Health Benefits of Popcorn And Its Side Effects

Popcorn good for the digestive system and tract, popcorn is high in dietary fibre, which helps with digestive regularity, keeps a feeling of fullness throughout the day, is crucial for a healthy heart, and may even help to protect against colon cancer. Because of its high fibre content, eating popcorn may help to promote healthy gut bacteria which are essential for not only digestion but also for a healthy immune system.

Yellow popcorn is rich in carotenoid antioxidants, including lutein and zeaxanthin, which not only helps in protecting eye health, and may guard against age-related macular degeneration, but they also work to combat system-wide inflammation, which may underlie a number of chronic diseases.

Popcorn is rich in vitamin B, including vitamin B3, B6, folate, and pantothenic acid. Vitamin B is essential for regulating bodily processes across multiple systems. The two examples of these are the production of energy and the metabolism of various nutrients.

Vitamin B3 present in Popcorn, also known as niacin, has been studied for its potential to help naturally ease depression, making popcorn a “comfort food” in the literal sense.

Popcorn contains phosphorus, a mineral that aids in supporting healthy bone function, as well as the function of many types of cells throughout the body. Manganese is another mineral found in popcorn which also support healthy bones,

Dietary fibre also has an impact on blood sugar levels within the body. 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 fibre.

Popcorn lowers blood sugar levels, Reduction of these fluctuations in blood sugar is a major bonus for diabetic patients and hence popcorn is always recommended if a person suffers from diabetes.

Popcorn contains ferulic acid, which is linked to potentially killing certain kinds of tumor cells. Hence popcorn also assists in treating cancer.

Munching on a bowl of organic popcorn provides a great alternative to other less-healthy snacks, and because it is high in fibre, may reduce cravings for these snacks.

Popcorn acts as anti aging agent. Free radicals do a lot more damage than cancer. They have been closely linked to age-related symptoms like wrinkles, age spots, macular degeneration and blindness, muscle weakness, cognitive decline, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, hair loss, and a wide variety of other things which becomes prominent with aging. Popcorn can make a person feel healthy and happy well into their old age because of the powerful antioxidants that combat these effects of free radicals.

Fibres function in another beneficial way within the body, and whole grains contain the type of fibre which can eliminate excess cholesterol from the walls of blood vessels and arteries, thereby popcorn lowers cholesterol levels in the body, and hence lowering the chances of dangerous cardiovascular conditions like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. Popcorn also reduces the strain on the cardiac system, since the heart doesn’t need to work so hard to move blood through clogged vessels and arteries.

According to the USDA, 28 grams of popcorn contains 0.9 mg of iron. This number might seem small, but adult men require only 8 mg of iron in their diet each day. Adult women, on the other hand, need 18 mg per day because of the blood they lose during menstruation. According to some surveys, almost 10% of women are iron deficient. Hence having popcorn in one’s diet provides the body with enough iron and helps to keep away problems like anaemia.

Since popcorn is all whole grain, their insoluble fibres helps keep the digestive tract in check and prevents constipation. Researchers have found out that people who ate popcorn regularly increased their daily fibre intake by 22%. Eating more fibrous foods helps in relieving constipation.

Popcorn aids in weight management. Popcorn taken in moderate quantities every day helps in the improvement of digestion. Air-popped popcorns have high fiber content with less calorific values. It also helps to reduce hunger. Popcorns are directly involved in weight control.