Popcorn Nutrition Facts

Is Popcorn Really Nutritious?
Hello Vida juicers, Doreen Correia and welcome to Wellness Wednesday! Today we’ll be talking about popcorn and clarifying some myths about popcorn nutrition facts?

Movie theatre popcorn has a bad rap —and with good reason. A medium size bucket of popcorn at a movie theatre concession stand can pack upwards of 1,600 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat! I will explain later why Microwave popcorn is not a healthy alternative.

A study has shed light on this popular treat, popcorn’s nutritious value. Researchers from the University of Scranton revealed their findings that popcorn contains more antioxidant polyphenols than fruits and vegetables. What they found is that popcorn contains up to 300 mg per serving, while fresh fruit contains 160 mg. Would I suggest replacing your daily intake of fruits and vegetables with popcorn? Absolutely not, not this juicer, but when you add the high antioxidant content of popcorn to the fact that it’s high in fiber and considered a whole grain, I would say feel free to add it to your snack list.

In fact, popcorn has long been on America’s number one integrative cardiologist Dr. Stephen Sinatra’s list of heart-healthy treats. Dr. Sinatra’s recommendation is to prepare it correctly to gain popcorn’s nutritious value.

We will begin with why so much of the popcorn out there is bad and unhealthy for us. Definitely skip microwave popcorn. Yes, it is quick, easy, and often very tasty, but microwave popcorn is a big health no-no for several reasons.

First, the microwavable bag is lined with a substance that, when heated, releases PFOA (perfluorinated compounds). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The American Cancer Society, PFOA stays in the environment and our bodies for a long time after exposure, and it has been shown to increase risk of certain cancers in lab animals as well as cause developmental irregularities. While the EPA has not officially classified PFOA as a carcinogen, its scientific advisory board suggested that PFOA is likely a human carcinogen after reviewing draft risk assessment data.

Second, the artificial butter flavoring in microwave popcorn may also contain 1 of 2 chemicals known to cause respiratory problems: diacetyl or pentanedione (PD). While the biggest popcorn manufacturers have banned diacetyl from their products after it was shown to have caused lung diseases in those who regularly inhaled it (factory workers and even a consumer), many replaced the dangerous additive with pentanedione, or PD, which recently has been shown to cause respiratory toxicity in rats.

Third, labels show that most microwave popcorn contains trans fat – major contributors to arterial inflammation, the true root cause of heart disease.
Lastly, keep in mind that approximately 85 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified or GMO, which means it has likely been grown using extremely toxic pesticides. And, while GMOs have been shown to cause numerous adverse health effects in lab animals, they have not been tested for long-term safety in humans.

So what kind do you buy? Be sure to purchase organic kernels. Be sure to make traditional “naked” air popped. Yes, buy a hot air popper if you enjoy popcorn. Popped without any oil, this diet-friendly snack “weighs in” at just 30 calories per cup and a mere .36 grams of fat. That’s a steal in the snack world and just a fraction of the movie theatre variety. If you like to buy pre-popped in a bag be sure to buy organic and avoid any artificial flavorings and add your own seasonings. If you like a buttery flavor, be sure to use real melted organic butter not margarine. If you like a little bit of oil on your popcorn, drizzle on some coconut oil or olive oil, much healthier fat. Instead of dousing your popcorn with salt, use less, but use sea salt instead. At the grocery store you can find a selection of non-healthy bagged flavored popcorn. So turn it around and get creative and make your own healthy seasoned organic popcorn. Try seasoning it with your nutritional favorites; such as herbs, cinnamon, garlic powder, nutritional yeast a source of vitamin B-12, for a cheese-like flavor, or spirulina, Lionel has explained its benefits, as suggested by Yogi Mami. Which by the way I tried it and enjoyed, thanks Victoria. Make traditional air-popped corn into a modest-calorie sweet treat by mixing one cup of popcorn with dark chocolate shavings and a dusting of cinnamon. Or just sprinkle cayenne pepper for a spicy kick and a metabolism boost. With football season upon us…consider popcorn, an excellent snack, while watching the game!

Thanks for joining me today, give this video thumbs up, and share it to shed the light on popcorn nutrition facts. Remember juice strong to live long!

Credits: Dr. Stephen Sinatra