Popcorn is one of the favorite foods to eat between meals and accompanied by a good movie. But, Does popcorn make you gain weight? Can this snack be part of a healthy diet?
Since the answer depends a lot on the amount of corn you eat and how you prepare it, we will now tell you in more detail what properties this food has for your health and how many calories it provides to your body depending on how you consume it.
Does popcorn make you gain weight?
Although popcorn is simply corn kernels, there is a lot of nutritional information behind it that you should know. If you are hesitating to keep enjoying this snack because you fear gaining weight, we have good news for you: natural popcorn does not make you gain weight.
However, if you buy them at the cinema or prepare them with butter, salt, or other seasonings, they will no longer be so healthy, as the number of calories they provide to your body will increase considerably.
Calories in popcorn
If you also worry and keep track of the amount of macronutrients throughout the day, it is important that you know the caloric contribution of popcorn to include it or not in your diet.
As we said before, natural popcorn is quite healthy if consumed in moderation. To give you an idea, 100 grams will provide your body with 350 calories.
Calories in movie theater popcorn
The famous and addictive movie theater popcorn is one of the favorite snacks when enjoying a movie on the big screen. These are not only high in calories but also full of trans fats, which can be highly harmful to your health. For example, the largest tub of popcorn sold in cinemas can exceed 1000 kcal.
Microwave Popcorn
For when going to the movies is not in our plans, but we still want to enjoy an afternoon of movies in good company, microwave popcorn is the option most people turn to. A bag of popcorn ready to heat in the microwave can have an average of 500 calories.
With butter
Although this flavor is the best seller, it is not the most recommended by nutrition experts, since this type of popcorn has a high fat content, that can clog arteries and cause heart problems in the future if you consume them excessively.
Sweet Popcorn
If there is a type of popcorn you should avoid at all costs if you want to maintain a healthy diet and not gain weight, it is sweet popcorn. The combination of trans fats with the large amounts of sugar in caramel is a very dangerous mix for your body. They can cause heart problems, obesity, or diabetes. Approximately every 100 grams will provide you with 500 calories.
How to prepare healthy homemade popcorn
If you want to follow a healthy diet, you will surely be interested in knowing how to prepare natural homemade popcorn. You just need to heat a pot with olive oil and when it is hot enough, add the corn and lower the heat a bit so they don't burn. Don't forget to cover the pot so the kernels don't pop out. Finally, when you stop hearing the corn kernels, turn off the heat, let it rest for a few minutes, and they will be ready to eat.
Other properties of these foods
Remember that what makes popcorn fattening is the butter or caramel, as these corn kernels alone do not pose a health risk. Additionally, they are also rich in fiber, antioxidants, and carbohydrates that help to reduce cholesterol levels and to regulate the digestive system among other properties.
Now that you know homemade popcorn is the healthiest alternative to enjoy this snack while watching a good movie or spending time with friends, what are you waiting for to make your own?
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