All Set For Barbenheimer? Make Sure You Don't Overeat Popcorns: Side Effects To Note

Christopher Nolan's latest directorial sensation, Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig's captivating Barbie have together made history in terms of box office collection. Currently, the two big releases rule the theatres, where Barbie has surpassed Oppenheimer in many countries. In India however, the biographical drama Oppenheimer has crossed the 60 crore mark within a mere four days of release, surpassing Barbie as it makes over 20 crore on its fourth day. 

But apart from the plot, the characters, and the visual effects, what also attracts people to the theatres is the feast during intervals. The smell of popcorn is as enchanting as the movies themselves and can get irresistible if you go for a back-to-back watch. This is why in this article, we are going to discuss the ill-effects of overeating popcorn and why you should avoid it.  Komal Malik, Head-Dietician, Asian Hospital, Faridabad, shares some insights. 

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What Makes Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

“Popcorn is a low calorie snack because of its high fibre content,” says Malik. Research published in the Journal Nutrients has found that eating high fibre foods helps promote a healthy gut microbiome, leads to favourable body weight and overall metabolic health and also associates with a reduced risk for the development of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

The American Heart Association (AHA) shares that in addition to fibre, popcorn also is a good source of polyphenols, which are antioxidants that have been linked to better blood circulation and digestive health, as well as a potentially lower risk of certain cancers.

“Another health benefit of popcorn is its high satiety. Because of popcorn's high fibre content, its low calorie count and its low energy density, popcorn is considered to be a food that can aid in weight loss. For example, popcorn has been shown to make people feel fuller than a similar calorie amount of potato chips,” the health organisation adds.

Why Shouldn’t You Overeat Popcorns

According to Malik, excess consumption of popcorn increases the calorie intake and creates a lot of gastric issues like bloating. 

Not all popcorn is created equal, says the AHA, adding, "When it's air-popped and lightly seasoned, popcorn is an efficiently healthy snack. That's because it is a whole grain, and high-fibre whole grains have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and other health problems. Federal dietary guidelines say half of all grains consumed should be whole grains, and popcorn packs more fibre per serving than whole-wheat bread."

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What Kind Of Popcorn Is The Healthiest?

Air-popped and less-seasoned popcorn are healthy snacks as compared to other commercially available snacks, says Malik. 

Further adding, the dietician warns against toppings like butter and salt, caramel sugar because it can turn into an unhealthy snack.

“Microwave popcorn may have posed an entirely different set of health problems in the past, but many of the chemicals involved have been removed in recent years,” the AHA notes. 

To make popcorn healthy, Malik recommends adding dry nuts, and seeds. “The popcorn that we get in the cinema hall is different from what we make at home. In the cinema hall popcorn is served in a big bucket with butter and seasonings, which is unhealthy and adds lots of calories,” she concludes.