Popcorn - Delicious But Valuable

Author: Nia Rouseberg Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about Popcorn - Delicious But Valuable. Apart from being high in salt, popcorn is also extremely rich in trans fats ....

Although delicious, popcorn can pose a serious threat to our health and especially to the health and proper development of children. Experts believe that popcorn for the microwave and those available in cinemas are too high in salt and trans fat.

A study of the nutritional composition was done, which showed that even a small package of popcorn contains salt, the amount of which exceeds the recommended daily dose. A large package still contains twice as much salt as the allowable daily intake. Doctors are adamant that frequent intake of such a large amount of salt has a negative impact on the health of both adults and children.

According to the authors of the study, regular consumption of popcorn in childhood increases the risk of high blood pressure. It is well known that one of the strategies in the fight against high blood pressure is to exclude salty foods from the menu. Blood pressure is also a serious risk factor for atherosclerotic lesions of the vascular system, along with diabetes , smoking, obesity and others. Control over each of them means prevention of complications of atherosclerosis , such as ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease.

Scientists have analyzed the salt content of popcorn, which is available in various cinemas in the UK. The results showed that an average of one large box of popcorn contained 7.22 grams of salt.

Doctors remind that the recommended daily salt intake should not exceed 3 grams for children and not more than 6 grams for adults.

In addition to being high in salt, popcorn is also extremely rich in trans fats. Nutritionists warn that frequent consumption of foods rich in saturated and trans fats can be a risk factor in the development of type 2 diabetes. They help increase bad cholesterol (LDL) and also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. They are obtained when liquid vegetable oils are solidified by hydrogenation (margarine).

An experimental study in which monkeys were fed trans fats showed that they led to more significant weight gain, despite the fact that the amount of calories was lower than some other types of fat. Experimental animals that ingested trans fats reported an accumulation of 30% more abdominal fat than those that ingested another type of fat.

Trans fats are thought to be the cause of insulin resistance - one of the first signs of diabetes. According to some scientists, trans fats are able to stimulate the release of more insulin from the pancreas, which in turn leads to resistance to excess of this hormone. According to another hypothesis, when trans fats enter cell membranes, the cell does not respond normally to insulin.

Popcorn - Delicious But Valuable

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