Popcorn: A quick and healthy snack
April 9, 2012
A new study may help answer the common question of "What should I have to eat?"
Researchers from the American Chemical Society (ACS) say recent findings alleviate the popular snack food to a new status, calling it "the perfect snack food."
During a presentation at the ACS annual meeting, scientists presented findings that prove popcorn contains more of the healthful antioxidant substances called "polyphenols" than fruits and vegetables.
Dr. Joe Vinson explained that the polyphenols are more concentrated in popcorn, which averages only about 4 percent water, while polyphenols are diluted in the 90 percent water that makes up many fruits and vegetables.
They found that the amount of polyphenols in popcorn was up to 300mg a serving compared to 114mg for a serving of sweet corn and 160mg for all fruits per serving.
In addition, scientists explained that the hulls of the popcorn - the part that tends to get caught in the teeth - can be considered "nutritional gold nuggets," as they have the highest concentration of polyphenols and fiber.
"It’s the only snack that is 100 percent unprocessed whole grain," Vinson said. "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."
According to Popcorn.org, popcorn also contains fiber, potassium, vitamins B1 and B2 and energy-producing complex carbohydrates. It's also naturally low in calories and fat.
However, experts warn that the way it is prepared can affect how good it really is for you.
"Air-popped popcorn has the lowest number of calories, of course," Vinson explained. "Microwave popcorn has twice as many calories as air-popped, and if you pop your own with oil, this has twice as many calories as air-popped popcorn. About 43 percent of microwave popcorn is fat, compared to 28 percent if you pop the corn in oil yourself."
In addition to be a healthy snack option for moms and kids, popcorn is also good for those who don't want to spend a lot of money on snack items. According to BetterBudgeting.com, the way to get the most for your money when buying popcorn is to buy it in bulk and avoid the pre-packaged or microwave varieties.
That's good advice for budget-conscious moms, such as those who are pursuing a college degree. Even those who get help paying for their education via grants for parents, scholarships for mothers and other financial aid can get excited about a good bargain!
