The benefits and harms of popcorn for the body

Walks in parks, visiting cafes, entertainment centers and other entertainments are rarely complete without the use of various delicacies. It is especially difficult to leave without sweet or salty children. But such food is not healthy. French fries, chips, salted nuts, hamburgers - pleasure and harm at the same time. Popcorn stands out among most street snacks. Popcorn does not do so much harm to the body, and it is difficult to imagine going to the cinema without it. Doctors do not prohibit the delicacy, but they also do not recommend abusing it. So what are the benefits and harms of popcorn?

Popcorn history

In fact, popcorn did not start its history from Hollywood. Many decades before this, the Indians saw that there is a kind of corn that explodes when heated. And its secret is simple: there is little starch and water. And to this day, popcorn is made from this variety.

But this phenomenon was used for decoration and in rituals. And already in the late 1930s, Samuel Rubin connected delicacy and cinemas. And in 1945 it was discovered that microwaves make grains explode. This was the beginning of the development of microwave ovens. True, back in 1885, a machine appeared that was designed specifically for blasting corn. Later, popcorn became the main profit for movie theaters, and even ticket sales did not generate that much income. Therefore, it is worth figuring out whether popcorn is useful or harmful.

The chemical composition and types of popcorn

There are different flavors of popcorn. In cinemas and on store shelves, you can find salty, sweet and caramelized corn. Flavors and various flavors are added to salty to achieve the taste of cheese, bacon, etc. But earlier abroad, pure popcorn was used as an additive in soups and main courses.

The product has almost all the beneficial properties of corn and a similar composition. But oil and flavoring additives alter the chemistry.

Vitamins B are contained in the composition in moderation and have a positive effect on the condition of hair and nails. But calcium strengthens teeth and bones. Fiber is also abundant.

How many calories are in popcorn

Popcorn is a high-calorie product. And this indicator depends on the species. Sweet corn will be the most harmful in this regard.

This is almost a daily rate. Therefore, it is worth using everything in moderation.

Why popcorn is good for the body

Popcorn has a number of beneficial properties for the human body:

1. Improves skin condition.
2. Normalizes metabolism.
3. Lowers blood sugar levels.
4. Popcorn with honey is good for the liver.

Is popcorn suitable for pregnant and lactating women

Popcorn is prohibited during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Chemical additives negatively affect the development of the baby, threaten pregnancy, salt is harmful to metabolic processes. And sugar is undesirable for the pancreas.Popcorn is not beneficial in this case.

At what age can popcorn be given to children

Clean balloons are only helpful. But popcorn with flavors is even dangerous for the child's body. If you still want to treat your baby with a treat, then it is advisable to make it yourself at home. This way you can regulate the quality and quantity of products and additives.

Even the healthiest popcorn is not recommended until three years of age. At this age, the baby still does not know how to swallow well, and his digestive system is not ready for such a product. Therefore, the benefits of popcorn for children are less than harm.

Eating popcorn for weight loss

Popcorn, if prepared correctly, will benefit even with a diet. The product is high in calories, but during dietary restrictions, it is still eaten in limited quantities during snacks. Going over with calories in this case is difficult. In addition, you need to understand that adding a large amount of oil, salt, and even more so sugar is not worth it! The main thing is measure, and then even popcorn will not be harmful to the figure. Corn itself only has a positive effect on weight loss. Fiber in its composition aids in digestion.

Is popcorn harmful to health

It is worth talking not only about the benefits, but also the dangers of popcorn for the human body. If you choose between chips, croutons and other snacks, popcorn wins. It is less harmful. But this does not mean that it does not have such properties.

The product is not used as often. Mostly when going to the cinema, circus, park. But if you eat often, you can get problems. Salt, oil, flavors and other additives can cause allergic reactions, complications of existing diseases of the digestive tract, kidney disease, and obesity.

Large amount of salt

Many people love salty. This taste certainly attracts. So salt is added to the popcorn. And if you do not abuse the product, then problems can be avoided. In general, salt has a negative effect on the state of the body. The kidneys are affected in the first place. Water is retained in the body. In addition, experts from Japan claim that it harms the stomach, increasing the risk of organ cancer.

Dangerous fats

It is the presence of vegetable oil that makes popcorn dangerous and nutritious. At home, its amount can be controlled, but in cinemas it can be too much. And if the buyer sees that they did not regret the oil, this does not mean that the manufacturer is generous. It is quite possible that a plant product of dubious quality is used many times in a row and is completely expired. In this case, being overweight is one of the smallest consequences. As a gift you can get liver and stomach diseases.

Flavors and flavors

It is flavors and aromas that are the main problem with puffed grains. Due to the addition of these elements, popcorn is forbidden to children. But not everyone thinks about their dangers. Of course, there are less of them than in chips or crackers, but they act on the body. Doctors assure that if you don't eat such food often, then you should not expect something terrible.

Flavors are divided into natural and artificial. The first group does not do as much harm. But it is also naive to believe that it is a natural additive in popcorn. Such substances are expensive, but corn kernels are quite an affordable product. Artificial additives are cheap, but when consumed in large quantities, they lead to problems with the liver and stomach.

Popcorn poisoning

The beneficial properties of popcorn are preserved when quickly cooked. But this happens if it was cooked over an open natural fire, in extreme cases, on a gas stove. The microwave oven has been proven to inhibit health benefits. And special machines can even lead to poisoning. After all, they contain vegetable oil with diacetyl.

You can get poisoned with popcorn. And in most cases, poor-quality oil is to blame. Less commonly, seasonings. If food poisoning occurs, the person feels pain in the abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, fever. The consequence can be gastritis and pancreatitis.

How to reduce the harm from eating popcorn

Popcorn is harmful due to the addition of oil, flavorings, flavoring enhancers, salt, sugar, caramel to it. To reduce the negative impact, but also to enjoy the taste, you just need to remove harmful additives. The only thing without which balls will not work is oil. But for cooking, you can also take refined olive. But if you do not add a flavor enhancer and other chemical components, then the taste will not be lost from this. After all, popcorn has its own unique smell and taste.

How to make popcorn at home

For the production of popcorn in large quantities, special devices have been created. But making a treat at home is easy. However, there are nuances here.

Conventional corn varieties used for canning, cooking, and feeding livestock are not suitable. They have a shell that does not burst at 175 degrees. Balloons don't work. And there is a lot of starch in them. The maize variety is ideal. Such grains burst well. Cook in a pan, microwave, oven, and even a slow cooker.

In the microwave

Everything is cooked in the microwave: dumplings, instant soups, cakes, omelets. But not cooking popcorn in it is a big mistake, although it has more harm from the microwave. Nothing is easier. They use both purchased special grains and homemade corn. In the first case, they are placed in a special package and pre-lubricated with oil, spices, additives. One has only to leave the package in the microwave for a certain time, which is indicated in the instructions.

If the right sort of corn is found on the market, then it's not bad either. The grains are separated, cleaned and dried. For frying, not only vegetable oil is suitable, but also butter. It gives the beans an interesting flavor. Spices are added if necessary. Be sure to close dishes with grains. It takes 4 minutes to get the balloons.

In a frying pan

The microwave was invented after it was discovered that grains burst under the influence of microwaves. But not everyone has this wonderful device in the kitchen. In this case, you can limit yourself to a frying pan. The process is no more complicated. The material from which the pan is made can be anything. But it is better if there is cast iron. It retains heat well. This means that most of the grains will crack. And if there is a glass lid, then you can also watch such an interesting process:

1. Corn grains are greased with vegetable oil. But it is undesirable to drown them in fat. The corn just needs to be oiled.
2. Warm up the pan.
3. Put the raw material and close it tightly with a lid. You don't need to make the fire less. If there is a desire to add flavor, then add sugar or seasonings to taste.
4. Shake the pan occasionally, but do not open to mix the popcorn. So the heat will go away, the balloons will not work.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of popcorn are not discussed in the same way as crackers or chips. Popcorn certainly has more health benefits. But it also needs to be used carefully. Flavors and other food additives, as well as oil, sugar and salt, are dangerous when popcorn is consumed frequently.