The answer to the question of whether popcorn is "healthy" depends on how you eat it. In its purest form – that is, when popped with heat – popcorn is a healthy whole-grain cereal, rich in antioxidants and a low-calorie snack: a bowl of such popcorn has only 93 calories, one gram of fat and four grams of fiber.
Popcorn fried in oil and with butter topping, as sold in cinemas, is less healthy and richer in calories.
According to research by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, according to CNN, a medium-sized bucket (about 20 cups of popcorn) contains 1.200 calories, 980 milligrams of sodium and 60 grams of saturated fat, which is enough energy for three days.
Even if you only eat a bowl (three cups) of popcorn, you'll still be consuming half a day's worth of fat.
If you buy pre-popped popcorn at the grocery store, check the nutritional information, as the amount of sodium and sugar varies with such products. Popcorn with various sweet or salty toppings can have up to four teaspoons of sugar per cup of popcorn.
If you pop popcorn at home in the microwave, limit the amount of salt and butter you add, and instead you can season it with oregano, basil or pepper, or even Parmesan cheese.
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