We all go to the cinema and grab a cheeky drink and popcorn, but did you know popcorn has surprise benefits? When I refer to popcorn, I do not mean buttery or salty popcorn as this compromises the healthy aspect. I mean plain popcorn.
Popcorn benefits:
high in dietary fibre (so it can aid your digestive system)
is a 100% whole grain snack
the seedy part of the popcorn (the hull) is full of antioxidants
low in fat
is allergen-free
contains vitamin B complex
combats free radicals which damage the condition of your skin
contains potassium which is a mineral and electrolyte
Now, don't get it wrong - popcorn is a great snack but it's not a superfood. The issue with popcorn is that we tend to overeat it. Because we think it's light and relatively healthy means we over-do it with our portion size which cancels out the calorie benefits. Also don't think you need to only eat plain popcorn, you can add a hint and only a hint of flavour for the benefits to still stand.
The earlier archaeological discoveries of popcorn were in Peru, but New Mexico and Central America also showed remnants of popcorn creation approximately 5,000 years ago.¹