Advertisement
This is because popcorn is primarily made of insoluble fiber. Think of insoluble fiber as a broom for your intestines. It doesn’t dissolve in water; instead, it adds bulk to your stool and sweeps through your digestive system. This action increases peristalsis—the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through your digestive tract. By speeding things up, it helps get rid of excessive bad bacteria and toxins that may be brewing in your intestines. The result? It helps clean you out, promotes regularity, prevents constipation, and can leave you feeling significantly lighter and less bloated.
2. It Protects Your Heart
The same fiber that works wonders for your gut is also a champion for your cardiovascular system. The specific type of fiber in popcorn can play a direct role in lowering your levels of LDL cholesterol, often called the “bad” cholesterol. It works by binding with cholesterol-rich bile salts in your intestines and carrying them out of the body before they can be absorbed.
By lowering LDL cholesterol, you’re taking a major step in preventing atherosclerosis, which is the dangerous buildup of plaque in your arteries. When your arteries are clogged with plaque, they become narrow and hard, forcing your heart to work much harder to pump blood. This can lead to high blood pressure and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. The fiber in popcorn helps keep those arteries clear, allowing for normal, healthy blood circulation to get to every single cell in your body. This ensures your tissues and organs get the oxygen and nutrients they need to function optimally.
3. It Helps Manage Blood Sugar and Diabetes Risk
If you’re concerned about your blood sugar levels or are at risk for type 2 diabetes, popcorn can be an excellent snack choice. It’s considered a low-glycemic-index food, with a GI of 55. The glycemic index measures how quickly a food causes your blood sugar to rise. Low-GI foods are digested and absorbed more slowly, leading to a gradual, steady rise in blood sugar rather than a sharp spike.
Again, we have the high fiber content to thank for this. The fiber slows down the absorption of the corn’s carbohydrates into your bloodstream. This prevents the sudden surge of glucose that forces your pancreas to release a large amount of insulin. Over time, frequent insulin spikes can lead to insulin resistance, a condition where your cells stop responding properly to insulin, which is a precursor to diabetes. By eating snacks like popcorn, you can help make your body less insulin resistant and more insulin sensitive, allowing it to manage blood sugar much more effectively. It helps maintain that normal, healthy balance of glucose and insulin in your system.
see more on the next page
