Popcorn May Be Higher in Antioxidants Than Fruit, Researchers Find

Oh, wow, it’s only Monday and this is shaping up to be the best week in nutrition for people who like to sit on their asses and watch movies instead of munching blueberries on the treadmill.

(Which is a group that includes me, treadmills are hideously boring.) We recently learned about studies that found snacking on seaweed-imbued bread had essentially the same effects as slaving on one of the gym machines for 30 minutes, and now, we’re finding out that popcorn- salty, portable and long shelf-lived popcorn- may be better and giving your body necessary antioxidants than fruits and veggies. This is awesome!

According to ScienceDaily, “pioneer in analyzing healthful components in chocolate, nuts and other common foods” Joe Vinson, PhD, explained at a recent conference that popcorn is primed to deliver polyphenols way more effectively than fruits. The site says that Vinson “explained that the polyphenols are more concentrated in popcorn, which averages only about 4 percent water,” and that “polyphenols are diluted in the 90 percent water that makes up many fruits and vegetables.”

Vinson says that the popular movie treat could be much more of a nutritional staple than it is now to the benefit of many- he explains:

“Popcorn may be the perfect snack food. It’s the only snack that is 100 percent unprocessed whole grain. All other grains are processed and diluted with other ingredients, and although cereals are called “whole grain,” this simply means that over 51 percent of the weight of the product is whole grain.”

Vinson continues:

“One serving of popcorn will provide more than 70 percent of the daily intake of whole grain. The average person only gets about half a serving of whole grains a day, and popcorn could fill that gap in a very pleasant way.”

Alas, Vinson says, popcorn cannot replace fruits and veggies- but the research is a bit of comfort to those of us with picky eaters at home that can’t abide bitter tastes or veggie textures.

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Tags: Antioxidants, Diet, Health, Kids, Nutrition, Popcorn

About the Author

Kim LaCapria Kim LaCapria is a writer and editor based in New York. A longtime information junkie, she began blogging full-time at the Inquisitr in 2009. Prior to that, she worked as a marketing assistant in the cosmetics and skincare industry. In addition to her writing for fortytwotimes, she also writes for Medacity and The Inquisitr. Kim is also a contributor for SocialNewsDaily, Indyposted, and TotallyMoney. In the past, she contributed to Lipstick and Luxury and managed social media accounts and blogs for several small and mid-sized businesses.