Scranton, PA – It has been the guilty treat enjoyed by cinema-goers for generations.
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But now, American scientists have discovered that popcorn contains the same amount of healthy antioxidants as fruit and vegetables, because it is a whole-grain food.
Such foods are made using grains that have not been refined to remove the bran and germ, and are known to bring health benefits because of the fibre in them.
Scientists are reassessing their effectiveness and think it might be polyphenols, which act as antioxidants by removing damaging free radicals from the body, that are the main health-giving ingredient.
“Early researchers thought that the fibre was the active ingredient for benefits in whole grains, the reason why they may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary heart disease,” said Joe Vinson, who led the study at the University of Scranton, Penn.
“Recently, polyphenols emerged as potentially more important.
“(In popcorn), you get all the wonderful ingredients of the corn undiluted and protected by the skin. In my opinion it’s a good health food.”
Nothing mentioned about the butter or oil, or salt. Interesting. Usually they push air-popcorn, which I wonder if anyone out there actually likes.
That’s great news!
Now I can eat popcorn and also feel good about it.
Good to know! I better start eating porcorn! jj
Great, I already smell the fresh popcorn – getting hungry – can’t wait to get home from work……….
Yeah – airpopped with no butter please!
wait hold your breaths.. give it a few more years and they will find out that popcorn can bring Canc….
does maing head stands help tooo??
Really? What about the butter they serve in the movie theaters? I think it is fake and has coconut and palm oils which clog heart arteries. Is theater popcorn butter kosher? Uh oh…
i wonder if this takes into account generically grown corn too ,in a few years i guess thats all we will have
popcorn was always a light nosh that you can just eat and eat when your in the mood of noshing ..and u dont end up feeling so guilty cuz its pretty light….so now that its confirmed that its kinda healthy…keep on eating! lol..hearty appetite!
To make good tasting popcorn that’s not so high in calories use a microwave or hot air popper. Then, use canola oil spray & salt. The canola oil spray helps the salt stick to the popcorn. I personally add black pepper.
As my late mother (A”H) woukd have said; a neier ma’aseh.
I miss her a lot.
I broke 2 crowns eating popcorn.
Great! now i can eat popcorn and feel like im deiting and eating healthy!
It’s not too fattening. You can eat a few cupfuls on a diet. Even if it’s made with oil, how much oil is in it anyway? You need some oil in your diet. I make popcorn all the time. It’s easy, fun to watch it pop, and fills the need when you a craving for something to munch on.
I’m eating popcorn as I read this. Really.