Microwave vs Air Popped Popcorn
Ever since I was a child, I enjoyed eating popcorn.
Popcorn is considered a healthy snack.
It is rich in fiber and contains good carbohydrates.
However, in recent times, people have started to cook popcorn using the microwave oven. In a way, it makes more sense because it takes very little effort and time. All you have to do is place the paper bag with popcorn into the microwave, set the appropriate time and push Start. But is this really healthy?
Microwave popcorn should not be a substitute for air popped popcorn. The corn popped in the microwave contains a high amount of salt and this causes water retention and bloating. Therefore, just by serving a whole portion you risk to consume a major chunk of the quantity needed per day.
When analyzing the fat content, specialists have also claimed that it is really high. Most of us pick the popcorn versions with butter, assuming that they are healthier. But the buttered versions include vegetable oils with a very poor quality. Therefore, you risk to gain weight as soon as you consume a single serving.
Furthermore, the bags which contain the popcorn are considered harmful because they contain chemicals such as perflourooctonoic acid (PFOA). PFOA is used to produce the lining of bags but when the rays from the microwave start to heat the bag, this chemical will vaporise and enter the product per se. When ingested, the chemical can cause cancer or infertility.
Benefits of air popped popcorn
- you can pop it without adding any salt or you can add a lower amount of salt;
- you can add healthy oils and decrease the amount of fats;
- you can control the size of the portion you want to eat;
- its price is more convenient.
If you enjoy eating popcorn as much as I do, you should not give it up. What you must do is control the way you pop it. The healthiest alternative seems to be the use of fresh corn kernels prepared with little salt and oil.
To make the popcorn tastier, you can replace salt with many other spices such as oregano, basil or pepper. Let’s get the party started!
RSS Trackback URL 22. February 2012 (14:20)
Filed under: Nutrition by Edith Moony
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