All foods have their day. And Thursday, March 14th is National Popcorn Lover’s Day. This is not to be confused with National Popcorn Day in January. So, let’s find out whether Popcorn deserves the honor of 2 days in his 3 months. (Full disclosure: I’m not a popcorn fan, but I have an open mind about all foods.)
Flint corn is the type of popcorn we often eat, with a hard outer layer and a soft, starchy center. When heated, the moisture in the corn turns into steam and it pops open. Flint Corn is GMO-free.
Popcorn offers a little bit more in terms of nutrition. It has few calories. One cup of air-popped popcorn has 30 calories. Interestingly, oil-popped popcorn has only 35 calories, so the difference is negligible.
Air-popped popcorn has no fat. Also, because popcorn needs to be chewed thoroughly, it can’t be eaten as quickly as other snack foods. Popcorn is a whole grain, and one that most of us need to increase our daily intake. Three cups of popcorn has 90 to 105 calories and is equivalent to one whole grain serving.
Zinc, magnesium, B vitamins, and fiber are some of the nutrients found in whole grains. Whole grains also reduce your risk of high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes.
Low-glycemic foods are foods that cause blood sugar levels to rise slowly. These help control blood sugar and lipid levels in diabetics. A glycemic index score of less than 55 is considered a low-glycemic food. Popcorn has a glycemic index score of 55. Compare this to corn chips, which have a glycemic index score of 77. Therefore, popcorn is a good snack for diabetics.
If you are tired of ordinary popcorn, we recommend checking out the website popcorn.org. There you’ll find seasonings to flavor popcorn and recipes that incorporate popcorn. I might give it another chance.
Shea Rahback MS, RDN is a registered dietitian in private practice in Miami.
