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How many calories does popcorn have?

Homepage Articles How many calories does popcorn have?

How many calories does popcorn have?

Popcorn is the most popular snack in the world... some people can't imagine a movie without at least a small portion of corn expanded... in the United States popcorn is an important part of the daily diet... it accounts for 17% of daily intake of whole grain cereals... but is it healthy?

Table of Contents

1. Popcorn has a nutritional value

Popcorn delivers a lot of energy 100 g delivers 374.7 kcal. The caloric content of popcorn increases significantly if you add butter or vegetable oil to it. For comparison a glass of popcorns weighs only 8 g. This snack is high in carbohydrates, a large part of which is dietary fiber.

2. Loss of vitamins and minerals

Popcorn is made from corn, the seeds of which are subjected to high temperatures, and this process leads to the loss of significant amounts of vitamins and minerals from the corn seeds.

3. Popcorn as a source of fiber

Compared to other snacks, popcorn is a very good source of dietary fiber and has a positive effect on the human body by improving the peristalsis of the intestines, facilitating emptying, removing toxins, releasing excess cholesterol and triglycerides with feces, or slowing down the absorption of glucose from the digestive tract.

4. Popcorn is a source of antioxidants

In their analysis, M. G. Coco and J. A. Vinson showed that popcorn contains significant amounts of antioxidants, including phenolic acids. A large amount of the antioxidants is accumulated in the kernel and the fruit-seed seed coating of the corn, and the expansion process does not reduce their quantity.

5. Popcorn as a healthy snack

Popcorn, as a rich source of antioxidants, appears to be a healthy snack. Ferrous acid in its composition helps to reduce oxidative stress and lower blood pressure. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on lipid profile and carbohydrate economy.

6. Popcorn as an unhealthy snack

Americans consider popcorn to be a whole grain product. On the one hand, it makes sense because it's made from whole grains of corn. However, on the other hand it is a highly processed product with little nutritional value. Moreover, it is consumed with a high amount of salt and very often fat. This product delivers a large number of empty calories and contributes to worsening health. Nevertheless, popcorn as a good source of fiber and antioxidants is a better choice than other snacks.

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Source

Coco M.G., Vinson J.A., Analysis of popcorn (Zea Mays L., var. Everta) for antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content, „Antioxidants” 2019, 8(1), 22.
Kunachowicz H. et al., Tabele składu i wartości odżywczej żywności, Warszawa 2005.