The Power of Popcorn

By Dr. Mercola

Many people love eating a bowl of crunchy popcorn. It’s been a favorite snack for centuries in America. Anthropologists have actually found popcorn remnants in the American Southwest dating from about 2,500 years ago and in Peru and Mexico as old as 5,000 years.

Sold as “Pearl” corn or “Nonpareil” in the early 1800s, a popcorn “boom” increased its popularity quickly during the Great Depression because it was so inexpensive. It must have caught on because Americans now eat around 1.2 billion pounds every year!¹

Popcorn is not the healthiest snack out there, but if you choose the right variety, it can be relatively nutritious and provides a valuable source of fiber. The ingredients in this healthy snack may even translate to benefits that fight disease.

Directions

1. Place oil and kernels into a large pot and cover. Cook over medium-high heat for about three minutes or until the popping slows and you can count to 10 before another kernel pops.
2. Remove from heat and pour into a serving bowl. Season with salt and serve.

Additional flavors can be added, such as black pepper, or to make it a little spicier, shake in a little paprika. Natural nut butter or cinnamon are delicious options. Nutritional yeast is a good option for a slightly nutty flavor and pleasing texture, with extra protein, B vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

The bottom line is when you’re hungry for a snack, choosing to nosh on something delicious doesn’t mean it can’t be healthy as well. Popcorn did right fits the bill in many ways. Just choose organic popcorn, air-pop it and avoid eating a bucketful.

Sources and References

• Authority Nutrition May 2016
• The World’s Healthiest Foods May 30-June 5, 2016
• Organic Facts 2016
• Today May 17, 2016
• Livestrong Nov. 12, 2015

• ^{1, 2, 6, 7, 14} Authority Nutrition May 2016
• ³ Livestrong Nov. 12, 2015
• ⁴ Am J Clin Nutr. Jan.1999;30-42
• ^5, 23 Nutrition Data 2014
• ⁸ Organic Facts 2016
• ⁹ Nutr J. Sept 14, 2012; 11:71
• ¹⁰ Livestrong April 14, 2015
• ¹¹ Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jul-Dec; 4(8): 118–126.
• ¹² Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2007; 159:79-113
• ¹³ University of Scranton March 26, 2012
• ¹⁵ Effortless Eating June 29, 2012
• ¹⁶ Growing Up Herbal July 10, 2013
• ¹⁷ The World’s Healthiest Foods May 30-June 5, 2016
• ¹⁸ Environ Health Perspect. 2010 Dec; 118(12): 1762–1767
• ¹⁹  Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Nov; 115(11): 1677–1682
• ²⁰ Environ Health Perspect. 2010 May; 118(5): 686–692
• ²¹ Toxicol Pathol Feb., 2008; 36(2):330-44
• ²² Am J Epidemiol April 1, 2005;161(7):672-9

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