Popcorn has to be one of the greatest snack foods on the planet, ever made. It’s a staple meal to gorge on when watching a movie, whether at home or in a cinema, and even though health fundis consider it to be highly unhealthy, it’s a guilty pleasure that has stood the test of time.
Except now its going to be less guilt and more pleasure, as science has just proven popcorn to be far more nutritious than actual vegetables.
The University of Scranton in Pennsylvania recently conducted a study that showed how popcorn happens to contain “nutritional gold nuggets” in their design, as well as high levels of antioxidants and fiber.
One of the researchers, Joe Vinson, was apparently quite happy about the find, as he explained to Science Daily;
Popcorn may be the perfect snack food. It’s the only snack that is 100 percent unprocessed whole grain. All other grains are processed and diluted with other ingredients, and although cereals are called “whole grain,” this simply means that over 51 percent of the weight of the product is whole grain.
One serving of popcorn will provide more than 70 percent of the daily intake of whole grain. The average person only gets about half a serving of whole grains a day, and popcorn could fill that gap in a very pleasant way.
So, having one serving of popcorn would funnel up to 300mg of antioxidant rich polyphenols into a body, as opposed to the 200-250mg you’d get fromvegetables.
But here’s the catch. If you’re going to engage on a popcorn diet, make certain that you’re chowing down on the air-popped kernels, as microwave popcorn happens to have double the calories compared to that version of the popping corn.
And also, don’t ditch your veggies entirely, as a mixed diet can still work wonders for your health.
