Popcorn is usually a delicious snack for
movie theaters and relaxing nights at home, but there are many health benefits
associated with this air-popped food that most individuals have never taken
note of. Popcorn is a type of corn that has a hard endosperm, hull, or shell,
containing a starchy interior. When this popping corn is heated, the pressure
inside the hull increases and eventually a POP! occurs. Corn was first
domesticated about 10,000 years ago in what is now Mexico. Archaeologists
discovered that people have known about popcorn for thousands of years.
In
Mexico, for example, remnants of popcorn have been found that date to around
3600 BC. Popping of the kernels was achieved by hand on the stove-top through
the 19th century. Kernels were sold on the East Coast of the United States
under names such as Pearls or Nonpareil.
The term
popped corn first appeared in John Russell Bartlett's 1848 Dictionary of
Americanisms. Air-popped popcorn is naturally high in dietary fiber and
antioxidants, low in calories and fat, and free of sugar and sodium.
This can
make it an attractive snack to people with dietary restrictions on the intake
of calories, fat or sodium. For the sake of flavor, however, large amounts of
fat, sugar, and sodium are often added to prepared popcorn, which can quickly
convert it to a very poor choice for those on restricted diets.
Health Benefits of Popcorn
Prevents Aging: Popcorn can keep you feeling healthy and happy well
into your old age thanks to the powerful antioxidants that combat these effects
of free radicals.
Corn contains ferulic acid, which is linked to potentially killing
certain kinds of tumor cells.
Prevents Cancer: Research has shown that popcorn consumption can do
more for the antioxidant potential in your body that a daily dose of fruits and
vegetables. Popcorn can help reduce those risks.
It’s high in fiber, which helps with digestive regularity, keeps you
feeling full throughout the day, is crucial for a healthy heart, and may even
help to protect against colon cancer.
Lowers Cholesterol Levels: Fiber can strip off excess cholesterol
from the walls of blood vessels and arteries, thereby reducing your overall
cholesterol levels, and lowering your chances of dangerous cardiovascular
conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.
Corn contains phosphorus, a mineral that aids in supporting healthy
bone function, as well as the function of many types of cells throughout the
body
Controls Blood Sugar: When the body has ample amounts of fiber, it
regulates the release and management of blood sugar and insulin levels better
than people with low levels of fiber. Popcorn is always a recommendation if you
suffer from diabetics.
Corn is rich in B-vitamins, including vitamin B3, B6, folate, and
pantothenic acid. B-vitamins are essential to regulating bodily processes
across multiple systems.
Weight Loss: The fiber content in popcorn makes you feel full and
inhibits the release of the hunger hormone, ghrelin. This can prevent
overeating and keep people who are battling the swelling happy and thin,
without making them feel like they aren’t eating enough.
Popcorn is also very low in saturated fats, and its natural oils are
primarily healthy and essential in the body.
Thank you for this insightful write-up. Good for a healthy life.
ReplyDeleteThis is a powerful health info , thanks for the enlightenment sir ..
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
ReplyDelete