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I went to the movies tonight and shared some popcorn with my family. Popcorn is a popular snack with my family. And that may be a good thing. A recent study reported in the May 2008 Journal of the American Dietetic Association reveals that people who snack on popcorn may eat more whole grains than people who don’t eat popcorn. The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating at least 3 servings of whole grain foods daily. Popcorn is a whole grain.
Eating whole grains has been linked with numerous health benefits, including reduced heart disease and diabetes risk. According to the ADA journal article, fewer than 10 percent of Americans are currently meeting the 3 whole grains per day recommendation. The study compared people who ate popcorn with those who didn’t. According to the study, popcorn eaters ate over twice the amount of whole grains and their diets included more fiber and magnesium. Popcorn offers a healthy alternative to higher-calorie, low-nutrient dense snacks such as chips, cookies, cakes, pies and ice cream. But watch out for added butter which may double the calories and fat. Air-popped or low-fat microwave varieties are the best choices. And as for movie theatre popcorn, share a small serving between 2 or 3 people and skip the added butter.
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