It’s hard to imagine a movie show without a bucket of popcorn. This is obligatory. One might say classic “accessory” for a pleasant stay with friends or with your family. Both adults and children love delicious popcorn.
Manufacturers are constantly introducing new flavors to suit a wide variety of needs.
Popcorn is a dish that is cooked by heat-treating a particular type of corn. Under the influence of high temperature, the walls of the grains burst or, as they say, “explode.” This mass retains the resulting shape, which is why popcorn’s volume is much larger than the size of the grains. It is served with a variety of additives, both sweet and savory.
Traditionally, popcorn is made from certain varieties of corn. Suitable corn seeds contain a drop of water with starch. Under the influence of high temperature, the water heats up, turning into steam, which begins to press on the grain walls and breaks it from the inside.
The popular types of popcorn include white and yellow popcorn. Many have been asking whether popcorn is healthy and whether it’s good to consume it regularly. Let’s look at the different types of popcorn and determine whether they are suitable for your well-being.
Is Yellow or White Popcorn Healthier?
White popcorn has a higher number of calories than the yellow type although the difference is minimal. Both yellow and white popcorns are whole grains with carbohydrate content. White popcorn has a slightly higher carbohydrate content compared to the yellow type.
Both of them make up a good source of fiber. Fat and protein are other essential nutrients you will find in popcorns.
Both white and yellow popcorns have the same amount of fat and proteins. They can help you meet your protein needs. However, they are both low in vital amino acids, making them an incomplete protein source.
There is some slight difference in the yellow and white popcorns when it comes to vitamins and minerals. However, there is no difference when you compare them in their popped versions.
They can help you meet your daily Vitamin A value of 2%. The popcorn kernels do not contain a significant amount of iron but can help you meet your needs. Both of them are ideal for consumption, and the differences are very minimal. If you prefer going slow on the number of calories, then the yellow popcorn is a perfect option.
Which Popcorn Kernels Are Healthiest?
The bright yellow popcorn kernels are considered the best. They are raw, fiber popcorn kernels that come from corn. With low calories and high fiber, they are the healthiest, and you can use them to treat yourself throughout the day. They contain whole grains of popcorn kernels. They are also cohesive and shaped. Bright yellow popcorn kernels come packaged in resalable glass containers.
Why Is Some Popcorn Yellow?
The color of popcorns usually varies between yellow, white, and cream. Yellow is the most common color, and this usually depends on the shell or pericarp used to make specific popcorns.
Is White Popcorn Healthy?
As mentioned above, white popcorn contains a slightly higher amount of calories than the yellow type. All other nutrients are in equal amounts as the yellow type. It is a healthy option, but if you are looking forward to losing weight and adding some Vitamin A, then yellow popcorns are the best option.
What Are the Disadvantages of Popcorn?
There are several disadvantages associated with popcorn consumption, most of them linked to the preparation methods used.
Although such a product has a lot of favorable properties, cooking it becomes harmful. The thing is that manufacturers add various components to popcorn that are detrimental to health.
The greatest danger is the oil that is used for frying corn kernels. This makes popcorn very high in calories – up to 1200 Kcal in a small serving. Do not forget that when cooking, manufacturers add flavors that are not of natural origin.
When heated to a high temperature together with oil, toxic substances are released from them. They are ways to hit the lungs.
When making popcorn, manufacturers usually add sugar in large quantities. It puts a strain on the pancreas, and sweetcorn can help you gain weight, while corn, as mentioned above, doesn’t. You can also find salty popcorn on the shelves and also has a negative effect on body weight. Also, salted corn disrupts the water balance and makes you thirsty.
You can often find popcorn with different flavors (onions, cheese, bacon, etc.). They contribute to the formation of ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract and can also cause gastritis. It turns out that, to add flavor to popcorn, manufacturers add a beneficial product that is completely unhealthy.
To not deny yourself some of the airy delicacies, you should cook it at home, but not from semi-finished products in bags that are heated in the microwave, but from special corn kernels that you can buy in the markets.
The main disadvantage of popcorn is the production process, which contains several harmful additives. Fans of ready-made popcorn should pay attention to the main features of this process.
- The machines for making popcorn use a special oil, which is very harmful to the body, to give it the very flavor that attracts the consumer so much.
- Chemical additives and flavor enhancers with regular consumption of popcorn cause allergies and digestive upsets in children.
- Salty popcorn retains water in the body, provoking thirst and edema.
- Sweet foods are harmful because of their calorie content, especially for overweight people. They are also prohibited for those who have diabetes.
Convenient popcorn sold for self-preparation also contains harmful additives. A microwave is suitable for its preparation, and this method kills all the beneficial properties of the grains. Also, microwave rays negatively affect health.
Is it Okay to Eat Popcorn Every Day?
The aroma and popcorn are very healthy on their own. After all, it contains a lot of biologically active substances. The main one is a polyphenol, which prevents the development of heart disease and cancer. Popcorn also has several powerful antioxidants that help remove free radicals (substances that destroy cells and tissues) from the body.
Such a product is high in carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and even vitamins like B1 and B2. It accelerates metabolic processes in the body, prevents the deposition of fat, and perfectly interrupts the feeling of hunger. Popcorn also removes carcinogens and perfectly cleanses the intestines.
Is it Possible to Eat Popcorn While Losing Weight?
With limited use of popcorn, it may well be used as a snack with a diet. Of course, this is only a “pure” product, without additional additives in caramel, chocolate, or salty flavor enhancers. They increase the calorie content of popcorn and delay the process of losing weight.
An additional bonus, thanks to which it can be included in the dietary menu, is its high fiber content. It effectively fights toxins and toxins, cleansing the body of their harmful effects and increasing the metabolic rate, which is directly related to losing weight.
Now that you understand the impact popcorns may have on your health, you should prepare them correctly and do everything necessary to avoid any harmful effects they pose.
