Popcorn Nutrition Facts
Popcorn is a whole grain snack that is low in calories, fat, salt and sugar- considering it is popped plain.
Popcorn is a type of maize that explodes from the kernel that contains moisture which turns into steam, kernel puffs up when heated at about 400 degrees and turns itself inside out.
Interesting Popcorn Facts:
• Popcorn is said to have originated in Mexico.
• In 1948, popped kernels around 5,000 years old were discovered in caves in New Mexico.
• It is a whole grain, made up of: the germ, the hull and the endosperm.
• Christopher Columbus introduced popcorn to the Europeans in the late 15th century.
• Popcorn is scientifically known as Zea mays everta.
• Popping popcorn is one of the number one uses for microwave ovens.
• Many movie theaters make a greater profit from popcorn than they do from ticket sales.
• The world’s largest popcorn ball was unveiled in October 2006 in Lake Forest, Illinois. It weighed 3,415 pounds, measured 8 feet in diameter, and had a circumference of 24.6 feet.
Popcorn Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits:
• Popcorn’s high fiber content makes you feel full longer. It also stimulates the flow of saliva and gastro-intestinal digestive movements.
• Low Glycemic Load value of popcorn means it helps to stabilize blood glucose levels.
• Plain popcorn is low in fat, hence it may help you lose weight and maintain your ideal weight.
• It is low in calories unless popped in oil and salt, sugar or butter added.
• It contains protein, minerals and B- vitamins.
• Popcorn may contain very large amounts of healthy antioxidants- polyphenols, according to chemical researchers in the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. In fact popcorn contained the most antioxidants among the salty snacks examined by the team.
Popcorn Glycemic Index:
Foods whose carbohydrates break down slowly release glucose into the bloodstream slowly, so blood sugar levels do not rise high and therefore these foods have low glycemic index scores.
The glycemic load- GL is even more important and accurate in measuring the spike in blood glucose. It is a ranking for carbohydrate content in food portions based on their glycemic index- GI and the portion size.
Air popped popcorn has a high glycemic index value of 72. However, it has a low glycemic load value of approximately 8 for a typical serving of 20 g as it contains 11.1g of carbohydrates: 11.1 x 72/ 100 = 8, which is below 10.
Return from Popcorn Nutrition to Glycemic Index home page
Or take me back to Complex Carbohydrates from Popcorn Nutrition
References:
April 24-30; How About Some Popcorn With Your Fat? By William Grimes, http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/01/ weekinreview/ april-24-30-how-about-some-popcorn-with-your-fat.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all.
Popcorn History – The Cave Man and Cave Lady Treat, http://www.buzzle.com/ editorials/ 12-7-2005-83445.asp.
Is popcorn good for you? http://www.nhs.uk/news/ 2009/ 08august/ pages/ ispopcorngoodforyou.aspx.
Benefits of Popcorn, http://popcorn.co.za/benefits.html.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn.
