Community Garden Magazine Issue Ten June 2016 Community Garden Magazine Issue Ten June 2016

Popcorn and Your Health While this article will review some of the beneficial aspects of popcorn it is still relatively high in net carbs and if you are seeking to optimize your mitochondrial health anything more than an ounce or two of popcorn is not a wise choice. Remember the way to prevent most all chronic degenerative diseases will be to teach your body to burn fat for fuel. It would be FAR better to eat high fiber vegetables for carbs than grains. Nutritional Aspects of Popcorn A fairly modest portion of popcorn — 3.5 ounces — offers several important nutrients and impressively high percentages to consumers in terms of recommended daily intake (RDI). Manganese, for instance, presents 56 percent of the RDI, while magnesium and phosphorus each bring 36 percent. Zinc is also significant with 21 percent, and copper, vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and potassium show up with just under 10 percent each.2 Popcorn contains nutrients and compounds that are associated with: • Regulated blood sugar • Improved digestion • Weight loss • Reduced cholesterol levels • Cancer prevention Another interesting thing about popcorn is that while a 1-cup serving contains 6.2 grams of carbohydrates, which becomes glucose in your body after digestion, the starch is different. "Popcorn contains type 1 resistant starch, which is found in the cell walls of plants. It's present in seeds, beans and grain s, including corn. As its name implies, resistant starch resists digestion, so it passes through to your gut primarily undigested, providing a source of nutrition for the healthy bacteria that lives in your digestive tract. In addition to providing fuel for your gut's bacteria, resistant starch may also help keep your insulin levels steady, reducing spikes in blood sugar."3 35

Community Garden Magazine Issue Ten June 2016 Community Garden Magazine Issue Ten June 2016 | Page 35