Do popcorns make you gain weight? How many calories do they have?

January 24, 2025|Laura González Becker

Popcorn is one of the favorite foods to eat between meals and accompanied by a good movie. But, Do popcorns make you gain weight? Can this snack be part of a healthy diet?

Since the answer depends greatly on the amount of corn you eat and how you prepare it, below we will 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.

The debate that divided nutritionists for decades finally has an answer. While some labeled them as "movie junk food," groundbreaking research from 2019-2024 has shown that popcorn contains up to 300mg of polyphenols per serving - almost triple that of sweet corn (114mg). The University of Nebraska documented something even more surprising: popcorn stimulates the production of butyrate in the microbiome, a short-chain fatty acid that extraordinarily boosts intestinal health.

The evidence that changed everything: Scientific analyses confirmed that commercial popcorn contains significant amounts of phenolic acids, placing them in the category of superior antioxidant foods. Research revealed that popcorn flakes have higher antioxidant activity during the digestive process that many grains considered "superfoods".

Do popcorns make you gain weight?

Although popcorn is simply corn kernels, there is a lot of nutritional information behind them 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 as healthy, since 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 popcorn container 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 a movie afternoon 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 they 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, since these corn kernels by themselves do not pose a health risk. Additionally, they are also rich in fiber, antioxidants, and carbohydrates that help reduce cholesterol levels and to regulate the digestive system among other properties.

The verdict of mindful eating: The movement of conscious snacking of 2025 has adopted popcorn as the perfect snack for intuitive eating. With only 15% of the daily fiber needed per serving and classified as whole grain, popcorn satisfies both cravings and nutritional needs. The key is in the specific timing and the conscious preparation - principles that Mayo Clinic now officially recommends.

This scientific transformation of popcorn - from questionable snack to validated superfood - reflects our philosophy of rediscovering the extraordinary in the everyday. Just as our fragrances reveal the olfactory complexity hidden in seemingly simple ingredients, popcorn shows that true quality lies in science, not perceptions, offering authentic well-being through conscious simplicity.

Now that you know homemade popcorn is the healthiest alternative to enjoy this snack while watching a good movie or hanging out with friends. What are you waiting for to make yours?