lead to fewer consumed calories . 9 However , the caloric intake from eating movie theater popcorn can be staggering : " A small bag of popcorn from Harkins Theaters contains 250 calories , 16 grams of fat and 27 grams of carbohydrates . Increase that to a large bag of popcorn , and you ' ll eat 780 calories , 50 grams of fat and 83 grams of carbs . Splurge on the extra-large and your treat clocks in at 1,120 calories , 72 grams of fat and 120 grams of carbs , which is more than one-third the number of carbs you should have for the entire day ." 10
Polyphenols in Popcorn — An Antioxidant Explosion
You ' ve heard of free radicals , which your body produces to help your metabolic processes function better , but when too many are produced , they can turn on you . They can kill off enzymes , multiply and wreak enough havoc in your cells to cause diseases and even alter your DNA . 11 That ' s where antioxidants come in , waging war on free radicals provided by antioxidants in the nutrients you consume . Polyphenols in popcorn could be called super antioxidants . They ' re important because they can improve your digestion and circulation , and as a result , reduce your cancer risk as well , particularly breast and prostate cancers . 12 One interesting study conducted by Joe Vinson , Ph . D ., from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania , found that popcorn contains more polyphenols than fruits and vegetables . Polyphenols are more highly concentrated in popcorn than nuts and chocolate , two rivaling snack options .
In fact , his study determined that polyphenol concentrations are much higher in popcorn than previously thought , with more than 15 times than the amounts found in whole-grain tortilla chips .
" Polyphenols are more concentrated in popcorn , which averages only about 4 percent water , while polyphenols are diluted in the 90 percent water that makes up many fruits and vegetables ." 13 Additional research shows that eating popcorn can help regulate blood sugar , lower cholesterol , improve digestion , prevent osteoporosis and protect against cancer . 14
O r g a n i c C o n s u m e r s A s s o c i a t i o n · 6771 S o u t h S i l v e r H i l l D r i v e , F i n l a n d MN 55603 A c t i v i s t or M e d i a I n q u i r i e s : 2 1 8 - 226- 4 1 6 4 · F a x : 218- 353- 7 6 5 2
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