Popcorn has received a bad rap for being fatty and high in cholesterol because movie theaters pop their corn in coconut oil and douse them in buttery-flavored fats. In contrast, plain air popped popcorn is a healthy grain snack that is filling and low in calories.
Calories and Fat
Fit Day, a calorie counting website, lists 1 cup of air popped popcorn without butter as containing 30.5 calories with 3 calories coming from fat.
Fiber and Fullness
According to Keep Kids Healthy, a nutrition website for parents, popcorn contains more fiber than snack food products made with refined flour because popcorn is a whole grain. Fiber is indigestible and makes you feel fuller, leading you to consume fewer calories. A cup of air popped popcorn contains 6 g of carbohydrates including 1 g of dietary fiber.
Antioxidants
A study presented at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society reported that popcorn is among other whole grain foods which contain significant amounts of polyphenols, antioxidants which play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease and other major diseases. The levels of antioxidants are comparable per gram to those found in fruits and vegetables.
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