Wow!!!! Just found good reasons why I should eat Popcorn often! Never knew its one of the world's healthiest snack for the body!!!!

When it comes to healthy snacks, plain popcorn is at
the top of most nutritionists' recommendation lists.
Air-popped and eaten plain, popcorn is low in calories
and fat and high in fiber and beneficial antioxidants,
especially when compared to other common snack
foods. Popcorn is a whole-grain food that can be
eaten as part of healthy diet that includes at least six
servings of grains every day.

Features


Plain, air-popped popcorn contains about 30 calories
and 1 gram of fiber per cup. The nutritional value of
other types of popcorn products varies greatly,
depending on the type of ingredients that are added.
If you buy microwavable, stove-top or packaged
popcorn, check the nutrition facts label to see how
many calories, grams of fat and milligrams of salt the
product contains. For the healthiest popcorn,
compare brands and varieties and choose those with
the lowest calories and least fat and salt.

Significance


Popcorn is on the list of whole-grain foods included in
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dietary
Guidelines for Americans. It is fourth on the list of
most commonly consumed grains in the United
States, after whole wheat, whole oats and whole-
grain corn. That makes it a significant contributor to
the grain and fiber intake of the average American.
At least half of the six daily servings of grains
recommended in the dietary guidelines should come
from whole grains. According to a study published in
the May 2008 issue of the "Journal of the American
Dietetic Association," popcorn eaters consume more
than twice as many whole grains and more than 22
percent more fiber than people who don't eat
popcorn.

Benefits

In addition to its role as a high-fiber food that helps
promote gastrointestinal health, popcorn contains
antioxidants, substances that protect body cells from
damage that can lead to disease. In research
presented at the 238th annual meeting of the
American Chemical Society, University of Scranton
professor Joe Vinson indicated that popcorn contains
more antioxidants known as polyphenols than any
other snack food. Overall, Dr. Vinson found that
whole grains contain as many antioxidants as fruits
and vegetables, while in comparison, refined and
processed grains contain very few.

Additional Nutrients


Although popcorn does not contribute significant
amounts of any nutrients, it supplies trace amounts
of the B vitamins thiamin, niacin, B6 and folate, and
the minerals magnesium, manganese, phosphorus,
zinc, copper and iron. One cup of popcorn supplies 6
grams of carbohydrates. What little fat occurs
naturally in popcorn is in the form of healthier
monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Popcorn
contains no saturated or trans fats, which are
considered to be bad for your health.
Expert Insight
Heli Roy, Ph.D., registered dietitian and associate
professor in the Nutrition and Health Department at
Louisiana State University, says that unsalted, fat-
free, air-popped popcorn is an economical and
healthy snack that only becomes unhealthy when we
add oil or butter. Besides adding fat, putting butter
or oil on popcorn can add up to 90 calories per cup.
Instead, Dr. Roy suggests flavoring popcorn with
reduced-fat grated cheese or onion or garlic powder.






http://www.livestrong.com/article/97610-nutritional-value-popcorn/

@ OP...is that you. OMISORE

..