats, it aids in weight loss.

Regulates Blood Sugar: As popcorn contains high amounts of fiber, it helps to regulate blood sugar as well as insulin levels. Popcorn is highly recommended for diabetic patients because of this reason. Consuming Popcorn is that it helps in reducing the risk of type2 diabetes and this is in addition to other health benefits we have mentioned earlier.

For healthy eyes: Popcorn is rich in carotenoid antioxidants, which plays an essential role in keep your eyes healthy.

Prevents cancer and heart diseases: Popcorn is believed to have more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants called polyphenols present in the hull of the popcorn does an amazing job in fighting harmful molecules that damage cells. Thus, popcorn helps in protecting against cancer and heart diseases.

A gluten free substitute: Being a gluten free snack, popcorn can be used to make bread crumbs for those who are intolerant to gluten content in food.

Anti Ageing: The presence of free radicals contributes to ageing related symptoms like wrinkles, hair loss, dementia, weak muscles etc. The presence of antioxidants that eliminate free radicals helps to keep ageing related symptoms at bay.

  Choose the right Popcorn Kenrnels for Popcorn benefits

With different varieties of popcorn available in the market, it is difficult to make the right choice. Popcorn that is plain and natural is loaded with health benefits. But, microwaved popcorn has twice the amount of calories as compared to air popped popcorn. Microwaved popcorn also comes with unhealthy oils. Flavored popcorn contains artificial flavors, additives and unhealthy fats. To get the most out of your favorite snack, go for plain air popped popcorn. An excellent replacement to other unhealthy snacks, popcorn is here to stay.