What are the health benefits of popcorn?

Have you ever wondered whether popcorn is good for you? We’re here to answer that very question! As true popcorn experts, we know all about the health benefits of popcorn. Because we quite regularly receive questions like this from customers looking for a healthier snack alternative, we thought it’d be about time we tackle this subject once and for all! Keep reading to learn more about whether popcorn is healthy and our top tips for healthier popcorn snacks.

Is popcorn good for you?

Believe it or not, popcorn actually has a variety of surprising health benefits. Can life get any better??! Let us list them all for you below. 

Popcorn is low calorie

Popped corn kernels by themselves are a low calorie product. When popping them using hot air instead of oil, which is what we do with our gourmet range, it’s also low in fat, and doesn’t contain any sugar. Yep, popcorn is a healthy snack!

Of course, plain popped corn doesn’t taste of much, which is why we’ve created so many flavour concoctions to tickle your taste buds. Depending on what you flavour popcorn with, it can be a bit higher in calories or a bit less nutritious, but because it’s not a heavy, calorie-rich snack, it’s still considered a healthy snack alternative!

Popcorn contains a lot of fibre

Air popped corn is super rich in fibre, with 3.6g per 100g popcorn. Dietary fibre aids a healthy lifestyle and helps your digestive system work properly. If you’re looking for new ways to increase your fibre intake, popcorn is an excellent (and VERY tasty option)!

Because popcorn is rich in fibre, it can also help with weight management as it can help you feel fuller for a longer period of time. If you’re watching your weight or are trying to lose a few pounds, popcorn can help you do just that! 

Popcorn contains many polyphenols

What’s that, you wonder? Polyphenols are found in plants, and act as antioxidants to help reduce inflammation. They also help manage your blood pressure levels, which is important to help your blood vessels healthy and strong. Power to the polyphenols!

Popcorn has a low glycemic index (GI)

As mentioned above, those powerful polyphenols maintain blood pressure levels, and also help maintain blood sugar levels. This is beneficial for everyone, but especially for people with diabetes. Whereas foods with a high GI can trigger blood sugar fluctuations, low GI products such as popcorn help maintain stable and safe blood sugar levels if eaten in moderation. Yippee!

Next to all the good stuff mentioned above, it’s important not to forget we make all our popcorn with high quality, natural ingredients and add yummy inclusions such as nuts or fruits to our gourmet popcorn to create the crunchiest, most flavourful popcorn you’ve ever tasted. 

Of course, it’s all about moderation. Eating too much popcorn can be bad for you, but so is drinking too much water, eating too many apples or exercising too much! If you’re looking for an indulgent popcorn treat, our portion sized snack packs are the best choice. They are available in more than 14 flavours and contain less than 130 calories per pack. 

For an allergen free and even more low calorie option, our vegan mini popcorn range called Mini Pop! is the perfect solution. Available in 6 flavours and multiple pack sizes, it’s the ideal healthy popcorn treat for munching, snacking and sharing. 

So there you have it! The next time you ask yourself ‘is popcorn a healthy snack?’ you can refer back to this article to find the answer you’re looking for. Of course, it’s important to know that popcorn is only part of a healthy lifestyle. The most important thing is balance, eating plenty of nutritious food, drinking water, exercising and getting enough sleep. But make sure popcorn is a part of your lifestyle, as it makes life so much more delicious!