There are days when you just don't feel like eating full meal Many people opt for a quick, convenient snack in these occasions, but is eating popcorn often healthy? Check it out:

Benefits of popcorn

Popcorn is a food derived from corn, a grain that can be considered healthy because it is rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants that fight diseases A small portion of the food made in a natural way (i.e. without oil, butter or salt) has only 67.20 calories.

Research suggests that whole grain intake is linked to longer life, less inflammation, and lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer, diabetes Three servings of whole grains a day were associated with lower BMI and less abdominal fat.

Here are the main benefits of this food for the body:

• Because it is a source of fiber, it improves intestinal transit and contributes to the satiety ;
• It is a good suggestion for pre-workout because it concentrates carbohydrate, which guarantees energy;
• It contains niacin (vitamin B3), which controls blood cholesterol levels;
• Combat the free radicals In this way, it helps to prevent premature aging and several chronic diseases;
• Vitamin B6, present in popcorn, is a precursor to serotonin, a hormone linked to welfare .

Read also: Healthy popcorn recipes

Is eating popcorn healthy after all?

Despite being a healthy snack The oil and margarine (or butter) used to pop the product in the pan, for example, can increase the calories and bring a high content of saturated fat.

Besides, seasoning your snack with butter, cheese, bacon, sugar and industrialized powders increases the amount of calories. The ideal is to bet on natural ingredients, such as paprika and black pepper. And don't exaggerate on the salt .

The recommended quantity of popcorn is a maximum of three cups, but it is easy to devour a bag in one sitting (especially if you are hungry) - and that could be the equivalent of five slices of bread in quantity of carbohydrates .

Finally, despite delivering good doses of carbohydrates and fibers Therefore, the conclusion is that you can even swap your meal for a bag of popcorn once in a while, but the ideal is to leave it for the snacks in between.