Overview
Benefits of Popcorn And Its Side Effects
The common health benefits of popcorn are such that it improves digestive health, is rich in antioxidants, helps in metabolism and provides energy, reduces depression, supports healthy bone function, controls blood sugar level, combats tumour cells, reduces craving for food, prevents aging, lowers cholesterol levels, controls anaemia and helps in relieving constipation.
Table of Content
Popcorn
Popcorn is a variety of corn kernel, which forcefully expands and puffs up when heated. A popcorn kernel's strong hull contains the seed's hard, starchy endosperm with 14-20% moisture, which turns to steam as the kernel is heated. The pressure continues building until it exceeds the hull's ability to contain it. The kernel ruptures and forcefully expands, allowing the contents to expand, cool, and finally set in a popcorn puff 20 to 50 times the size of the original kernel. Some strains of corn (Zea mays) are cultivated specifically as popping corns. The Zea mays variety everta, a special kind of flint corn, and is commonly used for making of pop corns.
Nutritional Value of Popcorn
Popcorn is a whole grain food and contains high amounts of several important nutrients. 100 grams of air-popped popcorn serves with 387 calories of energy, 13 grams of protein, 78 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fat, 15 grams of fibre, 7% vitamin B1 (thiamine), 12% vitamin B3 (niacin), 8% vitamin B6, 18% iron, 36% magnesium, 36% phosphorous, 9% potassium, 21% zinc, 13% copper and 56% manganese.
Nutritional facts Per 100 Grams
Vitamins and Minerals
Health Benefits of Popcorn
Improves digestive health
Corn is high in dietary fibre, which helps with digestive regularity, keeps a feeling of fullness throughout the day, is crucial for a healthy heart, and may even help to protect against colon cancer. Because of its high fibre content, eating popcorn may help to promote healthy gut bacteria which are essential for not only digestion, but also for a healthy immune system.
Rich in antioxidants
Yellow corn is rich in carotenoid antioxidants, including lutein and zeaxanthin, which not only helps in protect eye health, and may guard against age-related macular degeneration, but they also work to combat system-wide inflammation, which may underlie a number of chronic diseases.
Helps in metabolism and provides energy
Corn is rich in vitamin B, including vitamin B3, B6, folate, and pantothenic acid. Vitamin B is essential for regulating bodily processes across multiple systems. The two examples of these are the production of energy and the metabolism of various nutrients.
Helps to reduce depression
Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, has been studied for its potential to help naturally ease depression, making popcorn a “comfort food” in the literal sense.
Supports healthy bone function
Popcorn contains phosphorus, a mineral that aids in supporting healthy bone function, as well as the function of many types of cells throughout the body. Manganese is another mineral found in popcorn which also support healthy bones,
Controls blood sugar level
Dietary fibre also has impact on blood sugar level within the body. When the body has ample amounts of fibre, it regulates the release and management of blood sugar and insulin levels better than people with low levels of fibre. Reduction of these fluctuations in blood sugar is a major bonus for diabetic patients and hence popcorn is always recommended if a person suffers from diabetes.
Combats tumour cells
Popcorn contains ferulic acid, which is linked to potentially killing certain kinds of tumor cells. Hence popcorn also assists in treating cancer.
Reduces craving for food
Munching on a bowl of organic popcorn provides a great alternative to other less-healthy snacks, and because it is high in fibre, may reduce cravings for these snacks.
Prevents Aging
Free radicals do a lot more damage than cancer. They have been closely linked to age-related symptoms like wrinkles, age spots, macular degeneration and blindness, muscle weakness, cognitive decline, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, hair loss, and a wide variety of other things which becomes prominent with aging. Popcorn can make a person feel healthy and happy well into their old age because of the powerful antioxidants that combat these effects of free radicals.
Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Fibres function in another beneficial way within the body, and whole grains contain the type of fibre which can eliminate excess cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and arteries, thereby reducing the overall cholesterol levels in the body, and hence lowering the chances of dangerous cardiovascular conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. This also reduces the strain on the cardiac system, since the heart doesn’t need to work so hard to move blood through clogged vessels and arteries.
Controls Anaemia
According to the USDA, 28 grams of popcorn contains 0.9 mg of iron. This number might seem small, but adult men require only 8 mg of iron in their diet each day. Adult women, on the other hand, need 18 mg per day because of the blood they lose during menstruation. According to some surveys almost 10% of women are iron deficient. Hence having popcorn in one’s diet provides the body with enough iron and helps to keep away problems like anaemia.
Helps in relieving constipation
Since popcorn is all whole grain, their insoluble fibres helps keep the digestive tract in check and prevents constipation. Researchers have found out that people who ate popcorn regularly increased their daily fibre intake by 22%. Eating more fibrous foods helps in relieving constipation.
Uses of Popcorn
Apart from using it as a snack or food, there are some other uses of popcorn. One of these is that it is used for decoration, strung together and hung on Christmas trees. This tradition is common in North America and in the Middle East. The other use is for packaging. This is not as common because it is a dangerous and difficult packing material to use since it is flammable and attracts insects and animals and this is a negative effect of using popcorn.
Side-Effects & Allergies of Popcorn
Popcorn is also on a list of foods that commonly cause irritating symptoms among people with inflammatory bowel disease and hence it should be avoided in such cases.
Cultivation of Popcorn
Corn was domesticated in Mexico over 9,000 years ago and continues to be one of the leading vegetables produced each year throughout the world. Popcorn as a snack has been discovered in Mexico in archaeological sites dating back to 3600 B.C., and unsubstantiated claims say that Squanto himself taught European settlers how to popcorn during the growth of North America.
The history of popcorn is not entirely documented, but it seems that its popularity soared in the United States first in the Great Lakes region where the Iroquois people settled in large numbers. The first reliable sources to actually refer to “popped corn” date back to about 1820, and records from the mid-1800s name popcorn as a popular family treat.
In the 1890s, popcorn received another boost in demand, the credit of which goes to candy store owner Charles Cretors. In an attempt to better roast nuts for sale at his store in commercial quantities, he created the first ever commercial-grade popcorn popper, later displaying it in a horse-and-buggy style design. Then came the early 20th century, when the occurrence of popcorn in a movie theater began to become normal.
Popular Questions & Answers
Popular Health Tips
MONDAY MOTIVATION:
WholeGrains are those in which the nutrients remain intact. Whole grains are better sources of fiber and other important nutrients, such as selenium, potassium and magnesium. Whole grains are either single foods, such as brown rice and popcorn, or ingredients in products, such as buckwheat in pancakes or whole wheat in bread.
RefinedGrains are milled, a process that strips out both the bran and germ to give them a finer texture and longer shelf life. The refining process also removes many nutrients, including fiber. Refined grains include white flour, white rice, white bread and degermed cornflower. Many breads, cereals, crackers, desserts and pastries are made with refined grains, too.
BENEFITS OF HAVING WHOLE GRAINS:
- They are high in fibre, so help in digestion.
- They help to lower the cholestrol
- They lower blood pressure
- They help to control to weight
- They will provide more satiety
- Help to regulate blood sugar
- They are rich in vitamins and minerals
Your libido or is very important for having a passionate intimate life with your partner. An enhanced drive is required to have the ultimate experience in bed improving your overall physical experience. There are foods that boost your libido, enhancing your sexual urge. However, some foods are also responsible for restricting your libido, which may result in poor sexual drive and loss of longing to have sex.
Here some common food items from your everyday consumption list, which are responsible for restricting your libido.
1. Beans: Beans are usually praised as they are high in fiber and contain antioxidants. However, beans are not considered good for a sexual drive because of being glassy. Beans contain indigestible sugar, which causes gastric issues and lowers your libido.
2. Chocolate: Chocolate contains methylxanthines, which makes your skin more sensitive and aroused. However, in spite of acting as an enhancer, chocolate results in fatigue and causes tiredness. Due to fatigue, sexual performance is lowered.
3. Fried Food: Enjoying greasy fried foods like burgers and fries should be restricted if you want to have healthy sex. The trans-fat found in fried foods is known to cause a decrease in the male and female libido. The impact of devouring these trans, unsaturated fats results in irregular sperm production in men and meddles with gestation in women. French fries should be avoided before having sex.
4. Microwaved popcorn: Microwave popcorn can have severe effects on your libido. The chemicals present in the inner lining of the bags which contain these popcorns is said to cause a lowering of sex drive in men. The acids present such as perfluoroalkyl acids- PFOA and PFOS cause lowering of sperm count.
5. Red meat: Regular consumption of red meat makes you consume excessive growth hormone, fats and antibiotics. These decrease natural sperm production and production of testosterone. Loss of sexual drive is caused.
6. Potato chips: Potato chips contain trans-fats, which may cause oxidative body damage and disrupt normal hormone secretion. You are likely to gain weight, get tired easily and thus your overall libido will go down.
7. Cheese: Cheese is processed with antibiotics and growth hormones. This causes disorder in the natural production of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. These are the primary sexual hormones, which are related to sex drive. Hence, consuming a lot of cheese is bad for your libido.
8. Soya bean: Soya beans can cause disruption and disorder in hormone levels because of the presence of phytoestrogen compounds in it. These compounds try to mimic estrogen and cause lessened energy and sex drive.
A decrease in your libido and sexual drive can be caused from the most common everyday foods that you consume. You should know which foods to avoid, if you want to have a healthy sexual life.
The food you eat is critical for your overall well-being as cancers that often affect the human body are of gastrointestinal origin. Stick to organic and chemical free foods to live a healthier life, since they reduce the risk of cancer substantially. Regular consumption of the food items mentioned below increase your risk of developing cancer, as well as many other conditions and should be avoided at all costs.
- Microwave Popcorn: Most microwave popcorn bags are lined with c8, also known as Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), which increases the risk of certain cancers such as kidney, testicular, bladder, pancreas and liver cancer notably. Microwave popcorn also contains an artificial or synthetic butter flavoring called diacetyl, which is extremely toxic and obstructs breathing.
- Canned Tomatoes: While tomatoes are considered to be cancer fighting foods, their canned counterparts are extremely unhealthy and may cause cancer. This is mainly due to the lining of the cans they are put in, which contains a chemical known as Bisphenol A or BPA that has been proven to elevate the risk of infertility as well as prostate and breast cancer. Due to the high acidic level. BPA leaks from the lining of the cans and penetrates into the fruit. Tomatoes should be cooked fresh or stored in glass jars.
- Processed/Grilled Red Meat: Processed meats such as sausages, prosciutto, bacon, pimento loaf, bologna, hot dog, etc., contain various chemicals and preservatives such as sodium nitrate. This is added to make the meat look fresh and appealing, but are, in fact, carcinogenic in nature. Moreover, you should also avoid grilling meat, since it releases a carcinogen known as heterocyclic aromatic amines, which is another dangerous food item that smoked meat contains as it picks up tar from the smoking process.
- Farmed Salmon: It is imperative to avoid farmed salmon because they are fed unnatural diets that are contaminated with carcinogens, antibiotics, chemicals, pesticides and so on. They also harbor sea lice, 30 times greater in amount than wild salmon. High levels of PCBs, cancer causing dioxins, and mercury have been found in them. It is advisable to opt for wild sockeye salmon instead of farmed salmon.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
The food you eat is critical for your overall wellbeing as a number of cancers that affect the human body are of gastrointestinal origin. Stick to organic and chemical free foods to live a healthier life since they reduce the risk of cancer substantially. Regular consumption of the food items mentioned below increase your risk of developing cancer, as well as many other conditions and should be avoided at all costs.
- Microwave Popcorn- Most microwave-popcorn bags are lined with c8, also known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which increases the risk of certain cancers such as kidney, testicular, bladder, pancreas and liver cancer notably. Microwave popcorn also contains an artificial or synthetic butter flavoring called diacetyl which is extremely toxic and obstructs breathing.
- Canned Tomatoes- While tomatoes are considered to be cancer fighting foods, their canned counterparts are extremely unhealthy and may cause cancer. This is mainly due to the lining of the cans they are put in which contains a chemical known as bisphenol-A or BPA that has been proven to elevate the risk of infertility as well as prostate and breast cancer. Due to their (tomatoes) high acidity, BPA leaks from the lining of the cans and penetrates into the fruit. Tomatoes should be cooked fresh or stored in glass jars.
- Processed/Grilled Red Meat- Processed meats such as sausages, prosciutto, bacon, pimento loaf, bologna, hot dogs etc., contain various chemicals and preservatives such as sodium nitrate. This is added to make the meat look fresh and appealing but are, in fact, carcinogenic in nature. Moreover, you should also avoid grilling meat since it releases a carcinogen known as heterocyclic aromatic amines. Another dangerous food item includes smoked meat since it picks up tar from the smoking process.
- Farmed Salmon- It is imperative to avoid farmed salmon because they are fed unnatural diets that are contaminated with carcinogens, antibiotics, chemicals, pesticides and so on. They also harbor sea lice, 30 times greater in amount than wild salmon. High levels of PCBs, cancer causing dioxins, and mercury have been found in them. It is advisable to opt for wild sockeye salmon instead of farmed salmon. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!
" Healthy food" -As the label says and people buy the packet.
Are these foods actually good as we imagine they will be?
Here is a list of food items we think are healthy but ther aren't.
1. Vegetable oils: generally marketed as heart healthy, but experts say they are worst for cooking. They have unnatural levels of pufa n omega-6 fatty acids along with chemical additives therby causing infertility, hormonal trouble, obesity, heart, liver n kidney damage. One must consume kachchi ghani mustard oil, coconut oil or homemade desi ghee in limited amount or as suggested by dietician.
2. Artificial sweeteners: or sugarfree: are extremely unhealthy. Some contain aspartame known to induce cancer. Instead one can use honey, stevia or jaggery.
3. Breakfast cereals: like cornflakes, wheatflakes, meusli etc. They have high sugar content, processed grains, additives n sodium salts. One must consume a good homemade breakfast to start your day with like poha, parathas, upma, cheela, omlette etc that has good nutritional value and give satiety too.
4. Baked chips or namkeens: as the packet says fat free or 90% less fat, but experts say they have equal calorie content as fried chips or namkeens. So one must choose roasted seeds, chana, murmura, makhana and nuts for munching.
5. Bottled ice tea: it contains a lot of sugar and no antioxidant of which tea is an excellent source, means primary reason to drink tea is missing.
Plain water, lemon water, coconut water or fresh juice are better options.
6. Microwaved popcorn: these have 3 times more calories as compared to regular popcorn. While making on stove we can adjust butter, oil or salt content.
7. Frozen packaged meat: it contains potentially dangerous chemicals to help it last longer. Frozen meat loses its nutritional value.
We need to choose wisely when trying to buy healthy food from market.