After all, does popcorn make you fat? Or will it fit into the diet, if prepared with less oil and salt? Understand what the experts say.
Many people wonder if popcorn makes you fat, and the answer may vary. Above all, it depends on one small detail: how do you eat popcorn?
Certainly, a cup of popcorn without any additional ingredients has 30 kcal and can help you lose weight. It has fibers that improve intestinal functioning.
In contrast, if you eat popcorn prepared with other elements such as oil, sugar or condensed milk, it will certainly make you gain weight. In other words, the amount of calories varies depending on how the recipe is made. Check out:
- Simple ready-made popcorn: 31 calories (1 cup);
- Made with oil: 55 calories (1 cup);
- Made with butter: 78 calories (1 cup);
- Microwave popcorn: on average 400 calories (1 cup);
- Large movie theater popcorn: about 500 calories (1 cup).
Above all, popcorn is an excellent source of fiber that leaves you feeling full for hours. Consequently, it can help you if you are trying to lose weight.
Finally, does popcorn make you fat or lose weight?
We can conclude that popcorn itself does not make you fat and, on the contrary, helps you lose weight. It is extremely healthy and light if prepared in the pan with just a drizzle of olive oil or coconut oil to pop the corn.
It is also healthy and light when the corn is placed to pop in the microwave, inside a paper bag with the mouth closed, without the need to add any type of fat.
Additionally, a third option is to buy a homemade popcorn maker, which is a small machine for popping corn without the need for oil.
Above all, don’t add oil, sugar, chocolate or condensed milk to the popcorn. For seasoning, you should prefer herbs such as oregano, basil, garlic and a pinch of salt, and you can also use a small drizzle of olive oil or a little butter.
Popcorn as a snack
There is only one formula for losing weight: consume fewer calories than you lose daily. Consequently, popcorn is perfect for diets, as it is low in calories and fat.
Eight cups of popcorn contain just 244 calories. Just 17 fries and you will consume the same amount of calories and finish in no time.
A cup of ice cream, 6 homemade chocolate chip cookies and even a jelly sandwich have almost twice the calories of 8 cups of properly produced popcorn.
A study presented at the Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting in 2010 found that people on a diet who ate 100 Kcal of popcorn per day were satisfied with the snack and felt it helped them control their hunger.
Microwave popcorn
Firstly, some versions of microwave popcorn contain almost the same amount of fiber and calories as those popped with hot air. Despite this, they contain much more sodium.
The suggested serving size of this popcorn contains 270 milligrams of sodium, while the same amount of hot air-popped popcorn contains 2 milligrams. Limiting sodium reduces fluid weight, making weight loss easier.
Eating salty foods increases sodium levels in your body, which your body remedies by increasing thirst and decreasing urine production.
No cinema
Finally, the burning question: after all, does movie theater popcorn make you fat or not? The fact is that, certainly, watching movies and eating popcorn is one of the best things in the world. Despite this, it is not the best combination for those who want to lose weight.
Basically, a large portion of movie theater popcorn makes you very fattening. It can contain, in fact, 540 calories of saturated fat, and a total of 1200 calories. That is, approximately, the calories of three meals in a woman’s diet.
In other words, in the end, the healthiest thing is to make your own popcorn at home.
Did you like this article? Then you’ll also like this: Learn how to make popcorn without oil, in the microwave
Source: Tua Saúde Mundo Boa Forma
Imagens: Masala Body, Rare, Healthline, CGS
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