y provide, Vinson said.
Obviously, popcorn doesn’t have the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet.
But Vinson, who has been a big fan of popcorn since he was a kid, said if you’re looking for a snack, then air-popped popcorn or microwave popcorn might be just the ticket.
“It’s 100 per cent whole grain,” he said. “It’s high in fibre. There’s not any other treat that is as high in fibre as popcorn.
“On the snack side, popcorn is a healthy snack,” Vinson told the Star in a phone interview. “You’ll get more fibre, less calories and more antioxidants than other snack foods.
“Nuts are high in antioxidants, but they are also high in fat,” he said.
And if you’re hoping to get an extra antioxidant kick from your popcorn treat, Vinson advises that you make sure you eat the whole popcorn kernel, not just the white stuff.
“The kernels that get in your teeth, that’s where the antioxidants are,” he said.
Antioxidants play an important role in keeping the body healthy. Vinson said they can play a role in preventing colon cancer; are good as an anti-inflammatory and can also kill viruses in your blood stream.
Others say they play a critical role in helping the body repair itself and may fight aging.
“I just think if you’re going to snack between meals, I’d definitely recommend you consume popcorn (air-popped and microwaved). You’ll get less calories, less fat, more fibre and more antioxidants — everything good.”
Previous research had found low levels of free polyphenols in popcorn. But Vinson told the Star that he and Coco did a “simulated digestion of the popcorn that frees up the antioxidants.” This allowed them to study the total polyphenols in popcorn, he explained.
But not all popcorns are necessarily good for you, Vinson cautioned. Slathering it in butter, cooking it in a potful of oil, pouring on salt, or eating kettle corn cooked in oil and sugar are all nutritional nightmares.
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