Do popcorn make you fat? All you need to know about the tasty snack
When in doubt, a movie night is always the solution. And there is no movie without popcorn. Excellent both sweet and savory, popcorn is the favorite snack when it comes to spending time in front of a screen, but during a diet you may wonder what the right portion of popcorn is for. avoid gaining weight.
Here you will find all the information on this delicious snack, but not before having tasted this super quick caramel popcorn recipe!
What are popcorn?
Before asking if popcorn makes you fat or not, it is good to start from the basics: what are they? Popcorn is a food that generally falls into the snack category. In reality, it is a very simple product, namely corn seeds, a subspecies that is among the most cultivated in the world.
Popcorn as we know them today was born only in the nineteenth century, on the East Coast of the United States. Also in this century, John Russell Bartlett coined the term, hence the name of the snack: popped corn, "popped corn". From that moment, it wasn't long before the popcorn making machine appeared on the market, spreading more and more thanks, first of all, to its very low cost.
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The hidden benefits of corn popped
Today more than ever there is a great awareness of what is healthy and what is not for our body. In fact, all of us are now aware that most packaged snacks contain a high number of saturated fats and preservatives, which make them so tasty and tasty. In fact, popcorn can enjoy a low calorie per serving. In fact, when popped without oil and butter, corn seeds are naturally fat-free, light and healthy. Not only that, but they can also be positive for our body, boasting a series of often ignored benefits.
Popcorn improves digestion
Popcorn is born from the grain of corn, that is, a cereal. As such, therefore, it is rich in nutritional values and beneficial properties, just like whole grains which boast a high number of vitamins and minerals. The high fiber content present in popcorn therefore promotes bowel movements, helping the digestive system.
Popcorn lowers cholesterol
We know, from going on to wonder if popcorn makes you fat to realizing that they even lower cholesterol, there is a long way to go. Yet, the rich presence of fiber also has this great benefit for our body: whole grains naturally have a fiber that can remove excess cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and arteries. It is an aid to the heart system, as it will not be all the heart's job of working hard to move blood through the vessels and arteries.
Popcorn regulates blood sugar
This benefit is also linked to the presence of fiber in popped corn. Thanks to them, present in such an abundant number, in fact, the body is facilitated in its action to release and manage the level of sugar and insulin in the blood. For this reason, popcorn, without further seasonings, is a snack that everyone can consume and indulge in.
How many calories do popcorn have?
So far it has been understood: popcorn is the healthiest and tastiest snack in circulation in the food industry, thanks to the nutrients it contains and which are beneficial to our body. It all sounds too good to be true, and in fact there is only one method of preparation that allows popcorn to be considered a healthy food and which contains a very low number of calories. It is cooked with hot air, without the use of oil or butter which would certainly make them tastier.
Therefore, considering the nutritional values of a portion of popcorn (100 grams) without oil or salt, it contains 387 calories, 13 grams of protein, 78 grams of carbohydrates and 5 grams of fat. Here we note the confirmation of what was said previously: the high presence of fiber in the product, which is optimal in our diet and beneficial for the health of our body.
Those who follow a diet in particular know this very well: the key is always moderation. In order not to exceed but indulge in a delicious snack, the recommended serving size is 25 grams, with a total of 98 calories. Thanks to the beneficial properties it enjoys and the rapid sense of satiety that follows, munching on popcorn could help maintain a correct body weight.
How to do in the cinema?
The optimal solution is obviously to prefer homemade popcorn, so as to be able to leave them as light and healthy as possible. However, if you find yourself at the cinema, where you cannot control the absence of oil or butter, the alternative is to give yourself an exception to the rule, as long as you do not overdo the condiments - especially the sweet ones.
