Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional, Learn more about daily fiber recommendations here. Check out these other healthy snack ideas to keep your diet on track. This means that it is healthful for people with diabetes only if they eat it in moderation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way for most people to lose weight is by making healthful lifestyle changes. Yep, you read that right. Could a supplement be as effective as exercise at protecting health? Add cinnamon or apple pie spice for a sweet treat, or go spicy with hot sauce, wasabi, or curry. Some brands also include a lot of sugar. Popcorn is one snack that is 100 percent unprocessed whole grain. When you wonder: “Is popcorn healthy?” you have to narrow down the type of popcorn you’re munching on. Popcorn is full of polyphenols, which are antioxidants that also found in berries and tea. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a typical 3-cup or 24-gram (g) serving of air-popped popcorn contains 3.5 g of fiber. Basically, anything in your spice rack can add more flavor without very many calories when you’re eating popcorn. It has the following nutritional benefits: Air-popped popcorn with no oil provides the best health benefits. Popcorn, clearly, is the better option 2. That's right, popcorn is a whole grain! MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. 15 Healthy Popcorn Recipes – Homemade Snacks To Make A Crowd. Natural popcorn is … Once a person knows their specific carbohydrate goal per meal and per day, this definition can help them work out whether popcorn can fit within a meal or their day. That's because it is a whole grain, and high-fiber whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems. Bodybuilding is a process where a person uses a combination of weight training, increased calorie intake, and rest days for recovery. The healthiest way to eat popcorn is Air-popped popcorn. If someone prefers not to use the stovetop method, they can choose between a range of popcorn makers online. We include products we think are useful for our readers. Is it good for me? Meanwhile, the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that the medium and large popcorn sizes at Regal theaters each had 1,200 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat. This means that when someone eats it as part of a balanced diet, popcorn can help them lose weight. Since popcorn is mostly air and fiber, it’s also filling. We recommend our users to update the browser. I typically just eat it plain, but you can … High-fiber foods take more time to digest than non-fibrous foods, so they can keep you fuller longer. Stove-top and air-popped varieties of popcorn can be an improbably nutritious snack, if cooked with the right oil, tossed with the right toppings and enjoyed in the right ratios. It’s the perfect addition to a Netflix-and-chill night! If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. However, added butter, sugar, and salt can make popcorn an unhealthful snack. If it’s air-popped popcorn—not the fatty, butter-drenched stuff you get at the movies—then you’ll be happy about the answer. "When it comes to snacks, I like to think of the 3 Bs: Bad, Better, and Best," says Nealy Fischer, founder of The Flexible Chef and author of Food You Want for the Life You Crave. Discover the perfect portion size and the healthiest flavourings. If it’s not drenched in a heart-stopping amount of butter and enough salt to fill the Utah Flats, popcorn is a healthy snack! High-fiber foods don’t contain as much digestible carbohydrate, so it slows the rate of digestion and causes a more gradual and lower rise in blood sugar, according to 2015 research in the journal Circulation. Snacking on air-popped popcorn in between meals can make you less tempted by sweets and fatty foods. What snack food goes better with your favorite movie? You can eat a few cups of it in the afternoon without blowing your healthy meal plan. It helps to improve the digestive process. According to nutritional experts, the answer to whether popcorn is a legitimately healthy snack or not is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s a whole grain with important nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, and it’s high in fiber. Popcorn’s fibre takes a longer time to digest. As it turns out, popcorn is one of the healthiest snacks you can eat (far healthier than the much-touted edamame) and polyphenols are the reason why. Learn more about brisk walking and its…. Almost 10 percent of women are iron deficient, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Popcorn has the crunchy, salty appeal of chips or pretzels, but you can have 3 cups of the air-popped snack for slightly fewer calories than you’ll find in one sourdough pretzel. Air-popping means heating the hard popcorn seeds, or kernels, in hot air until they burst and become popcorn. Why not change your mood Instantly? It helps in reducing hunger and the craving for unhealthy snacks. The CDC recommend that people limit their salt intake. The recommended daily intake for the average person in the U.S. is more than 25 g a day, and most people do not reach these levels. That said, added butter, sugar, and salt can make popcorn an unhealthful snack. Depending on its preparation, popcorn can be a healthful snack. For many years now, popcorn has been one of my favorite after-dinner snacks. The traditional way to reap these health benefits is by eating fruits and vegetables, but the high concentration of polyphenols makes eating popcorn a healthy alternative. These popcorn recipes are so delicious and tasty that so easy to make at home at any time. Popcorn can be a healthy snack if it is low in fat content. On its own, without any added sugar or salt, popcorn makes a nutritious, healthful snack. Popcorn is a whole grain and a source of energy boosting carbohydrate. Advertisement. As a whole grain, popcorn is high in fiber, which is good for digestive health and promoting regular bowel movements. As it pops, make sure you shake the pan to allow the steam to escape and prevent the popcorn from burning. Unfortunately, popcorn is made unhealthy with additions at every turn. Popcorn also contains protein, with a typical serving containing just over 3 g of the 50 g daily value. YES – popcorn is a healthy snack. © 2004-2021 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Popcorn can either be good or bad for a person’s health, depending on what goes into making it. Popcorn can be a healthy snack depending upon how it's prepared. Try Kernel Season’s Popcorn Seasoning Mini Jars Savory Variety Pack. These additions can be bad for a person’s health. Some people have written me asking if making popcorn with extra virgin olive oil is a good technique. Q: Popcorn is presented as both a healthy and an unhealthy snack, depending on who you ask. Eating foods high in sugars and fats can lead to weight gain. Depending on its preparation, popcorn can be a healthful snack. Unsalted popcorn contains plenty of fiber and low in saturated fat compared to most snack foods 15 g of healthiest. 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