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US researchers found that the popular cinema snack contains high levels of polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that can help prevent cellular damage by molecules called free radicals.
They further said that the polyphenols in popcorn are more concentrated because it is made up of just four per cent water. In comparison, polyphenols are diluted in the 90 per cent of water that makes up many fruits and vegetables.
Popcorn hulls - the part that usually gets caught between your teeth - was found to have the highest concentration of polyphenols as well as fibre, the researchers said.
CAUTION: Researchers however warn that popcorn should not replace fresh fruits and vegetables in a person's diet adding that fruits and vegetables contain vitamins and other nutrients that are critical for good health, which are missing in popcorn.
NOTE: Slathering popcorn with butter, sugar, salt and oil can change popcorn into a "nutritional nightmare," loaded with fat and calories.
To get the best of popcorn,Dr Vinson says "Air-popped popcorn has the lowest number of calories'',
"Microwave popcorn has twice as many calories as air-popped, and if you
pop your own with oil, this has twice as many calories as air-popped popcorn."
The findings were presented at a national meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego.
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