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PSA: Popcorn has more antioxidants than fruits, veges...

Analog

Analog

Lifer
SAN DIEGO: Popcorn's reputation as a healthy snack food popped up a few notches today as scientists reported that it contains more healthful antioxidant substances than fruits and vegetables.
The finding was heard at the 243rd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), being held in San Diego this week. Joe Vinson from the University of Scranton in the U.S., a pioneer in analysing healthful components in chocolate, nuts and other common foods, explained that antioxidant substances called polyphenols are more concentrated in popcorn, which averages only about 4% water, while polyphenols are diluted in the 90% water that makes up many fruits and vegetables.
"Popcorn may be the perfect snack food. It's the only snack that is 100% 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% of the weight of the product is whole grain," said Vinson.
"One serving of popcorn will provide more than 70% 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."
Nutritional gold nuggets
In another surprising finding, the researchers discovered that the hulls of the popcorn - the part that everyone hates for its tendency to get caught in the teeth - actually has the highest concentration of polyphenols and fibre. "Those hulls deserve more respect," said Vinson. "They are nutritional gold nuggets."


http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/...gher-antioxidant-levels-fruits-and-vegetables
 
It's cool if it's true but every month we hear about something good being bad and bad being good...

Damn, eating is complicated nowadays!
 
The levels of polyphenols rivaled those in nuts and were up to 15 times greater than whole-grain tortilla chips.
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Has to be some of the stupidest sht I ever read. Comparing antioxidant levels in popcorn husks (13% rda lulz) to tortilla chips (0%), this is like comparing calories burned playing video games vs grocery shopping. Here's a suggestion, get off your ass and exercise. While I understand this is a "silver lining of junk food" investigation, it amazes me that people have this much time/money to burn on things that are obvious.

If you care about antioxidants, take something that is clinically proven like grape seed extract (300mg@90% poly's) which you'd have to eat at least 10 bags (or more) of popcorn to have the same effect on systolic blood pressure.
 
Interesting thing about antioxidants... They're good for you if you're healthy, but they're bad for you if you have cancer. Lulz.
 
But, I thought that the husk part of popcorn was indigestible. That's why when you eat corn on the cob without chewing thoroughly, you can see, well, you know what I'm talking about. It doesn't matter what chemicals there are in the cell walls - we're not goats or cows, we can't break them down and digest them. So, even if the hulls have more antioxidants than other foods, that simply means your poop, after eating popcorn, has more antioxidants in it.
 
I hate how cereals made with corn are classified as whole grain. Corn has been a heavily selected grass for thousands of years to result in huge kernels of starch. This is nowhere close to others grains like barley, wheat, rye, quinioa, etc. They're applying a technical description instead of practical.
 
Wonder how much of that is lost in the microwaving process that 95% of us use to cook it anymore.
 
How about the liter of vegetable oil the popcorn is popped in, plus the pound of butter slathered on top and the bucket full of salt showered over that?
 
DrPizza said:
But, I thought that the husk part of popcorn was indigestible. That's why when you eat corn on the cob without chewing thoroughly, you can see, well, you know what I'm talking about. It doesn't matter what chemicals there are in the cell walls - we're not goats or cows, we can't break them down and digest them. So, even if the hulls have more antioxidants than other foods, that simply means your poop, after eating popcorn, has more antioxidants in it.
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You make a good point.

Still, there's no guarantee that the polyphenols are in the body long enough to have an effect, she says. "It's possible that popcorn goes through the body really fast. If the polyphenols reside largely in the hull, which is principally insoluble fiber and not digested, they are not sitting in our digestive system for an extended period of time, and we may not absorb all the antioxidants," Shelke says. "The hull may be loaded with nutrients that go right through us. The hull acts like a Roto-Rooter."
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http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitnes...ntioxidants-hidden-health-benefits/53777198/1

I'd rather get my antioxidants from berries, other fruit, green and white teas, and from premium dark chocolate, which I enjoy anyway.
 
vi edit said:
Wonder how much of that is lost in the microwaving process that 95% of us use to cook it anymore.
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You DO realize that Microwaving isn't magic and that in many cases, Microwaves actually release nutrients and vitamins that the body would normally not be able to absorb if eaten raw.
 
NikolaeVarius said:
You DO realize that Microwaving isn't magic and that in many cases, Microwaves actually release nutrients and vitamins that the body would normally not be able to absorb if eaten raw.
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I am thinking more along the line of the shit they put into microwave popcorn.
 
NikolaeVarius said:
You DO realize that Microwaving isn't magic and that in many cases, Microwaves actually release nutrients and vitamins that the body would normally not be able to absorb if eaten raw.
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Microwaves, the method of cooking recommended by 4 out of 5 nutritionists worldwide.
 
SlitheryDee said:
Too bad it tastes like shit unless it's covered in salt, butter, or caramel.
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Only poor quality popcorn with poor quality oil does.


Get some blue popcorn. Its sweeter. Add a tablespoon of coconut oil to a pot, loosely cover bottom with popcorn, put on lid. Medium high-ish heat. As it pops, replace lid with a frying screen. That lets the steam escape so the popcorn doesn't turn stale. When popping slows down, take it off heat immediately and pour into bowl to prevent burning.

That popcorn will taste great compared to the crap you put into a microwave.
 
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