Popcorn and Cereals Contain Good-For-You Antioxidants
Good news if you love to eat popcorn at the movies--your favorite snack is healthier than previously thought! New research shows that popcorn and cereals contain phenol antioxidants, thought to protect against heart disease and cancer.
The study was presented to the American Chemical Society (ACS), and was led by Dr Joe Vinson, of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.
Previously, it was thought that the benefits of whole-grain snack foods (such as popcorn and breakfast cereals) were limited to the extra fiber they provide.
Dr Vinson said this:
But recently, polyphenols emerged as potentially more important. Breakfast cereals, pasta, crackers, and salty snacks constitute more than 66% of whole-grain intake in the US diet. This is the first study to examine total phenol antioxidants in breakfast cereals and snacks
Obviously, this research shouldn't be used as an excuse to start eating giant tubs of popcorn--and remember that adding lots of sugar or salt is a nutritional no-no. However, plain air-popped corn, or that flavored with spices or seasonings, could make a great alternative snack to replace chips or candy.
With breakfast cereals, check the label. Many contain high amounts of added sugar. The researchers found that cold, oat-based cereals were higher in antioxidants than other varieties.
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I eat popcorn probably 3-4 times a week...I love it!! I usually make my own air popped popcorn and sprinkle it with those Kernel Season's cheese sprinkles. It's pretty tasty and you don't get all the salt or fat from the butter. I mostly eat it because it's way more satisfying than chips, but it's good to know that it's got antioxidants in it as well.
ReplyYet another study telling us to eat more carbs. No thanks.
ReplyIt's not necessarily more carbs. If someone is replacing potato chips or some other snack cracker with popcorn, chances are they would be getting fewer carbs.
ReplyPop corn is a fun snack to make when I have a lot of children to feed. They love the pop noise!
However, the popcorn at the movies is definately not good for you! That yellow butter stuff on the popcorn is a nasty combination of salt, fats, yellow food coloring, preservatives and artificial flavors. Butter 'flavored' popcorn is not a good option, if you like popcorn stick to plain air popped variety.
ReplyI totally agree with this study, it has been proved that Popcorn is not only low in calories, but also high in fiber.
ReplyWhich means that it takes longer to chew and makes you feel full longer. That is all we need, eat healthier without feeling hungry!
Have you ever stopped to wonder..."what if fiber really isn't that good for us?"
I'll eat a stick of grass-fed raw butter over popcorn any day.
ReplyMusajen, sounds good to me.
ReplyAir popped is the way to go. I'm sure the chemical goop in the movie theatre "butter" cancels out whatever antioxidants we're talking about.
ReplyMusajen, what exactly is wrong with fiber?
And go ahead and eat the butter WITH popcorn. By itself... That's pretty gross, and asking for a heart attack.
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