Posted on 08/20/2009 9:52:21 AM PDT by Schnucki
Popcorn could help prevent cancer, research suggests.
Scientists discovered the snack food contains 'surprisingly large' levels of health-boosting antioxidants called polyphenols.
Polyphenols in fruit and vegetables are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases.
The U.S. study was led by the chemist Dr Vinson from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. It is the first to establish that snack foods and some wholegrain breakfast cereals are a good source of polyphenols.
He said: 'We really were surprised by the levels of polyphenols we found in popcorn. I guess its because it's not processed. You get all the wonderful ingredients of the corn undiluted and protected by the skin. In my opinion it's a good health food.'
The study measured polyphenol concentration in breakfast cereals and snacks, showing there are more antioxidants in less processed wholegrain cereals, while popcorn has the most among the snack foods tested.
Hot breakfast foods such as porridge oats had disappointingly low levels of polyphenols, said Dr Vinson.
The research supports the idea that is the polyphenols in whole grains, rather than their fibre content, that makes them healthy.
Dr Vinson, who presented his findings to the American Chemical Society in Washington last night, added: 'Wholegrain products have comparable antioxidants per gram to fruits and vegetables.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Popcorn makes me choke.
Freepers are a popcorn eating bunch when the Dems implode.... Here’s to a long life freepers.....
Well that's not very "health boosting" now is it?
Hear, hear!
Dang it, now I have to make a pan of popcorn in the middle of the afternoon. :)
You do pop them first, don’t you? :-)
Yeah, but you die from the butter.
SSHHHH!!!!!! Popcorn will be declared a medicinal product and we’ll have to get permission to eat it and once you’re over 50 you won’t be allowed to!!!!!!
Oh man... and I’m out of popcorn... LOL...
Time to go out and get some more... and that’s on the top of my list today... :-)
I knew popcorn was on the short list (very short list, as in 1 page list) of foods that wouldn’t give you cancer.
I didn’t know it would prevent cancer.
Pan? Pan, you say?
My kids’ friends think I am the strangest parent in the world because I cook my popcorn on the stove. But they don’t argue with the taste which is, imo, superior to the microwave variety!
Makes me really nauseous.
Can live without it not like its dark chocolate or some other IMO yummy treat.
Heck, one excuse is as good as another, if it lets me munch more popcorn, yippee!! 
Well, with all the popcorn we FReepers have been passing around lately, we should be healthier that H#ll.
And I like oatmeal, too... :-)
Oatmeal and Cholesterol...
http://food-facts.suite101.com/article.cfm/oatmeal_to_lower_your_cholesterol
Sounds like dinner at my house a couple of times a month. You know the days you eat a large/late lunch and just not that hungry at dinner time. Pop some popcorn and pour a glass of wine, and watch a movie on TV.
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