{"id":16987,"date":"2015-10-22T11:54:58","date_gmt":"2015-10-22T04:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=16987"},"modified":"2015-10-22T11:54:58","modified_gmt":"2015-10-22T04:54:58","slug":"is-popcorn-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/is-popcorn-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Popcorn Healthy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Is<\/a>
\nI remember growing up, my Dad made the best popcorn. He poured oil and popcorn kernels into a pan and put a lid on top, with a vent so the steam could come out.  We loved his popcorn.  We never came to question, is popcorn healthy?  We just ate it.<\/p>\n

Now I make popcorn the same way Dad did for my kids.  The microwave popcorn bags you buy from the store are full of unhealthy oils, excess salt, and other additives designed to make the popcorn last a long time.  Besides, the fun of popcorn is watching the kernels pop and fill the pan, often overflowing outside of the saucepan.<\/p>\n

As a Walmart Mom<\/a>, I love to shop Walmart to see what fun things they sell to make life easier.  I remember a couple of years ago I tried the Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker<\/a>, after years of brewing my tea in a saucepan on our stove.  <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This simple $20 Iced Tea Maker was an unbelieveable find, reducing the time it took to make my green tea, allowing me to increase the capacity of how much I make at once, and eliminating those occasional times I forgot I had water boiling on the stove!  I use the Iced Tea Maker 2-3 times a week now!<\/p>\n

So when I found the variety of popcorn machines available at Walmart, I decided to try one.  I chose the PRESTO Electric Stirring Popper.  I like that it has a built-in 6 quart capacity bowl – making enough popcorn for the whole family to enjoy.  With that much popcorn, I wondered, is popcorn healthy?<\/p>\n

Is Popcorn Healthy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Is<\/a><\/p>\n

Six quarts make a lot of popcorn, which I have no doubt we can eat it right up.  But should we be eating that much popcorn?  I did some research, hoping to justify our soon-to-be increasing consumption of popcorn.  Here’s what I found…<\/p>\n

YES!!!!  Popcorn is healthy!  Yay!  Of course, it depends on how it’s prepared.<\/p>\n

Healthy Antioxidants<\/strong><\/p>\n

Popcorn contains more healthful polyphenols – healthy antioxidant substances – than fruits and vegetables!  A research study by University of Scranton<\/a> found that polyphenols are more concentrated in popcorn, which has a water content of approximately 4%, than the polyphenols found in many fruits and vegetables.  Fruits and vegetables contain 90% water, which greatly reduces the effectiveness of polyphenols.<\/p>\n

So what are polyphenols useful for?  According to Dalia Akramiene<\/a>, a physiologist at Kaunas University of Medicine in Lithuania, <\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPolyphenols protect cells and body chemicals against damage caused by free radicals\u2014reactive atoms that contribute to tissue damage in the body. For example, when low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is oxidized, it can become glued to arteries and cause coronary heart disease.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In essence, polyphenols help to restrain abnormal platelet mass which can cause heart attacks and strokes.  They also help to fight inflammation (1).  Which means, make a bowl of popcorn for yourself in addition to the kids!  And eat up!<\/p>\n

In fact, popcorn’s polyphenols are 15 times higher than what you’ll find in whole-grain tortilla chips.  Popcorn is a healthy snack you can feel good about.<\/p>\n

\"Is<\/p>\n

Full of Nutrients<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to the USDA<\/a>, popcorn is a whole-grain food.  One serving can provide up to 70% of your recommended daily intake of whole grain.  Nutrients found in popcorn include Vitamins A, B6, K, and E and folate, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, and pantothenic acid.<\/p>\n

Is There a Catch?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, there is a catch.  Don’t buy microwave popcorn, there’s too many other unhealthy things added that deter from the benefits of pure popcorn.<\/p>\n

Now, in making your own popcorn, you have two options.  Making popcorn with oil or buying an air popcorn popper.  Both options are healthier than microwave popcorn.  Air-popped popcorn gives you the lowest amount of calories.  Popping your corn in oil gives you twice the number of calories.<\/p>\n

When comparing fat content, oil-based popcorn contains 28% fat versus 43% fat for microwave popcorn.  I love popcorn, but like to have some oil for extra flavor and richness…and I can still get a lower fat content than microwave popcorn.<\/p>\n

Making Popcorn!<\/span><\/h2>\n

My favorite oil to use in making popcorn…whether on the stove or in a popcorn maker like the PRESTO Electric Stirring Popper, is Coconut oil. <\/p>\n

\"Is<\/a><\/p>\n

 Coconut oil is solid when you spoon it out, but if you turn on the PRESTO Electric Stirring Popper, it melts and spreads it for you.<\/p>\n

Coconut is a healthy oil, attributed to helping to kill off harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi, mount resistance to both viruses and bacteria, positively affect hormones for thyroid and blood-sugar control, increase digestion, and helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins (2).<\/p>\n

So bring on the popcorn!<\/p>\n

\"Is<\/a><\/p>\n

The stirring part of the PRESTO Electric Stirring Popper works great.  It makes sure that every kernel gets coated in coconut oil, ensuring a rich taste for every piece of corn popped.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Is<\/a><\/p>\n

As the popcorn pops, it fills the bowl.  At the top of the bowl is a lid that you take off while the corn is popping.  This allows steam to escape and for you to place butter there.  As the steam comes up, it melts the butter, which melts on the popcorn…and is evenly dispersed as the stirrer stirs the popcorn around.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The PRESTO Electric Stirring Popcorn Popper is currently on rollback  in-store or online at Walmart <\/a>for $24.92.<\/p>\n

\"Family<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Mom’s Perspective<\/span><\/h2>\n

I was thrilled to discover the health benefits of popcorn.  My kids come home from school each day starving.  Their go-to is chips and ice-cream.  There is something so satisfying…and filling… about popcorn.  Now they come home wanting popcorn.  <\/p>\n

I let my kids, aged 9 and 12, make their own popcorn with the PRESTO Electric Stirring Popper, they love it!  They love being empowered to make their own popcorn, they love watching the bowl fill up, and they love eating hot fresh popcorn, right out of the bowl!<\/p>\n

I am hungry around 4pm each day.  Popcorn is the perfect pick-me-up to curb my hunger while providing health benefits.  And when you pop it at home, it’s so much cheaper than microwave popcorn. <\/p>\n

A friend of mine mentioned that she uses macadamia nut oil on occasion to pop her popcorn.  Can you imagine how yummy that would taste?  I’m on it!  Now, I just need to find out which store sells it!<\/p>\n

Go pop yourself some popcorn and enjoy!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"walmart<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(1)  http:\/\/www.lifeextension.com\/magazine\/2008\/2\/the-disease-fighting-power-of-polyphenols\/page-01<\/p>\n

(2) http:\/\/authoritynutrition.com\/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil\/<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is popcorn healthy? Before trying out the PRESTO Stirring Popcorn Popper, we did our research to find out. It makes 6 quarts and we wanted to eat it all!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,6,13,14],"tags":[2248,2792,2656,2783,2725,2726,2727],"class_list":["post-16987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-appliances","category-dads","category-kids","category-moms","tag-appliance","tag-health","tag-healthy","tag-kids","tag-popcorn","tag-popcorn-maker","tag-snack","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/p-content\/themes\/atahualpa342\/images\/articles\/2015\/10\/Is-popcorn-healthy-Presto-Popcorn-maker-Main.jpg?fit=570%2C315&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16987\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}