Butter-drenched movie popcorn and microwave popcorn that contains high levels of sodium do not help with weight loss. Air-popped popcorn, however, contains few calories per serving and has fiber and other nutrients that make it a part of a healthy diet. Eat air-popped popcorn as a healthful snack to help achieve your weight loss goals.
Nutrition Content
One cup of air-popped popcorn contains just 31 calories, according to the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory. It also contains 1.04 g of protein, 12 mg of magnesium, 29 mg of phosphorus, 26 mg of potassium and 16 IU of vitamin A. As long as you do not add butter or salt, these nutrients make air-popped popcorn an ideal snack food.
Fiber
Popcorn contains fiber, which helps you feel full for longer periods of time. Continuum Health Partners estimates that one cup of popcorn, without butter or salt, contains 1 g of dietary fiber, which makes it necessary to chew foods longer, giving your body time to determine if you are full. Foods with fiber also have a lower energy density, which means you get fewer calories in the same amount of food. These features of popcorn aid in weight loss, according to MayoClinic.com.
Preparation
If you do not enjoy eating plain popcorn, add flavor in the form of sodium-free seasonings and herbs. Try seasoning your popcorn with salt-free seasoning blends, cinnamon and chili powder. Check labels to make sure your seasonings do not contain any sodium. Some people do not like dry popcorn, so consider using a fat-free spray to eliminate dryness without adding excessive amounts of fat and calories.
Considerations
Too much fiber in the diet leads to bloating, abdominal cramps and intestinal gas. Avoid these side effects by adding high-fiber foods to your diet gradually. This will give your digestive system a chance to adjust to increased amounts of fiber. If you add popcorn to your diet, drink plenty of water. Fiber absorbs water to make it easier to eliminate waste from the body. This improves your digestive health and makes it easier to lose weight.
Warning
While popcorn provides an alternative to calorie-laden snack foods, some people should not eat popcorn to aid in weight loss. People who have had gastric bypass surgery should not eat popcorn or other foods that contain seeds, kernels or hulls. If you have diverticulitis, avoid popcorn and similar foods during periods of inflammation, as the kernels can get stuck in weakened areas of the intestines.
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