Are you looking to know How Many Calories in Microwave Popcorn? Well, That’s a good question. Read this article to find out How Many Calories in Microwave Popcorn
Popcorn is the all-time favorite dish of many people. The freshly popped Popcorn taste utterly delicious and are rich in fiber. When Popcorn is prepared without butter or oil and is eaten in moderation, it is good nourishment for your body. But on the contrary, if it is eaten in large quantities along with flavored ingredients added, it can become an unhealthy snack. In a hundred-gram bag of microwaved Popcorn along with the added ingredients, there are about 424 to 557 calories present as per the USDA report. If you love to munch on Popcorn as a snack, use more air-popped Popcorn than the microwaved ones. Check the calories that a packet or cup of Popcorn contains to stay fit and healthy.
The calories present in Popcorn
The calories that are contained in a Microwave popcorn largely depend upon the ingredients that are being added to it.
- A 100 grams packet of low-fat microwave popcorn contains around 424 calories in one bag and 14.2 grams of fiber with 9.5 grams of fat.
- 100 grams of flavored Popcorn, it could be either butter or oil, contains 535 calories along with 30 grams of fat. It contains only 10 grams of fiber.
- Popcorns that are prepared using hydrogenated oil have a dangerous trans fat present in them. It has 557 calories with 34 grams of fat and only 10 grams of fiber present in it.
- 100 grams of aired Popcorn contains around 387 calories with 4 grams of fat and about 14.5 grams of fiber.
- Each cup of Popcorn contains 31 calories, and a little fat could be less than half a gram.
The problems caused by Trans Fats
The main cause of concern is not only the calories that are present in the Popcorn. A kind of trans fat, partially hydrogenated oils are not recognized as safe by the US food and drug administration. To prolong food validity, trans fats are used. They are also used to enhance the flavor of microwaved Popcorn. When trans fats are consumed in large quantities, it will increase the unhealthy cholesterol ( LDL cholesterol) and lower the good (HDL cholesterol). The Popcorn that is flavored with butter is made using palm oil that does not contain trans fat. But that doesn’t mean it is healthy, as palm oil contains saturated fat. When it is consumed in large quantities, it can be unhealthy.
The fiber present in Popcorn
Popcorn contains a good amount of fiber as it is a whole grain. It can help in regulating the sugar in your body, enables good digestion, keeps the hunger in check, etc. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan school of public health, the fiber contained in the Popcorn helps in reducing heart disease, constipation, diabetes, etc. When you consume a packet or a cup of Popcorn as a snack, your body will be boosted with fiber, thereby enabling your body to get the essential nutrients. So, freshly popped Popcorn without the artificial flavor is a healthier version of the Popcorn that you can enjoy.
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